Walking Challenge – Paris

Following my other challenges I decided to do another city; Paris. Although I have not been to Paris (I have been to France) I thought it would be nice to go on a virtual walk about the city with Pacer.

The walk was 60km in total which took me virtually through many parts of Paris I would like to visit if I ever get the chance to go, and I could follow the virtual tour. It is a mad idea that I walk 60km in the UK and my journey is then virtually mapped through the streets of Paris, step by step with city views all the way care of Google Earth.

The Route

• Starting Point – Palace of Versailles
• River Seine
• Bois de Boulogne
• La Défense
• Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysees
• Grand Palais
• Place de la Concorde
• Lourve Museum
• Palais Garnier
• Sacré-Cœur
• Pompidou Centre
• Place de la Bastille
• Notre-Dame de Paris
• Panthéon
• Luxembourg Palace
• Les Invalides
• Eiffel Tower – End Point

Next is The Inca Trail, only 33km, so a short journey, but an interesting place that I would love to visit on day, that is when I win the lottery.

Until next time…

Walking Challenge – New York

My latest walking challenge was through New York which was nice as it is one of the few places I really want to visit before I expire.

The challenge this time was 42km / 26 miles and started at Prospect Park. As always at each place, there is a virtual postcard and I got to learn a lot about each place, so that is a bonus. The medal is like the others, chunky and well made and in a presentation box, but this one glows in the dark, the city skyline glows, so that is a bit of fun.

The Route

• Prospect Park – Starting Point
• Brooklyn Bridge
• Flatiron Building
• Empire Stat Building
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Rockefeller Center
• The Museum of Modern Art
• The Metropolitan Museum fo Art
• Central Park
• Broadway
• Times Square
• Vessel
• World Trade Center
• Charging Bull
• Statue of Liberty – End Point

I am going to do Paris next which is 60km, and as I seem to be doing city walks I may continue with those challenges for now. I would like to do a big challenge like Camino de Santiago which is 819km / 509 miles. Conqueror does Route 66 which is 3669km / 2280 miles but the medal does not look all that good, and Pacer medals are really nice and chunky. I will keep looking out for other challenges.

Visit to Llanberis

A few weeks ago we decided to go to my homelands and have lunch in Llanberis. It was such a beautiful day, the sun was out, the sky was blue and we had lakes and mountains to look at, and to round the evening off we had fish, chips and mushy peas which were delicious.

Llyn Padarn is a glacial formed lake and the largest natural lake in Cymru, 105 meters above sea level and surrounded by the slate mountains, so it is quite spectacular. It is however quite cold in the water as both the dogs found out. Mazikeen was first in after seeing something in the water that she thought she could fish out and fell straight into it. When her little head bobbed up out of the water she looked a little shocked. I had to help her out as it was a little too high for her to get out, but she shook herself and carried on as if nothing happened. We were laughing at her doing it when both of them decided to go down one of the boat jetties which stops about 2 feet into the water and there is a drop. Harper was the first to look down at the edge whilst she was paddling about, then decided she could keep waking and went head first in. She was under the water for about 5 seconds and I thought I would have to jump in to get her out and then her head popped up and I pulled her out as she still had her harness on. Mazikeen, completely unperturbed by falling in and also seeing Harper fall in kept walking further out and then she vanished under the surface. I stepped forward ready to wake in and her little head popped up and she was swimming further out then realised and started going to the right to get back to the shore. Second dunking and she was not put off, and in and out the water for most of the day, but she was a little more careful from that point onwards.

Anniversary

Today M and I have been married for 12 years (together 21 years this year), so to celebrate, we went for a nice walk and bought lots of lovely snacks and treats. Due to the way the world is at the moment we did not want to go to a restaurant or pub for a meal. We were not too sure where to go as we tend to drive for hours to go somewhere different, but again due to COVID there are so many places in Yorkshire and Lancashire that are said to be hotspots, so that was out too, and I love to walk on the moors in the footsteps of the Brontes as it is rugged and wild.

We finally set on Lydiate where I grew up and walked along the old railway lines from where Lydiate station used to be back in Victorian Times. (1884 to 1952) and headed south along the lines, then on to the canal bank back to the car. All told we walked 6km. The dogs loved it and are currently sleeping. Mazikeen must have run (as she does not walk anywhere) about 20km, back and forth.

I took a few photos along the way which are below, including some yarn bombing along the way.

Falled Tree

Farm Bridge – Heys Farm

Maghull Brook

Field drains

Pilon

Yarn Bombing on the canal bench

Red squirrel

Hedgehog

Ladybird/Ladybug

Blue Tit

Hardcastle Crags

I felt the need to get out into the sunshine, now it is here, and get some long needed fresh air. Friday night we decided to head to Yorkshire, namely Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill. A beautiful place, part of the National Trusts many properties. The dogs had a great time, especially Mazikeen as she had places to swim, and ultimately get dirty rotten filthy by jumping into the becks which were full of silty runoff from the woods.

One of the things that struck me immediately as we started walking to Gibson Mill was the fields of bluebells. Everywhere we looked, it was blue. Once at the mill we wandered along trails and were struck by the overpowering smell of wild garlic, growing everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.

Fields of Bluebells

Gibson Mill

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All in all, it was a five-mile walk, some climbing 345 feet in elevation. The sun was shining and as always I was sun-kissed in the end. We went the Weaving Shed Cafe for a coffee and a slice of cake before the last mile walk to the car. The girls were glad of the rest and their lunch and slept most of the way home.