I’ve not reviewed a #SlowWays route for a while as I’ve done the ones local to me and/or with good public transport. But new bus services across Dartmoor have suddenly made the moorland routes more easily doable. Princetown to Ivybridge today and the sun is shining ☀️.
⛈🇺🇦 Thunder shook the city today, echoing off the ancient houses. But as soon as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the streets of Odesa once again lit up with life, and the asphalt began to emit warm smoke, heralding the imminent return of the summer heat. #odesa#walk#walking#ukrainian#ukraine#photo#photography#photos
🌧️🇺🇦 Gray clouds enveloped Odesa, as if wanting to shelter the city from the noisy world. Fragile jets of rain pour from the sky, washing the sidewalks, houses and people. The atmosphere seems to invite to reflection, to search for inspiration ✨ #odesa#ukrainian#ukraine#walk#walking#photo#photography#photos
Meanwhile in Columbia, traffic free city Sundays are a big thing; this looks like a great way to start to wean us off our urban addiction to automotive travel. Imagine what this would look like in London, Manchester or Edinburg (or any town/city).
Of course the 15-minute-city conspiracy theorists will have some nut-job theory about how this is a communist plot... but for the rest of us, looks like a great idea!
⛲ Fountains are one of the visiting cards of Odesa. They give life-giving moisture on hot summer days, bring calmness and pleasure ✨
The "Nymph" Fountain in the Palais-Royal, Odesa Ukraine 🇺🇦 #fountain#odesa#ukrainian#ukraine#walk#walking#photo#photography
Today we set out on our postponed two-stages of the Cathar Way (we might finish it eventually, one stage at a time!) in the Pyrenees. No rain on our walk, more importantly none of the thunderstorms that have peppered our days here, and a goodly amount of sunshine.
We reached Comus well ahead of schedule just after lunch and had to wait for the only establishment to open.
We’re staying in a gîte d’étape (hostel) and I’m slightly out of my comfort zone! Beers are helping!
Another lovely walk…another day playing with thunderstorms! A 15 km walk from Rennes-le-Chateau to Espéraza (where there’s a quirky market on a Sunday - great stop for lunch and gift shopping). ‘Weather’ was forecast for late pm but storm clouds rolled in just after lunch so we hoofed it back to Rennes. Some big fat raindrops, thunder rumbling and lightening flashing on the next hill over. But as we reached Rennes the sun came back out again and we enjoyed a beer on a sunny terrace.
time for some good news ...
"‘It’s unbelievable the difference a path has made’: how volunteers are building a #cycle network a yard at a time - In the past two years, multiple sections of a hoped-for 76-mile rural #cycling and #walking route spanning #Somerset have sprouted up around the small town of Shepton Mallet, seemingly every few weeks.
These new routes are popular. One 300-metre section of path in the heart of the town, for example, uses one of Historic Railway Estates’ bridges for the first time for a cycle route (an organisation usually more given to infilling its structures).
The path, with its smooth surface and artwork, ducks under a busy road that was previously terrifying for walkers and cyclists to have to cross. Now a large housing area is safely connected to schools, shops, parks and local businesses. Within a year, digital counters detected 104,000 trips – in a town of fewer than 10,000 people."
Mount Hood looks stunning from up here on Table Mountain. I was informed by a frankly terrified-looking day hiker that black bears were seen up here last night. I’m proceeding with caution and will update you if I encounter them. 🐻🗻☀️
A huge congratulations to @philipthalis on his well-deserved award.
Philip is undeniably both one of Australia's most respected architects and a tireless advocate for good urban design.
More importantly, he's not afraid to speak up publicly against bad state government planning decisions, as he did with Barangaroo, even when there's a personal cost.
A throwback to two years ago and this wonderful wild garlic-lined bridleway. It was part of an absolutely cracking 15 mile walk I did from Kingsbridge to Dartmouth on a perfect May day. Need more of those now!
I had an amazing weekend, I’m so happy spring is finally here. It’s so freeing to carry everything you need on your back and be completely surrounded by nature. I feel so much safer alone in the middle of the forest than camping along forest roads. I’m considering this spring training while the Cascades are still covered in snow. This trail is ideal for that.
Oof! I might have overdone it a little bit today. I’ve had low energy levels these last couple of days so thought I’d go for a 12.5 mile hike on the moor 🤔. Felt further with the sodden peat sucking at my boots every step.
Lovely in the sunshine though with the sound of skylarks, stone chats and meadow pipits. Several stone circles and stone rows to investigate.
Then the ‘weather’ came in, and it became quite a slog back. Found me a quaking mire which was fun!