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Kindle Books

20 Yorkshire Walks with only one map OL21

Kindle book - My Lanzarote. 10 walks and a personal view

Kindle Book And A Pub For Lunch

20 Walks in the Yorkshire Dales with only one map OL2

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Blog (2012)

Blog updates are only on an "ad hoc" basis when I have something to say and will not be particularly regular. Latest entries first.

21 December 2012

I used Google Maps to show the start point of my walks and to identify the towns/villages in which advertisers of accommodation are located. I was asked how this was done by someone wanting to draw routes on Google Maps. It was easier to explain this visually rather than try to verbally describe it and I produced a Guide to using Google Maps which I make available here In case this is of use to anyone else. The principle of creating lines/markers is the same. I have also set out a way of transferring GPX routes to Google Maps.

19 December 2012

About 7 years ago, I purchased some Páramo gaiters. They have a fabric strap at the front on which is a metal hook which goes over the boot laces. Recently when preparing for a walk, one of these hooks snapped, which I can only put down to metal fatigue. The other hook was also showing the early signs of a crack. As one end of the fabric strap is stitched and the other has a large press-stud, there was no obvious way to replace the hook. I therefore emailed Páramo asking for advice.

What I expected was the option to purchase some kind of supplementary hook which in some way clipped over the strap. What actually happened was that Páramo asked me to send them the gaiters. Today, only about a week later, I received them back fully repaired, thoroughly cleaned and re-proofed. It turns out that  Páramo give a lifetime guarantee and have done all this for nothing. Although I am punctilious about washing the gaiters after use, I could never get them as clean as Páramo have done. They now look quite literally like brand new. Only a little visual wear on the press-studs down the front give their previous use away.

They also sent a free set of the rubber straps which go under the boot.

So, well done Páramo. If only everyone gave such great customer service.

26 November 2012

I have a request from someone for advice on which of my walks in Yorkshire could be done via public transport. It struck me that this might be of interest to a few people. Most of my walks are circular so they can obviously be started at any point on the circle. I have started with the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire and will gradually work through the areas.

12 November 2012

I had set myself a goal of publishing at least 100 walks on this site by the end of 2012 and I am please to note that with the addition of my last Devon walk, at least for this year, from Salcombe to Blanksmill Bridge and Snapes Point, I have reached the 100. This is especially gratifying having been denied use of my boots for a few weeks after the incident on 22 August - see below. Back to Northern paths now.

9 November 2012

Judging from the news, it is most unlikely that a great deal can be done about the die-back affecting ash trees in our country and that the result will be a 30% loss of trees (that is 30% of all trees!). So that whatever can be done is done, the Forestry Commission are asking for reports if the disease is spotted and there are instructions as to what to look for - see their website at  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara.  Walkers are ideally suited to spot outbreaks. It will be very sad if we lose all our ash trees and even if it is unstoppable and the trees are replaced with something else, it will be years before the appearance of the countryside recovers. It is Dutch Elm Disease all over again!

3 October 2012

Saw physio on Monday and have been given some exercises to do. I can now do some walking as long as I take care over rocky ground/loose stones etc. Much better now so no more updates on this sad (and now boring!) issue. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who sent me their good wishes.

7 September 2012

Put the last crutch away yesterday. I can walk half a mile or so but have to be very careful where I put my feet to avoid twisting/turning the leg at all. Seen a consultant who diagnosed a partially torn medial collateral ligament. Physio booked but started exercises already from internet. Still wearing splint at night as my leg will not stand me turning over in bed. This is no fun at all!

31 August 2012

Cut the painkillers today but a bit premature I think! Knocked it this morning and it hurt like ****!

28 August 2012

Took splint off today and tried some tentative leg bending. It has got used to being held straight and objected to being bent but I persevered. Did manage to use it as the lead leg to climb the stairs so that is hopefully a good sign. Using a short knee brace to help. I have to be very careful turning though. Do not now seem to need the crutches around the house anyway.

26 August 2012

Totally fed up with my splint and the crutches. Being normally quite fit, I has not realised how awkward it would be. Went into the kitchen on day 2 to make my breakfast, then realised I could not carry it through to anywhere else with crutches. Although I have mastered going upstairs, coming down is a bum sliding affair. What this makes me realise is how difficult life must be for the permanently disabled. Only when you lose abilities do you appreciate how precious they were. Need to appreciate usual good fortune more. Huge respect to the paralympians.

23 August 2012

One of the standard bits of advice one gets for hiking is, where possible, do not walk alone. This was brought home to me in a big way yesterday when walking on the NY Moors. Looking for a route down a steep bank, I trod on some heather with my left leg to find the heather bush was actually over fresh air. My leg shot into space and the sideways motion caused my right leg to twist sideways. Now knees are not meant to work that way and I found myself in absolute agony stuck in a cleft between two rocks. My "good" leg was in space and unable to gain any purchase. My right was useless and the angle I was at meant I could not get leverage to use my arms/elbows to lever myself out. Had I been on my own, I could have been there still. Memories of Touching the Void came flooding in!

Fortunately, I was with a friend who was able to pull me out. There was a painful struggle back to the car and home (though we managed a pint first - priorities!). After a trip to the local minor injuries unit and X-rays, I now have an ankle to thigh splint bristling with Velcro to prevent me bending my leg and provide support for my torn ligament. It will be some weeks before I am able to resume hiking. Fortunately there is no damage to the joint itself.

After many years walking, this is my first incident. Let's hope it is the last.

23 July 2012

I have had a couple of interesting communications over the past few days.

1) This was from a lady in Scotland who arranges a walking week for 5 friends each year. They came to the Yorkshire Dales and she wrote to thank me for my walk directions they had used for some walks. They had such a good time that they are planning to return again next year to do some more. She also suggested an amendment to one of my directions which I have now incorporated – for which I have thanked her. It was nice that she took the trouble to detail the amendment precisely.

2) The second was from another lady who has only been walking seriously for about 8 weeks and has already completed 4 of my walks and has clearly found the directions useful. One of these was Burnsall to Grassington which I only mention specifically because readers might be interested to know that second only to my Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head walk, the Burnsall to Grassington walk was consistently the most visited of my walks over the last 6 months.

I do not know why I find this surprising, it is after all a lovely walk but I think I perhaps expected a better known walk such as Ingleborough or Pen y-Ghent to be ahead of it. Maybe the fact that it is a more straightforward walk simply makes it accessible to more people.

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.