Virtual Treks: Moving On

Life was hectic here last month: Builders came several days a week to fix up our basement which had flooded in July...  It's not quite done yet. It should be completed and ready to move our stuff back in by mid-November.

Then I somehow injured my right leg. My daughter suggested it could be my IT band - a ligament that runs up and down the outside of each leg. She found some exercises online that I started to do.

It's a lot better now - and I attribute it to the exercises and to REST! I did cut back on my walking.

But - in spite of distractions and pain - I have managed to complete my virtual walk in Australia. Yay!! I am now moving into the Northern Hemisphere, to the south-western- most point of England - a place with the charming name of "Land's End."

I'm looking forward to a new kind of scenery in this different part of the world!

My destination is "John o' Groats" - on the north-eastern tip of Scotland.

Silver-Golden Beaches

My current daily exercise is (virtually) hiking along the east coast of Australia...

By virtually hiking, I mean that as I walk (here and there in Canada), my cell phone walking app counts my daily steps, calculates the distance of those steps and moves me that distance along the path I have chosen.

Much of my current trek has been through forest - though occasionally I head down towards the beach. 

The sand is a lovely silver-gold colour...

I am reminded that boat-loads of this sand was once transported from Australia to Hawaii - to cover the black volcanic sand that occurs naturally there.

When pineapples were shipped from Hawaii to Australia, sailors hunted for cargo to send back on the boats, to weigh the empty boats down. What better cargo than beautiful golden sand?!! 

This created an interesting connection between Australia and Hawaii: Many of the beaches in Hawaii are covered with golden Australian sand!

A Little Problem

The past two months, I've had pain in my right leg. It's painful when walking - especially when doing stairs - but the severity fluctuates. I have no idea what caused it - no dramatic event that I can recall.

I went to physiotherapy for a few weeks, but it didn't seem to help.

A friend who had hip replacement surgery a few years ago (and now feels great) wonders if I might need the same. But when I asked "Dr. Google" about hip surgery pain, it appears that my pain is on the wrong side!

My daughter, who studied anatomy for her biomedical communications degree, suggests that it could be my IT band, a tendon that runs up and down the side of the leg. She then sent me a link to Alberta Health and some exercises they provide. 

So that's where I'm at now - exercising and alternating shoes. (Years ago, when I had a knee problem, my shoes were to blame!)

I hope it improves soon. I don't want to stop walking but it's no fun with pain in every step.

My Virtual Walk Continues...

My daily walking is taking me - virtually - along a coastal road in Australia. 

I love the satellite image of the area. The land - and ocean - are so beautiful!

I'm now 85% done!

At this stage of my walk, I'm already beginning to think about my NEXT virtual hike. 

(I know! Why don't I just focus on the present?!)

Mystery Solved!

I'm currently on a virtual walk in New South Wales, Australia.

Some of the paths I've been (virtually) travelling on have "street views" - though they are too steep and narrow for vehicles to drive on... 

How do they get the street view of the area for the google maps?! Elsewhere, most are photographed by a camera on the roof of a car.

Perhaps camera drones?! I wondered...

But then, on one "street view" in the woods, I noticed a camera - and a black baseball cap!

Someone appears to be carrying the google camera on his or her shoulder!

Here's another - this time the person is wearing a hoodie...

So that's how they photograph "street views" on narrow mountain paths?!!

Evening Walk

My son - who currently lives with us - likes to take an evening walk. I sometimes go with him.

We  notice different things:

While I stop to take  pictures of flowers in bloom, he notices that the moon is already out.

We both stop to photograph it - and the clouds.

A peaceful way to end our day.

In the Woods!

Currently, my daily steps are (virtually) transporting me along a coastal trail in western Australia along the New South Wales Coast.

I enjoy the satellite image from above... from this perspective, the view is very scenic...

But recently, on the street level view of the trail, I was surprised to find myself literally walking in the woods!

Where's the path? Is there a road? 

There are no vehicles around! How does the google camera - positioned on top of a vehicle - get here?!! Do they now use a camera on a drone?

Morning Walk

A few days ago, I slept over at my grandkids' house. 

It was a fun, busy time.

After they had caught the morning school bus - at 7:15 AM - my son asked if I wanted to join him for a walk...

He didn't have to start work until 9.

Great idea! 

So off we went around Almonte.

There was less water running over the falls than I expected.

Not long afterwords, Terry arrived to pick me up...

What a peaceful way to start our day!

Learning About Kangaroos

On my virtual walk along a coastal road in eastern Australia, I've reached the natural habitat of kangaroos ...

I was surprised to learn several facts about these animals. First, that there are different kinds of kangaroos - different sizes. 

(Much like we here in eastern Canada have different kinds if squirrels... Sitting on a Montreal park bench one day, I noticed that the brown and white squirrels in the park were about 30% larger than the squirrels in our neighbourhood. That's a significant difference!)

The second surprising fact was that kangaroos can swim - in fact, they are surprisingly good swimmers.

The third surprising fact was that, if threatened in the water by an animal like a dog, they use their upper limbs to push the animal's head under water to drown it! 

Wow! I had never heard that before!

(Makes me realize how little I know!)

Latest Walking Medals

I recently received this double-sided medal on completing my 2,052 km virtual walk along the coastal road in Vietnam. It took me a little over 5 months to do it.

My goal was 10,000 steps a day!

This time I also received a new pin that marks 5 challenges completed.

When I first started these virtual challenges, I wondered how motivating these physical tokens would be.

Turns out, they're very important. I need a tangible reminder of every virtual trip.

I think they are also significant for others - like my grandchildren.

The beautiful medals make it more real!

Labyrinth Exercise

For me, a labyrinth walk is peacefully meditative, as my body and mind churn up thoughts from my subconscious.

But a labyrinth can provide exercise, too! 

Within the bounds of its narrow path, a surprising number of steps - a long circuitous walk in a small area.

Perhaps even a joyful run!

Glad You're OK!

I enjoy watching my grandkids live active lives - doing handstands - and other things I never dared to do.

But - occasionally - there's an injury!

(And, fortunately, there are hospitals!)

So glad the wrist wasn't broken - only sprained.

So glad there was a hospital nearby.

Hope it all heals VERY, VERY QUICKLY!

(Thanks to your Mom for sharing these memories!)

Somewhere... I think I have a broken collarbone X-ray of your Dad's... He had three of those... Or was it a broken arm?!) 

Some memories you want to forget!

Future Sports Mascot?!

My granddaughter had a new acrobatic routine she wanted me to see...

Handstands - wearing part of her brother's Halloween costume...

There's a knack to keeping the head on straight!

Is this how team mascots begin their careers?!

New Virtual Walk

I recently completed my virtual coastal walk in Vietnam... 

And immediately moved to another coastal road - this one in eastern Australia.

I've never been to Australia - but one of my sons visited this area a few years back, during a time of severe forest fires. 

I'll have to ask him about his experience. From the satellite photo, I see that there are quite a few trees in this region.

It is always a fun to see a new part of the world - even virtually!

I expect this new walk to take about 6 months.