Another lovely autumn day. There was a light frost last night but I didn't see this morning's evidence on the car windscreens as I was lying abed listening to the BBC Radio 4 morning news show - "Today". I stumbled downstairs at 9am for my customary pint of tea and a bowl of breakfast cereal.
Two hours later I showered, got dressed and was ready to roll out for a long walk. I didn't want to drive far so I headed for the Rails Road public car park in the Rivelin Valley. I have been there to start walks several times before and, just for example, previously blogged about one of them here.
Above - images from my walk by The River Rivelin. As you can see, sunshine made it all rather magical. I walked for two and a half hours. After the Rivelin Valley Road Bridge, I veered up the valley side to Hagg Lane and just before I reached its very end I saw this young woman approaching with her two horses.
I asked if I could take her picture and she kindly obliged. It's likely that she loves her two horses more than anything. She was taking them back to their stable.
Then it was back down to the river, tumbling as nearly all rivers do towards the sea. This time I was walking south of the Rivelin and not north as I had done on my way out. Soon I was back at Clint ready for the fifteen minute drive home. The top picture shows a sign I spotted on the car park noticeboard.
I was very glad that I had chosen to venture out today and pleased that the plantar fasciitis did not interfere with my pleasure. Since I admitted to myself that that is the problem, I have occasionally performed recommended exercises - including rolling a ball under my left foot for several minutes at a time. It appears to be working.
Again, a nice walkabout with lovely photos to prove it. Glad your foot isn't bothering you, as much as you enjoy your walks.
ReplyDeleteWalking in England is such a joy as we have thousands of miles of ancient public footpaths that crisscross the landscape.
DeletePlantar fasciitis can be miserable but it can easily be treated. Stick with the stretching
ReplyDeleteHave you had it Red?
Delete"the river, tumbling as nearly all rivers do towards the sea."
ReplyDeleteI laughed at that.
First, because I can feel a poem coming on. (From you, not me.)
Secondly, because I detect in "as nearly all rivers do" years of teacherly experience of dealing with or preempting exceptions offered from the snarky zones of the bored and restless - year 9 probably the peak of that. "But Sir, what about Lake [Baikal, Eyre, insert other below-sea-level lake of your choice]? What about the Dead Sea? Is the Dead Sea even a sea?"
Maybe that's just me projecting from my much briefer time (3 years) as a classroom teacher.
And it's not as if I was never on the other side of this. As my year 9 and 10 maths teacher said in a school report (God I was bored in those classes and it was not because I was bad at the subject): "[Marcellous's] tendency to be disputatious as a matter of course is of little assistance to himself or his fellow students." I am sure that the reported tendency was hardly news to my parents.
Anyway, good to hear that the PF, now acknowledged, is responding to the regimen you have adopted and look forward to the return of more out-and-about-walking posts. Happy birthday for the other day.
This was a lovely response Marcellous - imagining the subtext and relating to it through your own experience.
DeleteThe river, tumbling as nearly all rivers do towards the sea
Thought I as I hid in the bushes having a pee.
I thought you were going to follow the directions on that sign and find the apple shop to buy apple tarts for high tea at home. The pictures are very lovely. I'm glad the foot exercises are helping.
ReplyDeleteI bet that "The Apple Shack" is no longer there. The sign looks fairly old.
DeleteThe horses aren't big enough to be Clydesdales but the have the Clydesdale feet.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo is very lush.
Were you in The Boy Scouts Andrew? Your observation skills are incredible!
DeleteI absolutely loved this walk of yours, especially the two tubby ponies.
ReplyDeleteAll within the City of Sheffield boundaries.
DeleteWhat a wonderful walk you had, and the perfect day for it! Thank you for taking us along. Doesn't everything feel so much better after a good, substantial walk?
ReplyDeleteI envy you right now, since I have not been able to do anything more than an hour's worth of (slow) walking, still nursing my cold and the nasty cough having me firmly in its grip.
It must be such a relief to find the exercises for your foot working. No need to tell you that they will be more effective if instead of occasionally, you do them regularly.
Thank you Dr Riley. I will try to stick with the exercises. By the way, please don't cough on me next time I have a consultation!
DeleteIt was definitely a day for photos..and walking.
ReplyDeleteRolling a golf ball underfoot has always worked for my plantar fasciitis in the past. Glad that it seems to be working for you too.
Well I never knew you suffered from plantar fasciitis. I have got two balls - one is the size of a cricket ball!
DeleteYour pictures are so lovely. Makes me want to go out and walk more. I too have plantar fasciitis. It's wicked, isn't it? Has cut into my dog walking adventures. Just got custom-made insoles for my shoes. With my insurance, they cost $800; if I didn't have insurance, they would have cost $2300. Isn't that just insane? But, I can now walk w/out any pain so I'm glad I could get them.
ReplyDeleteAn American doctor (YouTube) advised regularly rolling balls under bare feet. He suggested a lacrosse ball but I use a rubber cricket ball. JayCee above uses a golf ball. Have you tried this Elle?
DeleteA post that captures much about the joys of living in England.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young, I never realised that our amazing network of public footpaths was such a national treasure. No other country in the world has anything similar.
DeleteAt least you see people on your walks. I rarely see anyone.
ReplyDeleteWhat after shave do you use Dave?
DeleteA lifetime of beautiful walks to be had there.
ReplyDeleteYou are right there David. You could never walk them all.
DeleteI'm so glad you were able to get out there and walk for that long. Good for you! And what a beautiful place to walk.
ReplyDeleteThat valley is quite magical. So many echoes of past times.
DeleteWhat a lovely, peaceful walk through the countryside and along the river. Just think of all the people who have walked those paths over the centuries. What a treasure you have in these ancient paths.
ReplyDeleteIn the 19th century many mill and metal workers would have walked in that valley. Going to and leaving work.
DeleteLooks like a nice walk. The autumn colours here a bit ahead of yours now, I think (as is probably usually the case).
ReplyDeleteI would expect so Monica.
DeleteYou do find so many lovely places to hike, Neil. I love to walk near water as it is very soothing to me. Glad your foot is better.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen. I must keep on looking after my left foot.
DeleteThank you for sharing another beautiful walk on a splendid autumn day, making us glad to be alive. Excellent photos again YP, and interesting to see that very few of the trees are just starting to turn autumnal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming along Carol.
DeleteLovely photos. We haven't had a killing frost yet and I still have annuals blooming, unheard of for the middle of October. Apparently the trees are confused and are trying to bloom again, thinking it's spring.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Shirley is shaking her head at you. Who knew that the stretches recommended could help? Your wife:)
Stretch our your calves too, it helps so much.
I am not a dairy farmer so I don't have any calves!
DeleteOMG that such an awful pun:)
DeleteThank you Pixie!
DeleteBeautiful country. I could walk there every day. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteBest when it's not raining Deb.
DeleteRolling a ball under one's foot sounds kind of pleasant, actually. Maybe I should try it too! (Even though I don't yet have plantar's.)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great walk with good weather for photos. It got down to about 36º F here, so not quite cold enough for frost.
It is pleasant rolling a ball with a bare foot and probably good for your feet even if you do not suffer from plantar fasciitis. The exercise might be preventative.
DeleteWhat a glorious bucolic scene. Reflections in still water are a joy to behold.
ReplyDeleteI like horses - such splendid animals.
I think my comment disappeared. Bless Blogger!
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous bucolic photographs. I love seeing still water reflections and am always pleased to see horses - such splendid animals.