In the summer of 2010 Chester was in the grip of Rhino Mania! 62 rhinos created by the regions artists, along with 116 mini school rhinos, took up residence – though it seems a few had left the confines of the city’s walls, one had even made it as far as London.
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I just had to go. More photos can be found in the photo gallery. Continue reading
It seems that King Bladud’s Pigs have been chased out of Bath by a pride of lions (though a couple of brave pigs have remained!).
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The giant pride of 100 individually decorated, life-size lion sculptures took up residence in Bath during the summer of 2010, I just had to go! Continue reading
Hunting Elephants in London…
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Elephant Parade is a conservation campaign that shines a spotlight on the crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant. Brought to you by www.elephantfamily.org, the event sees over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants (each is decorated by a different artist or celebrity) located over central London – I think I have found 53 so far (31st May)!. Continue reading
I had made good progress heading south so the walk today was shorter than planed, though with the good weather and beautiful South Downs I dawdled a while in places – remembering the days of walking the South Downs Way.
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This is certainly a walk to do from North to South, and most enjoyable it was too – thanks to the Vanguards and their excellent website and their fantastic route directions. Continue reading
The end of the first day had left me within touching distance of Ashdown Forest, though my legs were having second thoughts about it – they had become a little too used to the train and tube.
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Thankfully I could leave the busy towns, roads and pony paddocks behind me today and enjoy the splendours of Ashdown Forest and the beauty of the South Downs in the distance. Continue reading
Squeezing onto a commuter train at just gone 7am I stuck out a mile, plenty of tuts and rolled eyes as I tried to ease my way in with rucksack and walking stick – but nothing was going to stop me and the 3 days of walking.
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Thanks to the Vanguards there is a way out of Croydon, allowing you to head south over the North Downs, through Ashdown Forest, arriving on the South Coast in Newhaven – theVanguard Way! Continue reading
A National Trails Register was recently launched with certificates for completing trails!
I have quite enjoyed walking some of the National Trails, and have guidebooks for a few more, though I hadn’t quite realised that there are 18 trails spread across England, Wales and Scotland.
The Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) has set up the register for people completing at least 5 of the 18 National Trails, with certificates at 5, 10, 15 and 18 completed – which is over 2,800 miles if you complete them all. The first recipent, Allan Castle, completed the final Trail, The Speyside Way last May – 30 years after setting off on the South Downs Way (reported in OUTDOORSmagic.com). Here’s to more walking…
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While walking the Southern Upland Way, I came across a seemingly abandoned arch on the top of Benbrack (during day 4 of the walk so I feared I was hallucinating from the exertion of walking).
Quite a while later it all clicked into place – it was better signposted from a road than approaching by walking!
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Spending a bit of time again in Scotland, and it allowed me to find another delicacy that would go well with a nice cup of tea – Ecclefechan Tart.
The withdrawal symptoms were starting to take their toll, and my feet now get blisters just walking to the pub, but thankfully I can now get a virtual outdoors fix – The Outdoor Station autumn series 2008 podcast has just started.
I had never heard of the podcasts until a chap left me a message on this blog. I quickly got hooked with the coverage of The European Outdoor Trade Fair at Friedrichshafen – well all that talk of gadgets was bound to get my attention. I now have a long wish list to drool over during the winter.
There was a great little series on the Cape Wrath Trail – which is now on my list of long distance walks to do, and a fabulous podcast on Cicerone Press
‘The Book Of The Bivvy’ – which was so good it even got me thinking about the possibilities bivvying could bring me and I went out and brought the book.