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Dieting & exercise

What I learnt on my walk today.

(28 Posts)
Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 14:38:55

Well marked roads through deep forests can peter out into a tangle of undergrowth.
If you are sensible, you turn back.
I am not sensible.
The rule that you work you way downhill if you are lost fails when you find a deep ravine across your path where the banks are too steep for you to climb down and up the other side.
If you do get down into a ravine you can follow the water course down, but if you get to an impassable bit and the banks are too steep to climb out you will have to climb back up against the flow.
Wet branches are very slippy.
Bendy branches will whip back in your face unless you make sure they are well behind you before you let go.
Walking poles with sharp points are very useful when descending steep slopes with wet leaves or loose scree.

When you finally break out through the trees, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of pine-clad mountains, green meadows and flower-bedecked wooden chalets and it will have been worth the climb.

Don't take guests on walks unless you are already familiar with them (the walks, not the guests.)

tanith Fri 24-Aug-12 15:14:56

Sounds like an adventure Greatnan but I'm glad you completed the walk safely..

Bags Fri 24-Aug-12 15:17:23

smile

jeni Fri 24-Aug-12 15:21:24

I'm not surprised your dd thinks you need watching.

Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 15:29:35

Thankfully, you does not know about this site!

Bags Fri 24-Aug-12 15:33:22

gn, you are doing the kind of stuff I did in my youth and thought everyone did. Seems not as people think you're bonkers wink

jeni Fri 24-Aug-12 15:40:41

Fine if she was a spring chicken! But she ain't!

Nanadogsbody Fri 24-Aug-12 15:45:09

Wonder if your guests knew you were potentially lost or did you bluff it out?

Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 15:55:54

Annobel hasn't arrived yet , but I will make sure I take her only on safe walks (unless she fancies a bit of adveture.)
After two years of almost daily very long, very steep walks at an altitude of over 3,300 feet, I am acclimatised and certainly fitter than I have ever been before in my unsporty life. I rarely get breathless and my heart rate might speed up a bit but it returns to normal within a minute or so. My bp this morning was 125/80.
Juragran and I have taken walks together and she never flags, but she is ten years younger and also Swiss born and bred, so the mountains are in her blood. She also does downhill skiing and skating. We had a fabulous time snorkelling in Egypt in June. She is my ideal companion, particularly as she knows the names of all the flora and fauna of the Alps.
MY daughter and her family in NZ took me on several walks in excess of 10kms in the lovely Nelson Lakes, and they take no prisoners.

When I lived in the Pyrenees, nine years ago, I got to know an old lady of 84 who took me on some lovely, tough walks. She wore cuban heels and a long, woollen skirt. At least I wear good boots and trousers.

I know the golden rules of walking are to have a companion or at least tell someone where you are going, but that is not possible for me. I carry my mobile phone and a loud whistle and walk very carefully. I cannot contemplate a life without a bit of adventure and I hope I am still walking when I am 90.

Annobel Fri 24-Aug-12 16:19:07

Please send a search party if I'm not back on line by September 11th (evening). I was born cautious and my dad nicknamed me Canny.

soop Fri 24-Aug-12 16:19:40

Respect Greatnan Your wanderings are inspirational. smile

Annobel Fri 24-Aug-12 16:34:17

Please, soop, don't get too inspired - Mr soop and Rory might miss you if you got lost - and so would we! grin

Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 16:37:55

Annobel, my sister survived two weeks here and as you know she is not sporty!

soop Fri 24-Aug-12 16:40:41

Anno Willing to bet that you'll have the time of your life when you arrive on Greatnan's patch. sunshine

jeni Fri 24-Aug-12 16:42:33

Annobel on sept 11 maniac and I will be at sea I think!

Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 16:43:31

I am sure you will be able to charm the captain into letting you use his computer, jeni.

jeni Fri 24-Aug-12 16:44:01

smile

Annobel Fri 24-Aug-12 17:10:35

What do you mean, you 'think', jeni? Are you 'all at sea' already? wink

jeni Fri 24-Aug-12 17:17:49

I don't know without looking if it's a port or sea day?
Just checked, it's a sea day. Inbetween Kushadasi and Haifa.

flowerfriend Fri 24-Aug-12 19:24:20

greatnan My MiL is 101 and she walked a fair distance on at least five days a week until she was in her 90s. I do so admire you for walking on your own. I must admit that I am too scared to do so. Although the friend with whom I walk, walks on her own when I am away.

flowerfriend Fri 24-Aug-12 19:27:39

Me again. What I learnt on my walk today - My walking friend doesnt like being tied up and neither do I. We have both recently finished the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy!!

Annobel Fri 24-Aug-12 19:48:34

The whole trilogy, ff! Wow! Does that make you a masochist? wink

flowerfriend Fri 24-Aug-12 19:58:13

Annobel No. Just a widow. Seriously, though, I'll read anything. Cornflake packets, flyers and, oh, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Annobel Fri 24-Aug-12 20:01:31

I downloaded the first few chapters of the first and second books free to my Kindle. That was enough! None of the naughty bits, but the writing was execrable - in my (anything but humble!) opinion.

Greatnan Fri 24-Aug-12 20:02:34

Er.....what does Fifty shades of Grey have to do with walking, Flowerfriend? Is there some code that I have inadvertently used?
But while we are on the subject, I have started buying second hand books from Amazon - some are only 99p.
There are plenty of people in their 90's or even 100 doing parachute jumps and abseiling. I have a lot of things I want to try before I die.