Does this count?

Done more miles today, but is it really walking? 

Visited Hatfield House and its a big place; exploring the house and gardens has involved several hours of bipedal ambulatory action, but does the stroll/amble of the Long Gallery and the garden sculpture show count as walking practice? I'm sure purists would say no, but I can't help but think it must be useful - that's what I'm wishing, anyway!

Duck-break attempt, foiled by bull, comes to a sticky end!

At last, I thought, this weekend I will break my duck and start walking!

The reason - visiting some friends who are visiting a sister (in more than one sense!) at the Carmelite Monastery at Ware, Hertfordshire. Said friends are regular walkers - indeed paid-up Ramblers, so there were sure to be ambulatory opportunities.

Early evening we were indeed invited for a stroll up the lane. When the lane came to its end (ran into private land), we had the option of returning the way we came or taking the circular route via the signposted path. I don't think it was ever going to be a very long walk, but long enough (and with the advantage of rural-ish setting - country miles are longer, its a well known fact!), it could at least qualify as a proper "Walk". 

So off we set along the waymarked path which ran along the edge of a field of oilseed rape. We could see we were headed for a field with cattle, who were obviously aware of our approach and taking an interest - surely humans mean a tasty salt lick, or whatever it is that floats the bovine boat.

As we got nearer we could see there were two fields - one of heifers, and one with a couple of cows and a bull - guess which one the path went through - yes, right first time. We spent a few minutes debating whether the bull looked friendly, docile etc. even the differing characters of different breeds of cattle - is a black bull more or less placid than other breeds? In the end, we decided by weight and bulk that we stood no chance if he objected to our intrusion - so we chickened out (obvious livestock metaphor!) and retraced our steps across the bare earth.

Returning to the path, we discovered quite a lot of that earth had adhered to our shoes, and goose-stepping (another farmyard animal reference!) through the long grass did little or nothing to remove it, resulting in a far bit of scraping and scrubbing when we got back to the house.

There's still the opportunity, I'm told, of a walk into town via the river bank, so all is not lost!

Gotta get going

Mid April and I still haven't started my practice walks! I ought to be fitter as for a good many months now I've been: 

1. Using the upstairs loo at work - several stair climbs a day!
2. Parking in the extreme corners of the car parks when I go shopping!

Sadly this year has so far not been good for my joint and muscle pain; in fact someone who will remain nameless was just laughing at how I was shuffling around at home - I protested I couldn't do differently as my knees feet and ankles were all hurting!

I will start soon, and I will walk the complete Fun Run - its just hard to get motivated right now!

Get me going by trying this - Give As You Live - free money into my appeal if you do your online shopping through this charity app, and right now there's a bonus £5 donation when anyone signs up and spends £10 or more with any of the participating merchants - money for nothing!: Try Give as you Live.