Tag Archives: walking

Becoming Obsessed…..

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Sidmouth South West Coast Path

The above is a picture of Sidmouth it is where my Mom is from. It was my Grandparents favourite place. It is one of the stops along the South West Coast Path.
I mentioned the path before, 630 miles, it starts in Minehead and ends in Poole. Passing through a lot of my families history.

Wanting to do a trip that would cleanse my brain, restart my ambitions this is the trip I want to do. It would take fifty-two days to complete and since I got the idea in my head I can’t stop thinking about it. I keep making lists for the trip, what to pack, lists of B&B’s I could stay at. Working on a budget, trying to figure out how to take two months off.

I could always do the path in segments over time. Or if I can only do a few weeks I could do the Jurassic Coast portion which includes Sidmouth, perhaps not as ambitious but I think would still get me the clear head I’m looking for. Also it would be much more affordable, fifty two nights in B&B’s starts to add up.

Whether I do all of it or just part it’s an adventure I’m going to do. Perhaps for my birthday next year, two weeks of walking alone connecting to my families history.

In the meantime I need to remember I have other things to accomplish now but it’s so easy to get distracted by a goal that feels so right.

Walking Kingsley Part 2

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Now we’re on to the next part of the walk with Kinglsey.

We’ve made it out of the house with the impatient basset leading the way. This part takes patience on my part, you can’t rush a basset. He was all in a hurry to get out but now he’s not sure what he wants to do or where he wants to go. Even though we usually go the same way he has to think about it.

Should we go this way:

Maybe this way:

No wait let me turn around wander back and see what’s over here:

Then he stops in the road, usually when a car is coming and won’t move:

What gets the basset across the road? A PINE CONE, he LOVES pine cones:

When he was a puppy he ate pine cones all the time, now when he sees one it’s like a long lost friend. He has to stop and sniff it and then say a little prayer or whatever goes through his pea sized brain before we move on.

If you’re thinking now we can start walking you would be wrong. A walk with a basset is not exercise it’s a lesson in patience.

The Tinman!

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Walking home I saw this little guy:

Somebody made a Tinman!

He’s so cute, I wish his hat wasn’t covering his face. I’ll have to go back to get another picture. Can you believe that somebody came up with the idea and then did it?

He’s done so well!

Look at his little feet! His ears! The buttons on the front! He’s so adorable!

He reminds to pay attention on my walk home because it’s easy to miss so much and I’d be sad to have missed him (okay I wouldn’t have because I wouldn’t have known about him). He made me smile after a long day, after a walk home in overcast drizzle, with obnoxious drivers who don’t pay attention to pedestrians. In my funk I just wanted to get home and make a cup of tea. Then the Tinman made me smile, almost squeal. How delightful!

To whoever made him and put him out to share with the neighborhood….. THANK YOU!

Buildings in Prague

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The buildings in Prague are beautiful. So many different colours and styles. Wandering around made me feel like I was in the Mozart movies.

It’s also not just the colours but the details, the different windows, doors, paintings on the buildings. I couldn’t get enough of them and we had beautiful weather for our day out. A little cool but beautiful blue sky. Prague is great for walking and always another beautiful view awaiting you around every corner. You don’t need a destination just wander and see where the streets take you, without a doubt you’ll end up somewhere great.

Walking by the Hotel De Ville and Notre Dame Paris

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New Year’s Eve we had a wonderful afternoon wandering around Paris. There are so many things to look at in Paris, something new around every corner and the people watching is fantastic.

Everything is so BIG it’s often hard to get a good picture because many of the landmarks you have to be well back to get them in the frame.

While wandering we crossed the Seine and waved at the tourist boats, something our friend who lives there likes to do. She likes to see if anybody will wave back. The first boat we had a VERY enthusiastic return wave from a friendly looking guy. We waved and yelled WOO HOO to him. Silly for sure but had to agree that it was fun. The second boat nobody would play and they just looked at us like we were losers. Especially one very grumpy looking fellow who did not seem to be enjoying his river boat ride. Whatever! The next one we had a group of ladies wave and yell “WOO HOO” to us. So two for three not bad!

Hotel De Ville:

Notre Dame:

Charlemagne:

 

A Stroll Through Paris

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Walking through Paris you see a lot of great people. Some very stylish and dressed in a way that is so well put together without looking like it was an effort. This lady I loved, she had full make-up, hair done up in a bun, I love the shoes and matching bag, the shawl over the coat. The ankle nylons are just the icing on the cake for me. Love it! Also she was carrying on a full conversation with her dog. This is how I would like to be when I get to her age.

I stopped to get a picture of a sculpture in a park and suddenly heard a GROAN…. then an AHHHHHH…..

Good lord what was that? It was the sound of effort and almost obscene. It also kept going GROAN…… AHHHHHHH…….. pause……. GROAN……. AHHHHHH…… pause………

Then I saw him, it was a man doing exercises on a bench. Oblivious to people looking at him lost in his own world. I laughed, I did. It was the funniest thing I had seen all day and I couldn’t stop watching. Then I had to get a picture.

GROAN

AHHHHHHH

GROAN

This is the sculpture I had stopped to get a picture of “La Musicienne, 1937″ Bronze Henri Laurens (1885-1954)

Walking in Sidmouth, Devon

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My family is from Sidmouth in Devon, South West England. We were there last summer and there are so many things I love about Sidmouth. For one you can get Devon Cream, it’s cream that is the consistency of butter. SO GOOD! Apparently the recipe came from the Devon Pixies. The Pixies influence a lot things around Devon with their magic, touched by Pixies, explains a lot about my family.

Mostly what I love about Sidmouth is you can leave the house and walk. Walk along the sea wall and get an ice cream. Walk around the town or up Peak Hill. The South West Coast Path runs through Sidmouth there are signs to guide you. Depending on how ambitious you are you can walk for miles and miles (all the way to Beer if you want), through fields, by cows and sheep, gorgeous views at every turn.

A walk up to the Donkey Sanctuary is a great way to see the countryside, they help rescue donkey’s in distress and it is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. My Granddad used to love it there. Who doesn’t love donkeys? They also have amazing strawberry jam at the gift shop. Read more about them here: http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/

But enough of talking here are pictures from the time I spent there last year, it’s a wonderful place and I can’t wait to go back.

Seafront: 

Jacobs Ladder: 

Peak Hill:

Along the way to the Donkey Sanctuary:

Donkeys: