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......

[Guest_1055]

Arrived home just now from a walk in the chilly air. Felt invigorating mostly, always like  feeling that chill on my face.

As we were walking up the slight hill near our place, the noise of a siren rang through the air. Fire engine maybe. Then we heard dogs howling like they do . The howls were coming from a similar direction. It sounded like a dog chorus with so many different pitches. I wondered how many dogs it actually was. It was cute in a way.

I also went for a shorter walk earlier on.

I am keeping to this challenge I am on with my son ,which included exercise in it. Think it is day 27. I am noticing the benefits of it .

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Shell, Dools and All,

Shell, I didn’t plant anything here. There was a lovely garden when I arrived. I’m trying to look after it as well as the previous people and not quite succeeding. But things are surviving and flowering. I did prune the rose bushes today.

People with private boats ( or canoes or kayaks) can get to the other side of the river. There’s no ferry service, probably because not many people live on the other side. So I’d have to get to know someone with a boat. It would be interesting to have a look over there.

 I ordered some gumboots online last year but found they’re a bit big. So need some new ones. They are handy for the garden too.

 I’m glad you enjoy those invigorating walks in the evening chill. I enjoy that too. I used to live with a dog who would howl with sirens. It’s like they are communing with the siren sound. I think it would be very therapeutic to howl and maybe we humans should do it!

 I went down to the river at sunrise this morning. The morning light was so beautiful. I got a few bird photos which weren’t the greatest photos, but I loved seeing the birds in the morning light - pelicans, cormorants, gulls, honeyeaters and fantails. A few people asked me about my camera and lens. It’s nice to chat with people. There were not many people out though, so much of the time I was alone. There was just one fisherman on the jetty. I’m very glad I made the effort to go down as it’s such a special time of day. It also seems to help me for the rest of the day having a good start like that.

[Eagle Ray]

Hello All,

This afternoon I went for a walk at my favourite place by the ocean. It was cold and crisp. I was even wearing thermals to keep warm. I walked across the rocky landscape next to my favourite hill to where the rock pool is. I could see the tide had been high and was receding. Water was funnelling into the rock pool from both ends and meeting in a kind of swirl.

Looking across the coastal hills I could see a bird of prey. I practised tracking it with my camera though it was too far to get a good photo. I walked along a narrow path in the coastal vegetation. It was full of multiple kinds of small birds. It reminded me of snorkelling and being surrounded by fish, so kind of like a sea of birds. Every now and then an emu-wren would pose beautifully for me on a twig and then bounce away as I was about to take a photo. It’s like they are going, hee hee, let’s tease the human. They are such stunning little birds. Only a few weeks ago one landed on my elbow when I was resting by the river.

On my way back down the path a pallid cuckoo seemed to be following me the whole way, but never showing itself. It kept being just a few metres from me and I knew it was there from its call. They have quite a haunting call. At this time I was also noticing a coastal plant that reminds me of rosemary but with slightly shorter leaves. It actually has a delicate smell that is like a mix of rosemary, marjoram and oregano. It’s a native plant but probably one that could be used in a similar culinary way.

I just so enjoyed being amongst all the birds and in that environment again as hadn’t been there in a while. It always feels good to go out there.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi All,

Today I walked by a river in a nearby town. The water was rushing past and at the highest level I’ve seen it. It had turned previous areas of land into waterscapes. At the weir the water was rushing powerfully over it, crashing onto rocks and creating wild rapids. It was extremely loud.

Across the weir I looked for scarlet robins who are often in that area. I didn’t see any but as I went along I saw several other birds and got photos of fairy wrens, parrots and a common bronzewing pigeon. The common bronzewing has beautiful colours on its side which show up best in the sun. It was cloudy today but I was still happy to get a photo of one.

School kids were both trekking and mountain biking on the trails, guided by their teachers. It’s a great location for kids to be outdoors being active. It’s very muddy at the moment. You see some mountain bikers who you know have stacked it by the mud all over their clothes.

It was good to be moving as the air was cold again today. I love this location. It was a bit dark for photography with the combination of forest cover and cloudiness, but happy to still get some decent images at the slower shutter speeds in these conditions. At one stage I chatted with another walker and we said how we find it such a beautiful place. Being among the tall trees is a bit like being in a cathedral with birdsong emanating downwards.

[Guest_1055]

Morning Eagle Ray, it would be an adventure getting to the other side of the river. Hoping you can go one day if you really want to. Might be a lot of bird life over there for you.

Nice you had a dog once, what was it's name. I also had a dog ,his name was Cocoa. And grew up with one called Cheeky. I can imagine howling like a dog would feel freeing . Actually I think my son use to do that at times ,when he was little to try to make Cocoa howl. 

And walking first in the early morning light does help.

[Guest_1055]

Hi Eagle Ray again, I have something to say about each of your latest posts. Hope it's ok to write several different replies to each just to help organise my thoughts.

Truly beautiful how an emu wren landed on your arm. You do seem really at home amongst all the bird life and other types of creation don't you. I have never heard of an emu wren , but will look it up. 

Did you do formal study of bird life ,I did wonder that. I was looking for an app on helping to identify birds. I did come across one that identifies bird calls. I haven't used it yet though.

[Guest_1055]

Thankyou for sharing this walk Eagle Ray. Its lovely and actually I find myself being educated reading about all the birds you see. And inspired to learn more myself.

[Guest_1055]

Hello

Yeah yeah! I finished this 30 day challenge yesterday.

Which did have exercise in it. I was to at least do some for 1 hour and 30 mins daily. I never missed a day, but some days it was for 1 hour. I am super thankful that I could be consistent doing it each day. I ate no junk food either. 

One walk I did was partly around a lake. It was such a sunny day that day. I come to a tunnel going under the road. So I walked through it. It didn't quite click at the time I was walking under the road. But I found myself on the other side. There was a path there too, so I decided to follow it anyway to see where it went. It ended at another road near some houses. Right there was a children's playground and picnic tables. I turned back around and headed towards the tunnel again. I was now back on the other side near the lake. 

I have walked a lot around my place. Including walking around the rec. The rec where the hobby farm is. I have feed the horse several times nice juicy green grass. It's own paddock was lacking grass like that. I thought I would take it a carrot next time. We have plenty in the fridge.

I have walked a fair bit on the breakwall. Once at that water reservoir reserve that I use to walk with my sister. I will be walking there today as I am heading that way to feed someone's pet cow 🐄🐄🐄.

[Guest_1055]

Walked around the water reservoir park. 

I did notice birds, birds in the water and birds walking on the grass near it.

I did recognise black swans. The others well I don't know their names.

Some had black feathers they were wading in the shallow reeds and swimming in the reservoir.

Another water bird had long legs and was by itself. I walked up close to it, but it flew off only to land just a little further away.

It was a nice walk

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Shell, that particular dog’s name was Cooper but I have lived with several. He just particularly liked to howl with sirens. He was a lovely boy.

 I had a bird app which I think might have been the Morecombe and Stewart one for Australian birds. I think there’s a few so if you look at reviews you might get a sense of the best ones. I haven’t formally studied birds, I’ve just always loved them.

So happy for you completing the 30 day challenge. Well done! I enjoyed hearing about feeding the horse and cow, and the birds you saw. I love water birds and wetlands. Right now I’m actually in a forest. Pallid cuckoos are calling to one another and echoing through the forest. It is very still. I got some photos of a rosella feeding earlier and a kookaburra who was in the process of swallowing a lizard. It looked like a bit of a struggle. I’m on a short circuit walk on my second lap but having a rest, but going to continue now and see what I see.