David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 11, 2007 I feel like going walking. Pity that none of my friends seem to be interested. I'd love to start walking and to try in get in shape for the summer. I'm back of to visit some friends in Kenya then and know I'll struggle unless I'm in better shape. Have always enjoyed walking. That said need to get used to doing some decent distances again. Have always navigated for groups but always feel it isn't safe enough to go and do on ones own incase you get into difficulty. Not that I ever have I just feel it is better to be prepared. (Guess who I used to do most of my walking with. ) Have suggested other leisure pursuits too and none of them are interested in them either. They're all to embarrased to go swimming. One of my friends has suggested we can take our bikes out again soon but she won't do hills and her idea of a hill is a mole hill (literally I think - shes from the Fens - certainly a gain of about 3cm per 1m counted last time I was out - She doesn't like hills when walking either). My idea of a good bike ride is from Durham to Lanchester and back. Thats somewhere around 10miles. Tend to go up the hill on the way back too so that it is a different route. Climb out of Lanchester is hard going. Her idea of a bike ride was about 2miles. Felt like I'd barely stretched my legs. If anyone on here is interested in doing some walking I'd be happy to (or any other activities). I guess I should try and find out about the ramblers or something. All the best, David. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caren Report post Posted March 11, 2007 I like walking to but only just got into it so not a pro did 2 hours of walking other day again its to get fit for summer have lost 7 stone 5 lbs with dieting and walking not good enough yet to do a long walk but i'm sure there's groups who do rambling as well good luck , its lovely on early spring mornings is'nt it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenT Report post Posted March 11, 2007 Do you really need to have company? I used to go walking a lot on my own and loved it, gave me the ideal opportunity to do all my thinking and I got fit as well. Plus, you're in the best place for some fantastic walking - up the Wear Valley to Westgate and beyond is beautiful, also south west Northumberland (Allenheads/Allendale) - remote but well-marked paths and you rarely see a soul so it's very peaceful. I'd love to do more walking but having CFS is a bit prohibitive, otherwise I'd volunteer myself to keep you company. Hope you manage to get out there. Karen x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted March 11, 2007 Hi, I love walking too, but i just had a baby three weeks ago, so i can't go far yet! We're off to North Wales in the summer so i can do as much walking as i like My sister joined a walking group in Cumbria and she loved it. I think sometimes it's nice to have company and other times you just want to be on your own. Just out of interest, where abouts in Kenya are you going? My partner is from Nakuru. Loulou xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lorryw Report post Posted March 11, 2007 Hello David Take a look at www.ramblers.org.uk. I have several friends who ramble every weekend but I must admit its not my thing. I prefer a long walk with our puppy for company, she cant answer back and sometimes I just need the time to think. Happy hiking! Loraine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 11, 2007 i love walking!!! i walk with katie my daughter,well i push her buggy and i walk with my son. i cannot just walk though,i need a destination,a reason to go if you know what i mean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 11, 2007 I'll be spending most of my time in Gilgil (which is between Naivasha and Nakuru). When I was working out there I was round by the Lereshwa village (can't think of a better term). Will be out for five weeks in total. Planning on visiting Nakuru as have another friend out that way. Also off to visit another place (somewhere between Mount Kenya and Nairobi) but can't remember it's name. When I was out there last time one day I was bored and decided to cycle from Gilgil to Nakuru. On one of the local types of bikes with no gears. Was a bit further than I thought. Got a lift back for me and my bike on one of the larger types of minibus (was about to say matatu but not technically correct I think). Really like it in Kenya. If he knows Gilgil will in particular be staying in Langa Langa. I've never been one for walking alone. I always like have company. Managed to convince my mum to come out with me next weekend. Planning on heading up Wear Dale. Then doing a walk from either East Gate or West Gate. A nice gentle walk (about 5 miles) up along a stream past various old mine workings and then back down across a bit of low moorland. Love waterfalls so often walked in the dales in the past. I must admit will consider the ramblers though perhaps more likely to go towards scouting. Quite like the idea of doing my mountain leadership in the long term. So scout fellowship would be a good idea. Also as you probably have gathered I enjoy doing things with young people. Having said that would be quite a large responsibilty now days. Mind you I don't tend to let things bother me. if I did I'd end up doing nothing. Thanks for the replys, all the best, David. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenT Report post Posted March 12, 2007 Managed to convince my mum to come out with me next weekend. Planning on heading up Wear Dale. Then doing a walk from either East Gate or West Gate. A nice gentle walk (about 5 miles) up along a stream past various old mine workings and then back down across a bit of low moorland. I'm jealous now. I might have to sulk for the rest of the day. Have a lovely time. Mind you don't tread on any dead sheep - 'tis the season. Karen x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 12, 2007 At least it won't be long enough that I need to drink from any streams. Done that before only to find a dead sheep in the stream a couple of miles further up. Wasn't impressed and was rather suprised I wasn't sick. Having said that on another occasion when walking with scouts I refilled my water bottle up between High Force and Caldron Snout. Only later did I suddenly remember what was up where that stream was flowing from. One of the armys firing and testing ranges. I think it was clean enough though judging by the amount of life I remember in it. Not developed any super powers either. Up above habitation I've always been happy to drink stream water (never bothered boiling it first either). I think they're the only occasions I regretted it. I know I live in a great area. It's one reason I say I'd never move south. My fav. walks are ones with waterfalls on. Especially if they're less well know falls and the paths aren't like the A1! (I.E. paved super highways about a metre wide as paths.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted March 18, 2007 Hi DMB, I just read your reply. What a small world it is, my partner's mum is from Langa Langa! We're hoping to go out there in the next year. I can't wait. I've been to Tanzania, but not Kenya yet. Hope you enjoy your walks, Loulou xx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 18, 2007 did you go on your walk this weekend with your mum david? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 18, 2007 (edited) Yes thanks. It was a nice day for it too. We also had one of my mums friends. We did a walk up from West Gate beside a stream past various old mine works and then did the circular route that takes you back down along the top of the hill. Was nice pleasent weather to be out in. Then drove across to Cow Green reserviour but none of us fancied another walk by the time we got there. Was raining and felt quite cold outside the car. I bet Caldron Snout would have been impressive though. Will have to go back up again soon when there is a good forcast. I think mum is happy to come out again next weekend. Wondering about High Force from Bowlees Picknick (think my spelling has gone dodgy here) area (could see High Force from the car when we went up Tees Dale and it looked impressive). That is a nice walk too. That will depend on the weather though. I do like walking in Wear Dale and Tees Dale. Northumberland is nice too. Have to go back and do Simonside again at some point. Hope you all had nice weekends too. Today I helped my mum in the garden (putting down some new bark and matting to stop the weeds. Also secured the bird table so a cat can't knock it over again) then went off to the cinema after lunch. All the best, David. EDIT: It is a small world. I don't suppose he knows someone called Ihogo N'Dungu then who works at Lereshwa Secondary or possibly if his relations are the other side an N'droge (not sure on the spelling) who works for a M'zungu called Simon Harris. (Simon Harris is the person who was incharge of the scheme I was voluntary teaching through. Quite a few people around Langa Langa knew me (I was refered to as N'dungu's M'zungu by a lot of the children). It was 2004 when I was last out there. The teacher live in an old M'zungu built building off towards the left (and top end) of Langa Langa when coming in from Gilgil. He has now moved down to a new building near the road. The scheme I was out with is called VAE Kenya. Though the bit for building schools is know as HSK (Harambee Schools Kenya). There was also another organisation head by Col. Harry Vialou-Clark called the Langa Langa scholarship fund that helped less able students through schools. He also did charitable work to build schools. Ihogo's family live further along the road from the school so are local too. Met his mum, dad, brothers and one of his sisters when I was out there. I stayed with his sister in Huruma in Nairobi on a few occasions too. (I think that is the right suberb anyway. I know the local taxi drivers didn't like going there. Was near the edge of one of the slums.) Kenya is a great place though and well worth a visit. Edited March 18, 2007 by David Matthew Baker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 18, 2007 me and steve are starting our walks again tomorrow night,partner not doing nights no more so no excuses Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 18, 2007 I hope you have a good time and the weather holds off. Boy has it got cold again today. Normally don't notice the cold too much but as it changed so quickly noticed it today. Planning on walking anywhere nice? (Not that I'm likely to know it I doubt.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 18, 2007 you wont know it david,im planning on walking to the off licence to get nick a bottle of wine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 18, 2007 (edited) Not done that myself since I was at university. Mum and Bro are both basically T Total (I say basically because my mum will drink Bayleys though that is all, bro doesn't drink alchol full stop). I don't really like drinking on my own. Have about 5 or 6 bottles in the house at the moment. All incase anyone calls who can have a drink. Probably will be my bro's birthday in May before I next drink at home. A drink on a night out will be this Friday, assuming I don't end up deciding to drive down to Stockton for my night out on the boat (with drinks included in the price). EDIT: Why is someone who doesn't drink known as T Total? (Sorry thought just crossed my mind so decided to ask.) Edited March 18, 2007 by David Matthew Baker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted March 18, 2007 EDIT: Why is someone who doesn't drink known as T Total? (Sorry thought just crossed my mind so decided to ask.) I've no idea! Love to know Pleased you're enjoying the walking. I love walking - very good for the soul, i find walking really relaxing and it helps to clear my mind , got a bit carried away last week - went for a little wander........three hours later, i realised i'd better head back home my old poor dog was creaking that evening!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenT Report post Posted March 19, 2007 We did a walk up from West Gate beside a stream past various old mine works and then did the circular route that takes you back down along the top of the hill. Oh I love that walk!! You're just doing it to annoy me now, aren't you?! Glad you had a great day, hope you get many more walking opportunities over the course of the summer. Karen x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sams mum Report post Posted March 22, 2007 David, another lover of kenya here My husband grew up in Mombassa and used to cycle to football matches in Milindi on one of those bikes you mentioned. It must have been some journey As for matatu's.........I only lasted about 2 stops in one a few years back and jumped out of a window rather than go any further in it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 22, 2007 I didn't get to Mombasa last time I was out but went down there when I went on a school trip to Kenya. Was an interesting area though a bit too hot for my liking. I expect this time I'll stay in the uplands too as that is where everyone I'm visiting lives. That said the teacher I will probably end up staying with again has a friend who owns a hotel down at Mombasa. I do remember the lovely beaches from my school trip. Incase your wondering why there was a school trip to Kenya one of my teachers had a daughter doing VSO in a deaf school near lake Victoria. Hence he decided to arrange a trip out there. We had a couple of weeks out there and toured the country a bit. Also helped paint the deaf school whilst we were there. I think that trip is why I decided Kenya was where I wanted to go myself. It is the only other place I can ever say I have felt settled in and could call home. I quite liked the Matatu's they do all now have to have seat belts and speed limiters though. We even took one down to the Mara. It was owned by a former teacher of the school I was working at (he'd been promoted to a head of another school). Was a really great way to do it. Really cheap as well as all the Kenyans looked out for us. We had the owner, another teacher from the school and the driver. Then there was me and a friend from England. Also took a ranger into the park each day. The driver was really good actually. I think he even suprised his boss. Really glad to hear others love Kenya as much as I do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 24, 2007 (edited) Well went for another walk today. This time started at Bowlees and walked upto High Force. Will put some pictures up on my webspace shortly. Was a nice day for walking. Not too hot when you were moving. Perhaps slighly on the cold side when sitting around though. Todays walk was enjoyed by me, my mum again and one of my friends. The friend who was with us is not much of a walker though. Presently my mum is having a soak to try and ease aching joints. I think my friend was doing the same as soon as she gets home. So you might work out who this friend is incase I mention her again in the future she is a Physics Teacher at a Roman Catholic Girls School in Sunderland. Will post links once I've upload some pics. David EDIT: Okay put up some of my pics. Hope these aren't too large. Also included a couple from last week. http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07031...to_Teesdale.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07031...ve_Weardale.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...f_Low_Force.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032..._High_Force.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...I_Too_Close.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...Down_Stream.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...s_From_Here.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...acro_Lenses.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032...t_Low_Force.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07032..._Sauce_Time.jpg Edited March 24, 2007 by David Matthew Baker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 24, 2007 lovely pictures david,what a lovely one of the rainbow what is the 8th picture of?its probably extremely obvious but i cant work it out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 24, 2007 (edited) A catkin on one of the trees. Was playing around with the macro setting on the camera and also added 3 macro lenses to the front. I didn't think for one second it would be anywhere near in focus. I don't think it is the best I could have managed under ideal situations but for a bit of tree that was blowing around a bit I'm really suprised how well it came out. I like the rainbow too. Wasn't sure how that would come out either as not normally had much success taking them in the past. Glad you liked them though. Edited March 24, 2007 by David Matthew Baker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted March 24, 2007 im going back to school david,ive never heard of a catkin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
something vague Report post Posted March 24, 2007 Wow David, Those pictures are breath taking. I love the rainbow and the katkin and the lambs oh did i mention the waterfall too LOL. Incredible SV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 24, 2007 im going back to school david,ive never heard of a catkin I have two parents who are into horticulture. Hence have been plaugued by such information since birth. Some of it comes in useful at other times it is a case of why do I need to know that. You can find out a little more about what they are here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catkin Unfortunatally I only took that close up and not a shot of the whole tree. Otherwise I would have uploaded it for you to look at. --------------------------------------------------------------- As for the quality of the pictures I can manage better. Was annoyed with how bad the angles are on some of the shots. Also trying to work out if that is a finger or the lens hood at the top of one of the waterfall shots. It's funny but the two I'm happiest with are the 2 I thought had no hope of working. The catkin and the rainbow. I'll try and take a few pictures on each of my walks for you all to look at since you seem to like them. Sorry I have always been a perfectionist when it comes to photos and also art. Hence often not entirely pleased with any photos I take or pictures I draw. That said there are a few I'm really proud of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikergal Report post Posted March 26, 2007 I loved your pics especially the one of the lambs. When I lived in the country the sheep and lambs used to live next to the doctor's surgery the cows used to come down to the big field the other side of the surgery every afternoon. And yes I love animals and the countryside but I'm back in the city now, although on the edge so countryside isn't far away My dad worked in horticulture all his life and started off at Sandringham many years ago...I remember the latin names for many plants even now, funny how they stay with you isn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Matthew Baker Report post Posted March 31, 2007 (edited) I'm glad you liked the pictures. Today me, my mum, my friend (the one who is a teacher) and one of my mum's friends decided to all go for a walk. (You can see them from a distance in one of the photos below.) Today I decided we would go up and walk down to Caldon Snout as the weather forcast had been good. It was nice and sunny up there. However it was very windy and if you stood around the wind was quite cold. Also took a load of new pictures. I've put a selection of them on my webspace: http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...p_Cow_Green.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/070331/Into_The_Sun.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...w_Green_Dam.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...ldron_Snout.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...n_Snout_Top.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...out_And_Dam.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...nout_Middle.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...Photo_Spots.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033..._Snout_Base.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033..._Doing_Here.jpg Also played around with the macro settings a bit this morning before going out. Here are my latest macro photos: http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...hid_Closeup.jpg http://www.davidmbaker.f2s.com/Walks/07033...chid_Detail.jpg I had a nice day. Was rather blustery up there but nice to get out in the fresh air again. I do like going out. I also seem to have got them all into the idea of doing this every saturday. Having said that my mum is off to her sisters before next Sat. for a couple of weeks. Will still look and see if I can find any for me and my friend. Having said that she might be busy as her family are up. I guess could always go for a walk around Beamish. I've purchased a friend's of Beamish season ticket after all. That would be safe. Hope you have all had a good weekend too. Anyone else manage to go for a nice walk somewhere? EDIT: Lost the file type extensions off some of my links, hence they didn't work, corrected them now. Edited March 31, 2007 by David Matthew Baker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites