Heaven is.....

Walking slowly in a wood below CatBells listening to the silence

Standing on the sea shore and listening to chuckle of waves as they play alongside the pebbles.

Walking through a beech wood on a sun-dappled trail. That always lifts my spirits.

I can return that compliment very sincerely, Soop!

Greatnan I am filled with admiration for your boundless spirit and energy.

Moved, I put over 60s as that's (roughly) retirement age. It's then possible to take up, or restart activities for which there has been insufficient time during a full time working career. The other reason is that this seems to be the age when certain health problems appear. Osteoporosis, meaning that falling or tripping must be avoided at all costs, osteoarthritis, which can be restricting, eyes need regular testing, the weight might have crept on and there might increasing balance problems.

When I was 25 I climbed Kilimanjaro, the very thought makes feel faint now and I know I need to return to a more active lifestyle. Greatnan's blog / post was just what I needed with wise, but not restricting advice.

Moved, I do hope you are at 80 still questioning as you are now. It's great to spend time with your own generation, whatever generation that may be - but I believe we need to spend time with people who are older, or younger than us to keep us all connected and enjoying life

MiceElf 'over 60s' sounds very young to me! I am always amazed when I see special housing for the over 55s or over 60s as I wonder why anyone would want to live with a lot of people of the same age when they don't need extra help. We have one being built at the moment near here for the over 70s which sounds rather better but, as DH is approaching 70, it still seems rather young to me.

I wonder if, when I am 80, I will still be asking the same questions? I suppose we expect that all people of our age have the same level of fitness as ourselves?

I'm looking forward to that. I have good reasons for needing advice.

I will start a thread under 'Exercise', Micelf, but I am sure there are many members who are much more experienced walkers than I am. I am just a very enthusiastic amateur, but I have learnt some safety tips from experience!

Greatnan, I wish you would write a guide to walking for the over 60s. You describe your transition from a comparatively unhealthy middle age to a healthy older age with such enthusiasm I'm sure many would benefit. It's first hand experience people listen to, not some super fit 26 year old who hasn't been there.

Greatnan, I agree about walking and managing arthritic pain. I have always enjoyed walking and I'm sure that keeping my muscles stronger has eased the pressure on my hip and knee. Bananas - sounds heavenly

Sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee early in the morning, and on one of the many beautiful days we have had recently, looking down our beautiful gardens (communal) that roll down to the Thames beyond where boats are bobbing about in their moorings.

I have found that my heart and lungs are now acclimatised to living at the same altitude as Snowdon, so I have to search for paths steep enough to get enough cardiovascular exercise. When I arrived in the Alps three years ago, I had some arthritic pain in my knees, hips and lower back but I read that exercise is the best treatment and it really works. There is still a little twinge in the knees on very strenuous hikes, but I wear strong knee bandages and use walking poles. I find that wearing a backpack which weighs about 4 lbs. makes me have a better posture and this may explain the improvement in my back.
I just wish I had started walking before I retired - I look back in horror on my way of life when I was working.

janeainsworth - yes, we are so fortunate aren't we, to be retired and able to see more of our own beautiful country. We're off to north west Scotland in September, a lovely cottage near the beach, which takes two dogs so we'll do lots of walking, eating, reading and relaxing, bliss

Iam64 - DH and I thought of doing Scafell Pike a few weeks ago, but looked in the 'Wainwright' and saw it was 7.5 miles and 3100ft of ascent from Eskdale where we were planning to stay.
So we did a somewhat easier walk in Northumberland, but promised ourselves that we're going to gradually increase our stamina until we feel able to tackle it!
I'm finding that one problem of retirement is that there are so many beautiful places to go to in this country, never mind 'abroad'! How to fit them all in!

jeanainsworth - that sounds a heroic walk, and I'm impressed you are aiming for Scafell Pike. I opted out a couple of weeks ago when my husband and his pal took 17 year old grandson and his pal to "do" Scafell. The boys thought it was brilliant, and one of the highlights seems to have been teasing the two mid 60 year olds, who had proper kit, but whose energy levels weren't quite the same as the lads. So many of the comments here involve people's love of being outdoors, or with family and loved ones. A smashing thread

I have seen Star lake it is marvellous !!

Watching the sun set over Star Lake in deepest Minnesota, with our dearest friends in the garden (runs down to the water) of their lovely house. No street light, no traffic, just the moonlight over the water..

There you have me, Jane, I have to settle for a picnic and a bottle of water!

Yes, but even better when we finally got to the village pub and were tucking in to our dinner

Well done, I am sure you felt good when you reached the summit.

Yes, we actually did a little more than planned, as we went up Loadpot Hill by a longer but less steep route! So 11.5 miles and 1800 ft of ascent.
I'm aiming for one more ascent of Scafell Pike before I become too decrepit!

Jane, did you manage the whole route that you had planned?

My idea of heaven is to have all my Darling family around me , which will be happening in the very, very near future .

What unadulterated bliss !!!