Black clouds

To be perfectly honest i can't really remember what has happened on my walks lately. Most have been short ones of no real interest. I have seen the heron a few times.

Today i walked to get my magazine. I came across some cows who were very shy apart from one. It came over to the fence and had a good sniff of my hand with its very wet nose. I obviously don't smell nice as it then promptly walked off. I did manage to briefly stroke its head.

At the shop i bought a latte to go with my magazine. I thought i would treat myself as i hadn't had one in a while and very nice it was too. I timed my visit to the shop very badly as school had just finished so the shop proceeded to be filled with little people. I quickly made my escape.

I stopped at the garage to book my MOT and nose at the jet ski on the forecourt. They are bigger than i expected. Well i don't really know what i expected but i did discover that they are bloody noisy.

On my way home the skies were a mass of black. I had my umbrella with me but i hoped i didn't have to use it. I walked at a fair pace in the hope that i wouldn't get soaked. I'm not sure i can walk faster than a rain cloud. Would you believe it i got home with only a few drops of rain landing on me. I honestly thought i was in for a drenching.

Just down the road from my house i saw a butterfly on the road. When i crouched down i could see that half of its left wing had been torn off. I thought it was dead but gave it a poke and to my surprise it moved. Being the kind soul that i am a scooped it up and put it into a flowery bush. It would probably have been kinder and certainly a quicker death for it to be run over but nevermind. I think that was my good deed of the day.

In other news i saw a goth looking caterpillar. It had huge black spikes along it's back. I also rescued this from the middle of the road. Two good deeds.

Total so far: 475830
Total left to go: 524170

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Welcome back

Well it's been a long time since i last wrote a blog. Nevermind i'm back now. So what's been happening? Well i've been walking. Not quite as much as i should have for certain reasons but i'm picking up the pace again now.

At first i thought the web in my picture was a huge spiders nest which obviously i wasn't thrilled with. I noticed that it had long black things on and when i got closer i realised it was full of caterpillars. I don't think i've ever seen so many nevermind a nest.

I mentioned in my last blog that i saw a heron flying overhead. I've seen it quite frequently of late. On one trip i saw it in the river but it saw me first and flew off. A few days later i walked a little more cautiously when i got to the same point and there were two. They are obviously very shy birds as they both flew off as soon as they saw me. I still can't get over how big they are.

There are lots of horses around where i live and they keep themselves to themselves. Very rarely do they come over and say hello. One day when it was raining i took an umbrella and two horses that i regularly walk passed looked at me as though i was the oddest thing they had ever seen. It was almost a look of what the hell is that?

Talking about odd things, one of these horses was just stood around eating grass as they do. As i carried on walking it sudddenly dropped to the ground and started rolling on it's back just like a dog. I have never seen a horse do that and i must admit it did make me chuckle.

It has been raining a lot lately which is part of the reason i haven't been out. The other day i just thought sod it i was fed up with waiting for it to stop so i just put on my waterproofs and off i went. Of course half way through my walk it stopped raining.

On this particular walk i was minding my own coming down the hill. I had my head down in an attempt to stop my glasses getting any further wet. Glasses with windscreen wipers now there's an idea. Anyway as i was looking at the verge i spotted what i assumed was a penny. I bent down to pick it up but it felt thicker than a penny. It was a pound coin. It was filthy and had some dents in it so it took a while to work out if it was a pound or not. It was dated 1985, i don't think i've seen a pound coin that old. I wonder how long it had been sat there. So my walk turned out to be a profitable one.

I must try harder not to leave it so long between blogs. I probably keep saying that and the time between them is probably getting longer but i must try harder.

Total so far: 452890
Total left to go: 547110

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Sluggish

So since we last spoke i've done a lot of walking. During the week i did my usual walks. At the weekend i was in London. Unfortunately my GPS doesn't work underground so it never got measured therefore i can't add it to my total.

Today was tough. I think it was to do with my post weekend slump. It was a mission to get my bum outside and then the walk was so hard. It's a walk i can usually do with absolutely no problem but boy did i suffer today.

At the start of my walk one of the railway engineers started chatting to me. He asked me if i was excited about having a double line. I told him as long as it improves services then it would be worth the disruption. I also had a little rant about the cost of having to replace lines that had been taken up years ago. I'm sure he regretted talking to me after that. I tried to be plesent despite my mood but i made a comment about being forced into the hedge as he drove passed. He apologised and i felt bad.

It has been raining all day so i took my brolly which must be the first time i've used it. On the way back it stopped raining but i expect it will start again.

The picture i took and have used was really to represent how i felt. Unfortunately i didn't see a slug so a snail will have to do.

I start back at work full time next week so i don't know how this is going to affect my walking. Hopefully it won't. I'm behind schedule as it is so i could do without any delays.

I haven't seen that dog on my latest walks. This i am happy about but i do get a little anxious that i'm suddenly going to have it's teeth clamped around my ankle.

Total so far: 408950
Total left to go: 591050

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Troublesome tuesday

I struggled today i must admit. I went to get my magazine as per usual as it's tuesday and getting to the shop was fine. My legs seemed to be in perfect working order. I did spend rather a long time chatting to people in the village. It makes me wonder if i seized up a little during these chin wags.

On the way home i thought i would never make it. My left leg/ankle was so painful for reasons unknown to me. I did do a lot of walking last week so i wonder if it was putting up some sort of protest. Anyway i did get home, obviously as i am writing this and i don't tend to carry my laptop around with me.

It was a bit of a race against the clouds as well. There was a horrible darkness hovering above me and it did begin to spit. Like a seansoned walker i went equipped for every eventuality. I had sunglasses. I didn't think it was going to rain so i didn't take my waterproof jacket and fortunately for me it didn't rain because everything including myself would have got rather wet.

Yesterday i went for an evening stroll. It was nice. I wasn't stalked by any strange dogs nor did i see any interesting wildlife. Actually i didn't see anything so it was a little boring.

Total so far: 372210
Total left to go: 627790

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Doubling up

It appears at the moment i am saving my walks and writing about them in bulk. I have done it a couple of times and today is another one of those days.

Yesterdays stroll was an early evening affair. I managed to get home without having to walk through clouds of flying critters. I did however get blinded by the setting sun. This is not helpful when you are walking along a road for obvious reasons. I saw a squirrel for the first time (i think) but unfortunately it had met a grizzly end.

Today i thought it was going to rain so i put my waterproof jacket on and guess what? It didn't rain. I bet any money if i had not worn it i would have got soaked. At one point i went to get out of the way of an oncoming car and nearly landed backwards in a ditch. Unbeknown to me under the long grass was a hole which i proceeded to put my foot it. Fortunately my excellent poise and balance stopped me from getting a bruised bottom. Ah, my favourite stalker the RAF helicopter was back today. He came passed with his wheels lowered and was 10 metres if that from the road. It was lower than the trees. I must say it was a very quiet helicopter usually it roars across the sky.

Like most Tuesdays i walked to the shop to get my magazine and had a natter whilst i was there. There seemed to be a mothers meeting going on at the garage so i stopped there as well and had a chat.

In other news i found a squashed baby grass snake (sad face).

Total so far: 343510
Total left to go: 656490

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It's 15 years since my grandad died. A long time has passed but i still miss him. The bluebells in my picture are for him.

Drowned rat

So after watching the royal wedding (shhhh don't tell anyone, i said i wasn't going to) and a trip to hospital ithought what a lovely day to go for a walk. I had a bite to eat and got changed. I looked outside and thought i'll wear my sunglasses as it was quite bright. I set out into what was nice weather.

Fast forward half an hour later. Whilst walking up the hill i thought blimey it's a bit dark so took my sunglasses off and turned around. What greated me was sudden darkness and cracks of thunder. I was over a mile from home and it looked like the rain had already hit there so i powered on up the hill. By the time i got to the top it was thumping down so i hid under a tree. Not a smart move i know. It didn't make good shelter so i thought sod it and started walking back down the hill.

Let's just say by the time i got home i was drenched. Fortunately i had a t-shirt on under my white t-shirt otherwise that could've been embarrassing! Of course it waited for me to step in the front door before stopping.

And this is what a soaking wet Tracey looks like.


Total so far: 309040
Total left to go: 690960

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April showers

I was just about to go out today and the skies opened up. It absolutely chucked it down. Typical. There was plenty of time throughout the day but no it had to rain when i wanted to go out. Fortunately it didn't last long. I did however, put my waterproof jacket on just in case. Of course after i had been walking for a little while the sun came out so i boiled.

I decided to go without my ipod today. I don't know why, i just felt like it. To be honest i found it very strange, quiet. Yes i could hear the noisy birds and the nice birds but i could also hear the traffic from the main road. As nice as it is hearing the chirping of the birds i think i'll stick to my ipod from now on. Talking of birds, after hearing a noise horrible enough to make your ears bleed aka a pheasant, i wondered how far away their holler travels?

The hedgerows are full of life now. Lots of pretty little flowers and sticky grass plus the customary nettles. They are so green and lush and at certain points the blossom from the hedge floats off and covers the road like some sort of flowery snow.

In other news, the rape seed is starting to release it's hideous odour, i was harrassed by a bumblebee and there was a sqeaky tree.

Total so far: 248110
Total left to go: 751890

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Bloody weather

So today was delightful sunshine or it was until i was part way through my walk. I had got about 1.7 miles into it when all of a sudden there was a growl of thunder befitting of one of those sky emptying of all its contents moments. As a result i quickly got a move on. By the time i was nearing the village i was heading for it was spitting. Rain and plaster casts do not mix. It was at this point i turned my walk into a run. I got to the shop an not long after it started to bucket down. Fortunately despite my protests i got a lift home which saved me a soaking, thanks Gill. Now that i am home guess what? It's fine again. Bloody weather.

On my travels i decided to take a bag because the amount of things i am needing to carry appears to be increasing. It has its positives but i find because i'm not carrying my water i'm not drinking it as much. Also it's a bit cumbersome whilst trying to sprint from the rain clouds.

I was thinking whilst i was walking, once upon a time i would have got in my car to go to the shop. It's only 2.5 miles away (5 mile round trip) which isn't really that far. Some days it feels like it's a million miles away but in reality it's just across a few fields. Shows how lazy i was before i started this walking.

So in conclusion i didn't walk very far today which i am very disappointed about but i guess every little helps.

Total so far: 208190
Total left to go: 791810

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Pinch, Punch, 1st of the month

Well we are in March already! This year seems to be going quickly.

I went for a stroll today as it was chucking down with rain yesturday. It was very windy though and deceptively cold.

It's been a few days since i last went for a wander so i did feel it a little going up the hills. That'll teach me for having a break.

There wasn't really anything interesting today. I passed a couple of joggers, not my thing running. There was a massive dog paw print in the mud the size of my hand. I kid you not, it was huge. Well i presume it was a dog, you never know with all these big cat sightings.

I did think it might rain but fortunately it didn't although i did have my trusty carrier bag to stick over my arm if it did. When i got home i discovered that said carrier had holes in it. That would have been interesting.

Total so far: 115140
Total left to go: 884860

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Windy day

So i went out today. I packed a carrier bag in case it rained so i could cover my cast. My coat is allegedly waterproof but i didn't fancy taking my chances.

I walked over to Cafe de la Poste, or the Post Office as i like to call it, in Chadlington. Apparently 'Call me Dave' (the PM) had been in there earlier with all of his entourage. Yawn. I'd be more impressed if i stumbled into someone who doesn't live locally. Like, oh i don't know, Jenson Button. That would be unlikely and so a nice surprise. Anyway i am rambling.

On this endeavour i stepped in a diguised puddle and had to walk 3/4 of the way with a soggy foot. Not particularly comfortable i must say. My dad drove passed and didn't even offer me a lift, couldn't believe it. Of course that would have defeated the point of these excursions. Someone was flying a kite, there were lots of walkers out today. Oh and just as i was nearly home it started raining. Lucky i had thought ahead and packed my plastic bag.

It felt more of a chore today which i didn't enjoy. I blame yesturday.

Total so far: 109860
Total to go: 890140

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