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......

[Shell4]

I went walking up with mum and little sniffer/ runner dog. It was more like a stroll I think. It was up through a beautiful golf course at first . The perimeter of it. I looked at all the water birds around and in the large pond. I recognised ducks waddling down to the water. Those browny coloured ones. They walk quite cute I think. There were black birds with long skinny legs, I don't know what they were. Ibis I think the skinny legged ones too with dirty white main bodies. A couple of pelicans. Another type which mum called chickens, not egg eating laying chickens but some other kind. Think there was another kind too. I just liked watching them enjoying there day out near the water.

Sniffer dog was on a lead otherwise she would have chased them for sure. She seemed to enjoy walking through the grass and sniffing at whatever her nose noticed. She started to go down a small dense bank mum urged her back. We walked past a beautiful aged shady tree that lined the path. At one point we needed to walk to the side as several men in golf buggies wanted to pass us on the path. 

We crossed over the road after this and walked down a road with houses on both sides. This road eventually leads to the water which I think is small inlets from a large long river.

Mum knew a place along this walk that sold raw honey. So we bought 2 glass bottles of it. 

We made it to the water and walked around on the path that follows it. It sort is like several inlets. One with a marina with a fenced of jetty with boats attached to it. There are many houses here too. Quite large tall ones. There are hedges all neatly pruned along parts of this path as well as several seats scattered here and there. We rested on one for a little while. People often stop to pat sniffer dog. She is very friendly, gentle and highly lovable with beige coloured fur which is super soft. She also has chocolate coloured eyes which a large and round and look sort of melty.

Amongst all the pats and hellos. Because people with their dogs say hello to including the dogs. We met someone that lived down we I live. I thought oh that was cool. So we listened to part of their life story.

After that we kept walking along looking at the water which in places had mangroves growing in the shallow places. It also was breezy that day. Eventually we made it back home. 

A couple of other times I walked to the local supermarket up here as well

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Shell,

On this occasion I did not smell the fish being cleaned but I have at other times. They'd packed away when I got there and the fish must have been inside an esky and the scraps gobbled up by the pelicans and stingrays. A stingray mouth is on the underside of their body. If you ever go to one of those aquariums where it's like a clear tunnel surrounded by water, you will likely see them swim over you and then you see their mouth underneath. The people feeding them scraps while cleaning fish put their hand under the ray's body. The rays will nudge their legs, hoping for scraps. It's cute to watch.

That sounds like another lovely walk with your mum and little sniffer/runner dog. It's nice to hear about the different birds. Is it possible your mum was referring to "bin chickens", as I've heard that's the nickname some people give to ibis because they often hang around bins looking for things to eat? I love hearing about little sniffer/runner dog who sounds so incredibly cute. I can so understand people wanting to stop and say hello to her  and give her a pat. And, yes, it's such a great way to meet and chat with people through dogs who often bring people together.

That's great to buy the raw honey. I've noticed a couple of places in my town that sell raw honey and fresh eggs from their house and I've been meaning to get some. That's interesting seeing the mangroves. In WA there are some mangroves as far south as a town called Bunbury. A while back I stopped in the town to have a look at them. There is a boardwalk to walk amongst them. Apparently it's unusual for them to grow that far south.

I did a lovely walk on Wednesday on a coastal path and over granite rocks by the sea. I took my telephoto lens and photographed some Pacific Gulls in flight. I also photographed some cute crabs feeding on the rocks as well as some marine snails attached to the rocks. A husky dog appeared on a rocky ridge and looked very much like a wolf up there. Then another one appeared and then the owners. It felt like I was in the wild in North America all of a sudden and seeing a wolf. I have always loved huskies. When I was 5 we were at the local shopping centre at Christmas and Santa went through the shopping centre on a sleigh pulled by huskies! I'm not sure they would do that these days as I think there are stricter occupational health and safety rules, but it was so lovely to see. They are such fluffy, beautiful looking dogs.

[Shell4]

I quite like Huskies too. They are emotional dogs I think. I just did a search and saw they have beautiful eyes. Blue. Not sure if they all have blue. 

Yes it is possible mum was talking about the bin chickens.  

Yes I am not sure about dog rules either. Might be some around greyhounds as well.

That is great you were able to catch beauty with your camera. I am trying to think of snails and what type of shell house they have. I have seen tiny black rounded shells stuck to rocks in rock pools. Didn't think of them as snails and they may not be. And also tiny grey long ones properly about 11/2 cm in length. I have a vague memory of watching them move on their rocks and leaving fine lines in the sandy bottoms of the rick pools. Maybe I will take a walk around the rock pools here and explore them to see what is going on. You inspired me to do that.

Think there is a aquarium in Sydney maybe they will have sting rays there and I will be able to see there mouth.

I am not that good with a camera. But I do think it is wonderful that if somebody is. I imagine you would notice so much more details and beauty around you. And you can sort of study whatever it is you are capturing by seeing and more seeing it then most people. 

[Shell4]

Tonight I went for a walk on the breakwall. The breeze was incredible, so fresh and invigorating. Almost hoodie season. We didn't walk right to the end but pretty close, the waves were coming on over the wall. I just was not keen to get drenched us all. I am thankful I went on out though 

[Eagle Ray]

I looked up to see if huskies have other eye colours and it said although blue is common, they can also have brown, amber or green eyes. I think they are emotional dogs. One of my former housemates had the most beautiful dog who was half husky and half kelpie. He was like a beautiful white wolf. I think he only ever barked once or twice which I think was the husky in him. He would express himself with other sounds instead or otherwise just be very quiet. But he had this very noble energy. When my housemate was away, I remember taking him for a walk one night by the ocean under the stars. It felt safe going on a night walk with him. Just being with this beautiful dog who was like a white wolf under the stars was such an amazing experience.

I looked up to see if I could find the type of marine snails I saw and they could be a type of periwinkle but I'm not sure. They are round and attach to the rocks like the ones you describe, though the ones I saw are not tiny but more like the size of a garden snail. I was calling them marine snails but I'm not sure if that's correct. Rock pools can be so lovely to explore. I have a favourite one about a 10 minute drive from here. I saw an octopus in there one day and I sometimes see these beautiful stripy fish in there.

Yes, I think the aquarium in Sydney would have stingrays. It's funny seeing their mouth from underneath.

I really love photography. When I put the image on the computer I often see things I didn't notice at the time of taking the photo. For example, I might have a photo of a flower and then I realise there was a tiny spider on it I didn't see when I took the photo.

Your walk on the break wall sounds so enlivening. I'm glad you really enjoyed it. Yes, I'm noticing it getting cooler here too and I'm having to think about warmer clothing.

Yesterday afternoon I walked on a loop trail in some forest. There were little White-breasted Robins who would hop down on the path and then back up to a branch. They always seem to be chasing insects that I can't see. I noticed that it was very still at ground level but up in the tree canopy there was a gentle breeze. It was incredibly peaceful. The autumn light was just this beautiful, gentle light filtering through the forest.

[Shell4]

Oh lovely your walk through the forest certainly feels peaceful. I could almost see the autumn light filtering through the trees. And little birds enjoying what they were doing ....simply living .

[Shell4]

I went through a stroll through someones garden late yesterday. I walked out the garden room through I think double timber doors down the beautiful brick/ sandstone steps. 

I walked along the path almost removed of grass ( it once had healthy green grass). Now there was a dusty in sections feel beneath my feet. I was wearing like brown boots my favourite pair of shoes currently. I walked along hearing and watching the children having such fun in the boat on the small lake/ large pond. I walked along looking at sections of the garden that were heavily pruned and it looked like many shrubs and trees had been removed or just died. I found myself feeling a little sad at seeing it. I had walked through this garden many times. Orange trees had fallen oranges on the ground and the leaves on these trees looked sad and wilted. Actually many shrubs did, like they were lacking in love, water and nourishment from the soil. I kept walking along noticing the gazebo with a wine barrel as a table was still there. But the vines that sheltered this special place where people often got married just didn't look the same. So tired and weathered. I walked through the gate towards the chicken house, there were no chickens anymore. As I write this I do feel sad. But I think it will be good for me to write it down rather then keeping this sadness inside of me. Maybe?? There was no cow in the paddock either. I noticed a rather large pile of branches and logs perhaps from all the plants that once looked beautiful and lush.

I walked on around a corner to see and smell a little fire pit that was used recently for something significant. Just beyond that is the other side of that lake/ pond. There is a short timber jetty that goes into the water. The children were still having fun in the boat and I could hear their chatter but not close enough to hear what they were saying. 

I noticed people across the lake near those same doors that I walked out of before. I knew the children's mumma would be watching out for her children in the boat as she is a good mumma.

I walked on a little more and sat on a large flat rock that was high up some and was being used as a border for the garden there. Tears were a little behind my eyes and I thought about things for a while. I did notice other people straight ahead of me but a bit of a distance away they were some where near the gazebo. And someone else walked by me and said you are sitting away from the "hussle and bussel". So I simply said yes. I am not sure if he heard me or not.

I got up after a while and walked up behind where I was sitting on the rock. There is a narrow path up there. I followed that walking up beside the house towards the vegetable gardens. The orange trees looked wilted there too and thirsty. I didn't notice any vegetables at all. They may have been there but I didn't notice them. I looked up at the mulberry tree, thinking maybe there would be a mulberry growing on it. But then thinking it may not be the correct season for mulberries. 

Actually I cannot remember seeing the apple trees that were growing in one of the places or maybe they were mandarins. I walked a bit more towards the house. Down the stairs towards the side door. Now I am remembering the time a few years back that I was there feeding the 3 dogs and 1 cat while the owners were on holidays.

Sometimes I don't understand why things in this life on earth have to be sad like they are. Or messy like they are. Or painful like they are. This garden was at one point full of life, health and had a beauty shining from it. But now it looked weathered, tired and like it had been through a rough time. Tears are behind my eyes. Why are things like this?? I know the person who poured her soul into this garden. 

[Shell4]

I was quite overwhelmed a few days ago. Overwhelmed, scattered in my thoughts, emotionally a bit of a mess. I could not think clearly either. It was suggested to me " you should go for a walk". So I did. We walked on the the breakwall and then drove to another beach and walked along there too.

I did feel much better afterwards so I am thankful I went.

On the breakwall the waves were coming over the wall again in sections. I did feel the spray of water a couple of times and I didn't go right to the end. Around at the other place now. There is a few hills on this walk. I was feeling tired but we walked up them anyways. I just cannot remember anything else about this time. But I am indeed thankful I walked.

Yesterday I pushed my little nephew in his pram up the gravel road. He so much enjoys feeling the bumps from the wheels of the pram going over loose stones, dips in the road and I saw him looking at the trees. He seems more observant then before. His mumma was riding her horse slowly with us. I smelt fire along this road, it was someone that had been burning off a pile of logs. There was a little smoldering still remaining. I heard the clip clop of the horses shoes on the road, he sort of had a rhythm happening there. I walked up a dead end road and back whilst the horse was eating grass on the beginning of this road

 The horse was with my nephews mumma. So I continued to push the pram up this road. On the way back down I picked some juicy green grass and put in the basket under the pram. A got back to the beggining of this street ( which was now a tar road) and we continued walking towards the gravel road. I had feed the horse the lush green grass that I picked and we actually found another patch and picked more for him. I am now getting use to this particular horse and found myself patting him. We kept walking along and to my right and very close to me was the horse staring at the basket below the pram. It still had lots of juicy grass in it. It felt like he was walking closer and closer to me. Sort of nudging me somehow to get to his tasty snack. I ended up giving him some later in his feed trough thing on their property. 

At that some day but later in the day I walked again to help this little baby get to sleep and so his mumma could just get a bit of a break on her own. It was on a recently build private road on the property. A beautiful road as far as roads go. I lost count of how many times I walked back and forth maybe 5 times. It is not hugely long. I liked looking into the bush as I was walking . It did look dry.

I walked this evening up to the supermarket and back

[Shell4]

I went out walking with my sister in a large park. I noticed the sun setting. And I noticed a sausage dog with its low tummy walking with their humans

[Shell4]

Hi ER, just read your recount about your time with that Husky/ Kelpie dog

 Think maybe it didn't register in my brain before or something. Don't know. I liked reading about your description about it all and your experience.