Walking Shoes - Walking and Other Exercise

[Guest_1055]

Hey to anyone reading this.

Last night I had an idea about starting a new thread about exercise especially walking. I am aware that walking is very beneficial for our mental, emotional and physical well being. And by actually doing it....well it can make a huge difference to how we cope with the storms that we face in life.

OK, I am not real good at disciplining myself to walk, and have to really push myself to do it. And sometimes it is even hard to leave this bedroom. Anyway I am not a beginner walker, as I have stuck to sort of a plan before. So I know that it does make me feel somewhat better. But I only stayed on the plan for a couple of months, then gave up.....for whatever reason. So here I am again wanting desperately to not fail this time.

So I guess this thread is for anyone that does walk, anyone that is struggling to walk because of depression or anxiety issues. And anyone else really......

I am unsure of the outcome of all this. But my ideas included: Sharing about things we have found out about exercise especially about walking. Writing down the reasons that one would chose to walk ( like something to help motivate). Being accountable in same way. Sharing about the places where we actually do walk, like the beach, gym, around the block, with the dog, out to the clothesline and back. And any other useful tips that could help others. So here we go......

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell, Eagle Ray and to all reading,

Shell, gardening can certainly be a lot of exercise! Eagle Ray, sorry to read about your camera! It is amazing how fast birds can fly. When you consider the fact some birds migrate around the world and calculate how far that travel, it is amazing.

 My walks the last couple of days were only short. I was with my family member because they were not well and needed some assistance.

I had an early morning walk near the river in a town, there were no clouds so little colour and dimension to the sky, there was a nice golden orange glow though for a while.

It was lovely to see 3 old paddle steamers on the river. As I took a photo of one which was quite small, I noticed a couple of decent sized water rats or at least I am assuming that is what they were. They were strong swimmers and even dived in under the water for a moment. 

Some pelicans were feeding, a flock of noisy galahs flew overhead, I saw some ducks and a few other birds including a pair of green ground/grass parrots, the male was a vibrant green colour. I didn't want to stay out walking too long!

During the drive home the sky looked stormy, bursts of sun seemed to turn the fresh new crops into vibrant patches of brilliant green. The rugged hills in the distance have a green tinge also. I so wanted to stop and take photos, but the road is very busy with trucks and there is no where safe to pull off especially so it seems in areas with magnificent views!

I'm feeling tired being home again and struggling to feel enthusiastic about anything. Walking back in the door yesterday, it was like a darkness fell on me. I'll try to go for a walk later. I'm catching up with friends in the afternoon so will be something to look forward to.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Shell, Dools and All,

Gardening is such good exercise isn’t it Shell. I always feel better for doing it, even though I find it hard to get started at times. I’m glad you’ve been getting your daily walks.

Dools, I’m just imagining the picturesque paddle steamers. It’s exciting you saw a water rat. If it’s a native water rat I think they’re sometimes called a rakali. I’ve always wanted to see one. I know exactly what you mean about seeing beautiful scenes but it isn’t safe to pull over. I hope you feel better soon and that it helped catching up with friends.

This morning I walked at another big granite rock also used as a water catchment area. I saw lots of fast moving lizards on the rock. There were boulders with fascination shapes. I then went to another large rock that reminds me a bit of Uluru in terms of its colour. There were lovely plants in flower at the base of the rock. After this spot I went on to another nature reserve with yet another large rock. This one was a darker orange/brown. There were lots of things flowering at the base of this rock too and many honeyeaters dashing between trees and bushes feeding on flowers. The  sun was getting low bringing out the colours of the rock. I realised I still had about 45 minutes to drive back so headed home. I went slower than usual looking out for kangaroos, and two did jump across. I know when one jumps over another often follows, so slowed right down as they bounced across. I watch a lovely sunset as I was driving. It was fairly dark when I got back here. I treated myself to a tasty serve of fish and chips from the local cafe that opens late. It feels like it’s been a full and active day.

[Doolhof]

Hi Eagle Ray,

Thanks so much for sharing your day with us all. It does sound like you are having a wonderful time and you have inspired me to look for new places near us where I can have little outings.

Today it is very windy here and pouring with rain so I will make the most of a day at home. I am feeling more settled than yesterday! I doubt I will be out walking in this weather unless it clears a bit later on.

Yesterday's "walk" was in the supermarket doing the shopping. That can be a physical activity by the time you go up and down the various aisles looking for a certain item, dodging other trolleys and people. Even trying to get the trolley to go straight can take effort.

Pushing the trolley out to the car, navigating a clear path, running overt he top of speed bumps, pushing along a sloped surface, yes that can all be quite a work out! Ha. Ha. 

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Dools, Shell and All,

Yes, I feel like shopping trolleys were designed to create maximum difficulty. Then there’s the runaway trolley where you thought you’d gotten it stable while putting things in the car and it starts escaping while you’ve turned away momentarily. That happened to me recently. They are very difficult beasts to tame! It is very true, they give you lots of exercise, muscle building etc.

Today I travelled to another town. Heading south again the soils are a bit less red and the vegetation a bit less arid. I drove past a magnificent kind of granite mountain range on my way to this town. I’m going to visit it tomorrow. I might even visit it on two days as I’m not sure I can do it justice in one. It’s not well known tourist-wise and yet is quite spectacular and meant to be a haven for wildlife. I guess it’s good some places are not too well known which kind of protects them from the impacts of lots of humans. I was gobsmacked by the site of it today as I was by the places I visited yesterday. We live in a beautiful country.

After having a rest here at the caravan park I looked for somewhere to go for sunset. I found there’s a hill about 10 minutes out of town. When I got there I found it was a nice campsite with caravans and tents there. Smoke was rising from people’s fires. It was homely and I think it’s probably free camping and I was thinking what you were telling me about free camping options Dools and that this would be a good place. I climbed the granite hill above the campsite where there is a weir catching run off from the rocky hill. It was perfectly still and reflecting the blue sky. The views from the top of the hill were just beautiful in the late afternoon light. I took lots of photos. There were patches of green fields and yellow ones with canola. I’m so glad I made the effort to go out there.

One other thing today that was amazing was two huge wedge-tailed eagles flew right over the road in front of me. They were very close and being chased by a raven. I’ve often seen ravens chasing birds of prey and it turns out they will even chase wedge-tailed eagles that are so much bigger than them.

I’m glad you are feeling more settled Dools and I hope you are going well Shell. Sending you both kind wishes.

[Doolhof]

Hi Eagle Ray, Shell and all,

Yesterday I did very little. My energy levels, enthusiasm and motivation seemed to be depleted. Oh well. Maybe I just needed another day of rest.  I am working today so have to get out of the house. Will try for a walk this morning even if it is for 1/2 hour.

Your adventures sound wonderful Eagle Ray. Thanks so much for sharing them with us all.

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

I have just been for a walk of 40 minutes which is wonderful and so much more productive than just thinking about it. In all reality, I know there are some days where a walk is just not possible and I need to accept that.

I walked past the canola crops and saw a couple of kangaroos. One was quite young and seemed to be having trouble jumping through the crop. It was drizzling with rain and there was a breeze as well. The sky was grey with a little glow of lighter colour where the sun was rising behind the cloud cover.

Some ducks were on the dam and I was a little slow with my phone camera to take a picture of them as they took off over the canola crop, it was a lovely image.

There wasn't a lot of traffic so I only had to scamper off the road a couple of times for the trucks. The growth on the side of the road is a little high in places and I become quite damp while walking there. It is a nice walk though despite that.

[Guest_1055]

Ha Ha yes the shopping🛒 trolley. You are definitely moving your body Mrs D when you push around one of these. Plus lifting groceries etc. I haven't experienced the run away trolley adventure Eagle Ray, but definitely times where the wheels don't go where you want them to. And a wheel that sort of clunks along, making a clunk sound. Which I feel a bit embarrassed about ( the noise)

I understand the lack of enthusiasm and even the blanket of darkness that sort of drapes over us at times Mrs D. Thankyou for sharing about your walks though when you can get out there. Your area and Eagle Rays is so very different to mine, not a cannola crop insight here. If you drive a little bit out of the suburbs into the rural you do see turf farms. They are green and very flat. There are paddocks along the highway with cows mostly. And a little bit east is the ocean where I often walk. I was out there walking yesterday on the "coastal walk". That is my name for it. You park in a large carpark which is on a hill. Then walk down. I do walk mainly on the path but will walk on the sand near the water too. Yesterday it was on the path. I could feel the wind in my hair. Super windy out. This walk has a couple of hilly sections. I love feeling the strength in my legs as I walk up the hills. The muscles are so much stronger then before making the walk much more enjoyable. 

Your walks are often beautiful , well they came across that way. 

A raven .... maybe that bird that has a faraway bird noise ? 

[Eagle Ray]

Dear Dools and Shell,

It is lovely to read about your walks. Dools, I loved reading about the image of the ducks flying over the canola field. It sounds like you enjoyed your walk. And Shell it sounds like a great feeling, walking up those hills with energy in your legs on the coastal walk. It can be exhilarating being in the wind too.

Today I went to a rocky hill. It’s referred to as a mountain which it sort of is, but kind of like a large stretched granite hill over some distance. I found there were no paths I could find to go right up it, but I made my way up to a semi-high point and took some photos there. It was quite warm. I then explored a nature reserve below it that has salt lakes and there were Australian Shelducks on the water. I drove right around the mountain. Sheep in paddocks looked at me curiously as I went by.

 I then explored another area where there were more salt lakes, also with water at this time of year, with quite a few water birds. I drove past lots of canola fields. At one point where there was a view I photographed across the landscape which had a band of yellow canola, a band of green on a hill and a band of blue in the sky.

 I stopped at yet another salt lake area. I photographed a Black-winged Stilt feeding and reflected in the water. The late afternoon light was beautiful on the trees. I decided to leave when the mosquitoes got quite bitey. The sun set on yet more canola as I drove back into town.

It was a good day. I brought lots of water but I’d forgotten to put my lunch in the car, but luckily I’d had a decent breakfast. But I was super hungry when I got back so instead of eating my own food I went for a good feed at the pub. The people who run it are absolutely lovely and I met other really nice people there, both visitors and locals. So I was really glad I went there.

[Doolhof]

Hi Shell Eagle Ray and greetings to all reading,

Once again it is lovely to read what you have both written and to feel a connection, thanks.

I encouraged myself to go for a walk this morning. It was very foggy and a little damp outside. I could hear some birds and sheep in the distance but could not see them.

A few spiders had made webs along the farmer's fence, they looked lovely glistening with dampness. The canola offered a dull burst of colour in the grey atmosphere. 

It was a calming walk in the fog. I used to think of it as being eerie and almost invasive until a friend mentioned how she loves the mystical, magical quality of a fog. She told me it makes her feel calm and relaxed, so I tried to encompass that this morning. 

Maybe I need to adapt this way of thinking to my negative and intrusive thoughts! Acknowledge they are there, feel there heaviness and then look to see what is still beautiful in life and be grateful! I know not all issues disappear like a fog, mental health can be a tough journey!

A different perspective can make a difference. 

Regards to you all from Dools

[Eagle Ray]

Dear Dools, Shell and All,

 I love seeing spider webs on foggy mornings with dew drops. They are so beautiful. I love foggy and misty conditions for photography because things like trees and birds on water can look really mystical in those conditions. I liked your description of what you heard and saw which created a sense of the atmosphere you were in.

I had a foggy morning here too. I initially walked into town and the fog was starting to lift. Then when I was driving out of town I drove straight back into fog.   Similar to what you were describing Dools I noticed the yellow canola standing out against the grey of the fog. It looked very mystical on the wetland where I was late yesterday. The fog was still sitting in low lying areas around 10am. But when I got to the place I walked today it was finally gone.

 I walked around the base of a large hill today before climbing it. There were interesting colours and formations in rocks at the side of the hill. There were lots of bitey mosquitoes and I’d forgotten insect repellent. Fortunately, although they’re annoying, I don’t react too badly to mosquito bites. I saw quite a few different birds and got a few photos but I don’t think any great ones. But I enjoyed seeing them. From the top of the hill I had a good view of surrounding countryside. Again there were several large patches of yellow from canola fields mixed in with green patches of crops which are probably mainly wheat and maybe barley. When I got back to my car I found I’d walked 7.5km there.

Driving back I saw some nice wildflowers on the side of the gravel road and stopped to look at them. Sadly back on the bitumen road I saw two squashed echidnas in different places 🙁 Their defence of having spines is of no use against fast moving vehicles. I wanted to visit a lake but was really tired. So realised I should return to the caravan park where I had a munch on a snack and a cup of coffee that tasted so good, the way things do when you really need it. I can feel I’m quite exhausted this evening. Moving on to another town tomorrow.

Take care both and hope you’ve had a good day.