I swear the girls are trying to finish me off. We were due to meet this morning at the usual place in the car park. I arrived early because I needed time to change into my sturdy walking shoes (I can't drive in them).
This was the scene when I arrived.
Luckily it had stopped by the time the others arrived so we set off on the route they had decided on. This week there were an awful lot of uphill bits. We started up the Gleneedles Road which climbs steeply up Slieu Whallian Hill. After a short level section at the top we turned off onto the steep lane down to meet the Foxdale Road. Across this road and along the footpath which runs alongside the stream, so far below us we couldn't see it, although it was rushing along quite noisily. Then came yet another uphill section to meet the Archallagan Road, leading back to St Johns. Two hours in all.
We then took a little detour as one of the girls wanted to pop into the civic amenity site's reuse centre where there was something she wanted to pick up. A barely used baby buggy in excellent condition for a friend's grandchild. She pushed this the rest of the way, along the railway trail back to the car park!
We were not aware before we set off that there was a big cycling event on today. The Manx 100 mile endurance ultra mountain bike challenge. The car park was being used for one of the stages and was packed by the time we got there, as was the cafe where we usually stop for coffee and cake at the end of our walk. We were lucky to get a table and enjoyed coffee with a slice of coconut & chocolate cake to share.
There were some very pretty wildflowers on the table which I could not resist photographing. (Those legs behind belong to the stools at the bench. Quite quirky)
Back home, showered and ready for a snooze.
Could you send some of that early rain this way please - my garden can do with it.
ReplyDeleteWell, it has moved off somewhere now so perhaps it is heading your way?
DeleteYou needed a shot of yesterday's harissa paste. That would have given you jet propulsion.
ReplyDeleteYou really deserved your coffee and cake after that walk. Very good for the heart. You'll be fit for your next holiday
Oh yes. My peak flow meter reading was off the scale when I got home!
DeleteYou put me to shame JayCee .... you must be SO fit. That cafe looks brilliant... whoever owns it has a great sense of style ... quirky style ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteOh no, I am so not fit! The others always have to stop and wait for me to catch up as I plod along behind, puffing and panting.
DeleteThe café is painted in shocking pink and lime green. Certainly wakes you up once you step inside.
Puffing and Panting? The "girls" do have funny names. A big advantage of walking on your own is that your pace is neither hurried nor slowed by others.
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't invite me along I would spend Sunday mornings sprawled on the sofa. I need the motivation they provide, and pushing myself seems to be helping my fitness just a little ( she says with fingers crossed).
DeleteI guess it's good that the walks give you at least two important things - exercise and social interchange.
DeleteIt's a shame we couldn't see the walk. I'm glad that it stopped raining for you.
ReplyDeleteI was so busy trying to keep up with the others I didn't have time to take photos.
DeleteWe even had some sunshine - for around 10 minutes anyway.
Luckily most of the walk was dry. Nothing worse than slogging through the rain in wet hiking boots!
ReplyDeletePlus I was not wearing a waterproof jacket!
DeleteThe walk sounds really great - and refreshing. You will be getting fitter by the minute. The trouble is that the fitter you get the faster you go (or fewer stops you take) and for a while it feels as if you are making no progress.
ReplyDeleteJust to be able to slog around for 6 miles is enough to make me feel fitter, even if I am actually not improving very much. My friends are all so much fitter than me so they help to push, or drag, me on.
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