Walking takes you places

2010-12-01T15:40:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,

The Walkabout team started this blog last year as a place to share walking ideas. We've talked about a number of walking topics: walking super-heroes, weathering storms, important walks in life, and cool walkers.

However, we're currently examining the role of this blog and how to best support walking enthusiasts like you... and like us. Until we better figure this out we will be taking a break with the keyboard and this blog.

If you have any questions feel free to email walkabout@heartandstroke.ns.ca. In the meantime, keep those feet in motion.

Until next time.

Walkabout team.

Septembering

2010-09-29T14:56:00.005-03:00

There are a lot of firsts in September.

The first day of school for instance. We all plan for it in our families and this year was a little special since number Four went off to school for the first time. She and big sister , Number Two, walked out to meet the big yellow bus with an entourage that befitted the princess she is. Of course since then, it just Gramma and the girls.

The next first was a big sleepover with school friends. Gramma was tickled pink to hear a big noise on the doorstep and have four little hungry girls check out the menu at her house in case it was better than the pancakes Daddy was making next door ( It wasn't)! I bless the path between the houses daily, even if it did ruin the lawn!

And The Fiddlers Run had the first Marathon Walker. Wayne MacKay managed to walk the course in a very respectable time . (It was better than some runners can do!).Over 30 other walkers joined him for lesser distances , mostly the 10 k. Walking may be the "new" running!

CBRM had its first Walkabout at Work launch on the front plaza. And although it rained, the staff didn't let that stop them. You can see them every Tuesday at noon gathering together to tour the historic downtown .

What firsts have you done this month? Walk, return to work or school ? Hope it was as enjoyable as mine and that October brings even more fun.

Storm is a-coming

2010-09-03T11:40:00.003-03:00

You may wonder what the picture has to do with the storm, but in my mind the rain that is to come reminded me of Noah's Ark, then on to flood waters, then to the Red Sea and Moses. And the picture is of the footsteps made by 1050 walkers and runners and 150 children in the Not Since Moses event this summer in Five Islands, NS. I had the joy of standing in the middle of the sea of participants holding a sign that let people know they were in between a rock and a hard place! So are we now... No matter which way Hurricane Earl decides to go, I am either going to get really wet or have some really high winds. ( depending on which side of the eye we are on.) So my walk today will include walking around the property to gather up things that can blow away or into the windows of my house, making sure we have some water to drink if the power goes out ( we country folk lose our well pumps as soon as the power goes off) and being sure there is something good to read while we wait for the passing of the storm.

But then, the good part comes along. Like the joy of watching the runners and walkers and particularly the faces of all the kids who managed to go the distance and complete the "Mud Run", we will be able to see the sun come out, the heat go down, and enjoy the rest of a long weekend. Best of all, the silver lining of the storm cloud is that it will probably make most of us spend some time with our families and those we live with (which is what we did on the Mud Run weekend in August). So the two events have some connections in my jumbled head. So get out and enjoy the calm before the storm, stay safe during the storm, and enjoy the long weekend.

Fall Colours

2010-08-17T14:26:00.003-03:00

With summer coming to a close and fall ready to begin, it's important to get excited about what's ahead -- colour. Nova Scotia is well known for its beautiful fall weather and the diverse array of colour that blooms on the trees. It's a perfect time of year to celebrate warm breezes, sunny skys and bright foilage. This combination will make even the least likely walker among us want to lace up their shoelaces and head outside.

Luckily, our province has no shortage of places to walk and hike. The opportunities are endless. Whether you visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Cape Split, or Delap's Cove or whether you decide to just strol through a local park, through your neighborhood or through your backyard, there is no better way to take life in and enjoy everything that fall has to offer than by going for a walk.

Foot Freedom

2010-08-17T14:00:00.005-03:00

Nova Scotia is a beautiful place surrounded by spectacular scenery and great moments waiting to happen. Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring, it's a wonderful place to explore - on foot.

Yes, on foot. Because the best way to see what's around you, is through the freedom of foot travel. There are no blind spots to worry about, no traffic, no car horns blaring, no distractions. Just you, your feet, and the great outdoors.

2.995 Kilometers

2010-08-11T13:53:00.006-03:00

On Sunday August 8, after walking 2,995 kilometers through 88 communities and logging 3.4 million steps, Emily Forrest ended her almost three month long adventure in front of a crowd of close to 100 supporters.

Looking fresh, relaxed and ready for her next step, this amazing walker heard from a few people who were impressed by her accomplishment

Heart and Stroke Foundation Board Chair Dr. Gord Gubitz; Mininster of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Ramona Jennex; and members of the Valley Trekkers Walking Club all took their turns praising Emily for identifying a goal and then taking action to fulfill that goal.

And, since no Nova Scotia event would be complete without music, the soulful sounds of Brazillian group Samba Nova created a celebratory atmosphere that any walker would enjoy - especially one who just completed 2,995 kilometers along the Nova Scotia coastline.

My very favorite Trail Buddies

2010-08-02T20:01:00.003-03:00

This week I spent with One, Two , Three and Four in the HRM. When we could drag ourselves away from the beach, we found a few things to do that kept us outside. One of the most fun things was developing a hidden trail . We climbed over branches, through a muddy bog and some brambles to discover a neatly tucked away trail that led to the local playground. On the way we found old stone cellars ( possibly the foundation of a farmhouse of One and Three's great grandparents.) We found markings to keep the horses who used to use the trail from falling in cellars which may have store food in early times. We also found a huge stone fence which was the property line marker I think. The stones were giant sized and I can't imagine dragging them to form the fence but the pioneers must have been much hardier than I.But mostly we found old socks. ( Don't ask me why!). There were some pretty awesome rocks as well and this is one example of one that the adventurers were able to scale. Then it was over the hill and to the playground. Lots of swinging, monkey bar climbing, and snacking later, we made our way home , this time coming out in the more conventional way by the side of the lane they live on. All in all the trail cut about 2 miles off the jaunt and kept them out of traffic and certainly was more daring than going by car.

I highly recommend finding a trail near you to go exploring.(Grandchildren optional)

Walkabout at Work

2010-07-28T10:37:00.004-03:00

We've said it before and we'll say it again - and again - walking is great for you. For your whole self. Even your hair (Ok, we're not positive about that one but the rest of it is true)

Sometimes, getting out the door to walk more is tough. In the last blog entry, we talked about overcoming barriers to walking by discussing the value of going with a friend or family member. However, another important barrier for lots of people is - time.

But did you know that time spent walking throughout the day adds up? If you can't get out for a half hour walk, try two times during the day in 15 minute increments or 3 times in 10 minute increments. It all counts toward your health.

If your workplace is not able to contribute to your interest in walking more, there's help.

Heart&Stroke Walkabout offers support for workplace walking through - Walkabout at Work. This fun extension of the Walkabout program, provides tools and resources to help support the creation of a walking culture at work.

Contact us and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction. If you like what you hear and read, we will also be happy to deliver a free orientation workshop for your and your colleagues.

To find out more about our schedule of provincial workshops or to access the Walkabout at Work Leader Toolkit electronically, visit http://www.walkaboutns.ca/.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to get out for a stroll!

A Little Help from my Friends

2010-07-27T09:23:00.004-03:00

Everyone needs a friend to lend them a hand now and then or, even better, -- an extra set of feet!

We often get together with friends over a cup of coffee, a nice cold drink, or dinner. But, walking through the park, down the street, on an indoor track, or even while running an errand can be a great way to get caught up, share a laugh, and stay healthy.

Recently, a group of Heart&Stroke Walkabout walkers from Cape Breton met up with super walker Emily Forrest on her trek along the Nova Scotia coastline.

What a great way to provide some encouragement, spend time with friends, and cheer Emily on.

Kudos to the Cape Breton Walkers!

Just a reminder that at Heart&Stroke Walkabout (walkaboutns.ca) you can monitor your progress as a group or you can do it individually. Either way, it's great to spend time walking in the company of others.

A little encouragement goes a long way! Who will you offer your feet too?

my version of a spa day

2010-07-20T15:33:00.003-03:00

Well here I am, on my own for a day in Truro.What to do? No worries. this morning I hit the downtown.. a couple of vintage stores, a neat coffee shop, and then off on the trail system. If you have only a half hour or a whole day, there is trail for you.Check it out at
http://www.colchester.ca/cobequid-trail-network

Walking in the Summer Heat

2010-07-20T10:23:00.003-03:00

The health benefits of walking are tremendous. But, it's important to factor in outdoor temperature when you are preparing to take that stroll. While heat is not something to be ignored, it doesn't have to be a barrier to your favorite form of activity. It's always important to talk with your family doctor or a health professional with questions specific to your situation.

Here are some general tips on summer walking:

- Stay hydrated. Bring water with you, drink before you head out the door, and take frequent water breaks

- Walk at a cooler time of the day - morning or evening - rather than mid-day when the temperature is at its highest

- Wear sunscreen and a hat

- Wear breathable clothing

- Take breaks now and then

- Slow the pace down when your body says so

- If it's just too hot, find an indoor facility with a track or walk through a shopping mall

The most important tip of all? Stay in tune with your body and listen to what it tells you!

Enjoy walking and enjoy the summer warmth!

An inspiration

2010-07-18T07:30:00.009-03:00

Sometimes you need an inspiration to get moving again...whether it is back to physical activity, painting, singing, or in my case blogging. I got that this weekend when I walked a while with Emily Forrest who is walking the seacoast of Nova Scotia this weekend. Did I mention it is hot in CB this weekend? Swelteringly, blisteringly, excruciatingly hot! And did I mention I hate the heat? So it is not the kind of weather I usually walk in the afternoon, but yesterdayI did just that. And enjoyed myself!(Although I was so sweaty , I am sure no one else enjoyed mine until I hit the shower!) I met up with Emily in New Victoria and we walked into New Waterford. The Summer staff of the East district has set up a shade shelter for her with fruit and water for the folks who could join us. I walked some of the way with a couple of young people from Halifax who were experiencing Coal Dust Days for the first time and who will see Emily on the Halifax commons August 8 th for her return to her home town. Then Vicki , the staff person who accompanied us , led us through the town with lots of info, then around the coastline through the #14 pit yard ( I think I have the # correct) and then on past the new windmill farm. Talk about learning about progression first hand.

After I left them in the heat to visit the dentist( Not so much fun) ,I got back to New Victoria where it felt so cool ;then I read the thermometer and it read 31 degrees. I wonder what is was on the windmill loop?

So look for your inspiration...Thanks to Emily for reminding me of the beauty in my own backyard, and for following her coastline dream...Now you go out and find yours!

To read more about Emily visit her facebook page,http://www.facebook.com/pages/FORREST-WALKABOUT/226171773121#!/pages/FORREST-WALKABOUT/226171773121?v=wall

or

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-07-16/article-1579252/Walker-welcomed-with-kindness/1

(That's where this great picture of Emily was found!)

Baby It's cold outside

2010-02-02T14:01:00.005-04:00

Yeah...winter has come. And it is cold..very cold! But one way to warm up is to take several of your favorite people and go for a walk. That's what we did this weekend. We were lucky because the Baille Ard Trail Association was primed for a Take the roof off winter event.(http://www.acapcb.ns.ca/baille_ard_trail/)

Numbers 2 & 4 were keen to go and Gramma was too. It was only -10 and windy so dressing in layers was a must.According to the Walkaboutns.ca website, in a nutshell you need to be properly prepared to really enjoy walking in a winter wonderland. It's a bit like preparing to go cross country skiing or winter hiking. Just a few simple steps. We suggest you have:
•Good Shoes & Shoe Traction Gear
•Layered Clothing, Gloves, Head Gear & Sunglasses
•Nordic Walking Poles (recommended)
Lots more info on the website so check it out.
Kids have the best gear so really I just needed to find my snow pants, add another layer to my jacket and away we went.

We met lots of great folks there and the grandkids and I followed another family group along behind one of the trail mascots and her owner. There were lots of tracks to see, signs of a woodpecker at work,and a scavenger hunt with prizes at the end. No one wanted to leave but a new hat ( thanks Rec NS ) and a stop at the local Bistro for hot Chocolate ( Thanks Wentworth Perk for mini portions) and we were all set. We had a great time, the trail is wonderful any time of the year, and best of all Mom and Dad had a few minutes to get ready for the next week.

To find out more about Take the Roof off Winter events visit the Recreation NS website and plan your event soon.

Now for Valentines day, We'll dust off the snowshoes because the CB Island Hoppers are having a Take the Roof Off winter event at ski Ben Eoin! There is no end of fun to be had in the CB winter.

Couch Potatoes...this is for you.

2010-01-24T09:25:00.004-04:00

While trying to decide if I should open my new book or get up and get outside today, I saw a video about scouching on the telly. It seems to meet my need to stay ensconced in the comfy chair and my need to go outside to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtlogwJ5Cos (if you'd like to watch).

And remember the walking back up the hill is fun too!But whatever your ride...couch,tube,toboggan,kid's zipfy, get out and enjoy it.

walking in a winter winderland

2010-01-05T16:34:00.003-04:00

Not everyone is sad to see the snow. Numbers 1& 3 got new cross country skis for Christmas and were overjoyed to have a chance to use them. ( Note they were also overjoyed that Dad hadn't gotten the driveway cleared of snow yet!) They discovered how fun it is but tiring too. A good round of hot chocolate was required to revive their flagging energy. I can't wait until next week when I arrive with the ZIPFY sleds!

Because CB got more rain than snow, today I met with a group of less well-bundled walkers for the launch of the DHA 8 new Walking at Work program. Paired with my good friends the CB Island Hoppers and the Baille Ard Trail Association( more about that group some other time) and HEAL CB , we set out to lure a few interested walkers to join us on their lunch break. A few turned into a lot and the program will take place every Tuesday and Thursday at noon with the Island Hoppers and Baille Ard group leading the way.

And the same folks are also leading the way on snow shoes on Wednesday Am at 10 and every second Sun morning at Ski Ben Eoin. Maybe next time I'll have a cute picture of them for the blog! And congratulations to one of their fearless leaders, Joe Mac Kinnon , for being named the First Ever Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Ambassador. Joe exemplifies living the good life!

For more exciting winter events, check out www.hikens.ca for an idea of what's happening near you. And I'll see you on the trail.

Walking keeps me happy, ISPs keep me humble

2009-11-25T15:23:00.008-04:00

I track my steps online because I find it strangely rewarding. I don't expect anything tangible like a prize - it's enough just to see my progress on my graph. So I don't need the website to congratulate me or give me a gold star when I log my steps every morning. Still, I expect better treatment than I got last Saturday when I tried to log Friday's steps:

Uh, Forbidden? Whose permission do I need? What's going on?

Turns out our hosting company had some problems when they tried to migrate the site to a new server. We're told that ours is the only site affected, but it's taking them a while to figure out how to get it back online. Meanwhile, loyal walkers are contacting us to ask what's up - has the site been taken down, is Walkabout over?

No and no. Walkabout is very much not over! We're in it for the long haul because our vision is to revitalize a culture of walking in this province, and that takes time. However, it also takes outreach, and our interactive website has been a great part of that. We've missed it these past few days, and we know lots of you have too. I'm sorry about that. I don't know how to fix the DNS issues myself - all I know is to keep the pressure on the host to fix it soon because Nova Scotians have invested in this initiative. And when you log on to record your progress, you deserve better than a cold error message.

Every day we reach our goals is a small triumph, and another step on the road to making Nova Scotia a walker's province. So for now, jot your steps down with pen and paper, take the opportunity to put a gold star beside your best day(s), and keep checking the website for updates. When the site is restored, we can rejoin our virtual walking groups online, enter several days' worth of steps logged, watch our collective progress numbers jump, and remember that we're part of a provincial movement.

And... does anyone know a reliable website hosting company? Apparently "99.9% uptime" is not reliable enough!

Walk around the River

2009-11-04T12:46:00.003-04:00

Monday was a great fall day. Lots of sunshine, crisp temperature, and a great place to go. I was on my way to Walk around the River in River Bourgeois. The group meets Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10 am at 102 South side river and chooses the direction in which to walk. We went left,right and then returned. It,as you can see in the picture above,was a beautiful walk with a view many people only wish they could see. (We actually met a professional Photographer out for a few shots.)

On this day, we were 4 generations of women,but men are also welcome and encouraged,ages ranged from 40's to 70's,some used Nordic Walking poles and some did not,and there was lots to talk about. I even learned one of my neighbours hailed from that area.

Since it is November , information about the Veterans group showed an amazing coincidence.The area from Holland where one of our group was born had been liberated by several members of the River Bourgeois Veterans group. It is a small world.

And Walking takes you all over it, even if you only go 3-4 Kilometers !

It should be fun

2009-10-27T15:50:00.002-03:00

I just read jorunner's blog and I agree sometimes it is difficult to make that choice to move. But I also read the new report about ninth graders who have serious risk factors for heart disease and strokes ,so we have to get people motivated. So here is the fun in the motivation:

Click on this link
http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=16297

Motivation to move and write.

2009-10-22T12:04:00.002-03:00

I've been MIA for the past several months. I've been to Europe and back, and I've settled into another fall routine with work, school and activity. However, I've been struggling with motivation to move and this has translated into a lack of inspiration to write.

How do we get out of the funk and actually inspire ourselves to move more? Walkabout helps provide the resources to support individuals in taking the first step, however what actually motivates someone to want to step on the bridge and support change? As I struggle to find time for activity - in my case running and going to the gym - in the midst of my busy day, I received a sobering thought: we all struggle with our lives and the health messages we receive to be active. However, knowing what to do and doing what you need to do are often two different things. And, even when you know what to do, and take steps to do it, there's the cold hard fact that the supports and environments required to support the decision are not always in place.

This is what I pondered as I pushed myself to go for a run yesterday. I didn't want to run. I wanted to sleep, or watch TV --- anything other than the physical act of running. It was a mental battle. I had to negotiate with myself: I will just put my sneakers on and go outside; I don't HAVE to run. I can just walk, or sit outside, but I have to get outside. Twenty minutes later I convinced myself to get out the door, and I headed to Point Pleasant Park. I tried to focus on the fresh fall smell and the colors outside to distract myself from the nagging feeling that I didn't want to be active. I'm not going to lie - the truth is, it didn't help. I was well aware that my body was screaming for me to stop and no amount of re framing of the other benefits of this active experience was going to override that reality.

This is my journey. And I'm sharing it with you. Research tells us that social supports are important in steps to behavior change. So, my step today is to acknowledge how I feel and to try to identify what's affecting my motivation. This may be one of the first steps on the road to change and to finding my passion for moving and writing again.

Walk the Marconi Rail Trail

2009-10-22T10:50:00.005-03:00

Bridge on The Marconi Rail Trail The wild life is returning to the ponds at the former heavy water plant

Sunday 01 November, Guided Walk Event

Registration: 1:30pm, Start Time: 2:00pm

Marconi Towers Trail (My name for this portion of the S&L Railroad)

5/10k Rated 1C, note our original assessment of this trail was 2C however the new SP for this year has made it much easier then previous walk s on this trail.

Start Point: 755 Hwy 255 (Donkin/Glace Bay Hwy)

The start point for this walk event is the “former Heavy Water Plant” parking lot in front of building #1 and please note that there are signs indicating the highway is closed except for “local traffic”. The road is open to the former plant and we will have signs directing you to the parking lot.

Walk Leader: Rollie Coombes, 849-0747, bretonhoppers@hotmail.com

More Celtic Colors fun

2009-10-15T11:16:00.001-03:00

3rd ANNUAL - HIKE THE COXHEATH COLOURS AND CEILIDH

Gather your family and friends to enjoy the Scenery and Beauty along the Coxheath Hills Trail

When: Saturday, October 17th, 1 - 4 pm

What: The sound of Cape Breton music will be ini the air from pipers and fiddlers and experts will be along the trail to answer questions about the wildlife.

After the hike, join the Ceilidh in Knox Hall with fiddler Hanna Stockey and Kolten MadConeell on keyboard. Refreshments will be on hand.

Note: The trail and hall are located on Coxheath Road at the Blackett's Lake turnoff. Contact 564-6352 for more info.

I'll be there with Grandkids in tow!

Celtic Colors and all things fun in CB

2009-10-06T13:01:00.002-03:00

Well we are headed for the Thanksgiving weekend in CB ad we all know what that means...too much turkey, so I'm suggesting a few other things to gladden your heart rather than feeding it too much.
For starters there is the Celtic Colors festival. How can you not get moving when you hear all those great Celtic tunes? And there are venues all over the Island from Port Hawkesbury to Sydney around to Ingonish. Take in any one of them and you will be rubbing elbows with the International visitors who can't believe our good fortune to live in this wonderful province! For you choices visit www.celticcolors.com

For myself I've planned a couple of Walkabout celebrations to drop in on this week and weekend. You'll see some Walkabout participants strolling along with their Nordic Walking sticks in Inverness Town on the 8th and on the weekend , after the big concert at the Joan Harris Pavilion, more Walkabout leaders willl be joining in the ISle MAdame Eco Trail Family fun day . Visit growislemadame.com to find out more about this fabulous trail. We'll be leaving on the Blue Trail at the boudreauville entrance at 2:00 PM on Sunday and there are many family activities planned for the afternoon.

Of course there is always the great pumpkin walk. Find a local patch and walk through with your kids until you find the perfect one!

More fun in Cape Breton

2009-09-11T09:59:00.000-03:00

Hike the highlands Festival

Festival Updates
Important Messages

1) Hikers are expected to be at the trailhead at least 30 minutes before the hike starts to check in.

2) Opening ceremonies on Friday, Sept. 11th will start when hikers come back from Middle Head between 7:30 pm. - 8:00 pm.

3) Outdoor Nature Photography workshop on Friday, Sept. 11th on the first weekend will take place at Jack Pine Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Meet at Jack Pine parking lot at Black Brook area at 1:30 pm.

4) Outdoor Nature Photography workshop on second weekend of the festival will be on Smokey Towers trail. Meet at Cape Smokey Provincial Park parking lot at 1:30 pm.

5) Introduction to GPS workshop will take at Brook Brook area - meet at Jack Pine Parking lot - 4:15 pm.

6) On Monday, Sept. 14 at NHN Trails, Cape North - There are two events a) There will be a guided hike- 4kms for hikers at NHN trails beginning at 10:00am. b) The Nordic Walking workshop - hiking with poles, a different event, will take place at 10:00 am and hikers will do another trail hiking with their poles. Please be there 30 minutes before the hike or workshop to check in. A barbecue will follow at 11:30 am. for hikers on the hike as well the Nordic Walking workshop.

7) Hikers are encouraged to pick up their Hike the Highlands festival Pass & National Park pass at the festival headquarters at Glenghorm Beach Resort, Ingonish. If you would like to pick them up at trailhead registration please e-mail hikethehighlands@gmail.com

Festival Headquarters
Hours of Operation

Festival headquarters and registration desk is located at the conference room downstairs just past Thirsty Hiker Pub. Hours of operation during the festival :

Friday, September 11th -
12:00 pm. – 9:00 pm.
Saturday, September 12th
- 8:00 am. – 8:00 pm.
Sunday, September 13th
- 8:00 am.– 11:00 am., 5:30 pm. – 8:00 pm.
Monday, September 14th -
8:00 am. – 10:00 am. 6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm.
Tuesday, September 15th-
8:00 am. – 10:00 am. 6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, September 16th - 8:00 am. – 10:00 am. Thursday, September 17th - 8:00 am. – 10:00 am.
Friday, September 18th-
8:00 am. – 10:00 pm 6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 19th-
8:00 am. – 12:00 pm. 5:00 pm. – 8:00 pm.
Sunday, September 20th - Closed/ Cleanup in afternoon

2009 Photo Contest
All Hikers are Encourage to Enter

All hikers in the 6th Annual Hike the Highlands festival are encourage to take pictures throughout the festival and entered the photo contest in the following categories 1) Flora, 2) Fauna, 3) People, 4)Scenery and 5) Humour. 1st place winners will receive a free Hike the Highlands Pass for 2010 festival and photos display on the website, and festival blog. 2nd & 3rd place winners will be displayed on the website. Contest details will be available at the festival headquarters.

Walk like a man...down Memory lane

2009-09-10T19:18:00.003-03:00

I’ve done a lot of walking on my holidays this year. One of the most fun was the walk to see Jersey Boys,the musical of the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.These boys from Jersey were just hitting their stride as I was getting into my teens although my better half and I were more of the Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin era. That made very little difference as we heard the old favorites like Walk like a man, Big girls don’t cry and of course Sherry Baby. It helped that some of the back stage personnel were sharing our box so we knew it had to be good when they laughed at the jokes too! It didn’t seem to matter how old you were, we saw Grandmothers ( like me) with kids in their teens and everyone was singing along. By the way they make great walking tunes for your ipod! Check it out at http://www.jerseyboystoronto.com/main.htm

As we were in the city of Toronto, I was thinking, if I lived here I wouldn’t need a car. Lots of Public Transit, lots of green spaces to walk,and a picnic in Hyde Park made me a tad jealous, but traffic whizzing by, lots of people in line for subways, and the constant sound of emergency vehicles made me glad I was just a visitor.

There are just so many places to visit in this country and in this province, I'm sorry I can't see more of them. However , this weekend , I'll be walking like myself down the Trans Canada Trail in Inverness County in the CB Island Hoppers walking Marathon. Start out in Troy, register by 10 am for the 5, 10 or 15 k, earlier by 9 if you want to do the full marathon, Hope I see you there. I'll be one of the folks in the lime green Walkabout T-shirts. Stop and say hi, and I'll try not to sing old Frankie Valli tunes!

Important walks in life

2009-09-02T11:07:00.005-03:00

Important walks indeed! I've been thinking about all those little babies who are taking that first step towards independence today in the HRM.

Granddaughter Number 3 took a long walk up the road to get her first ride in the School bus today. I am sure her father then jumped on his bike and followed the bus to the school to make sure all went well. I'll be watching my email closely for the pictures. Her big brother took the same walk not too many years ago so he was able to be the fountain of knowledge to answer her questions and to guide her along the way.

One of my colleagues was walking her daughter to school for the first time! How exciting for her little girl, how emotional for the mom. But how wonderful to WALK together instead of jumping in the car. All the way there, just think of the conversation..who will be the teacher, where is the classroom, who will she play with, when can she eat her lunch.
Maybe we should all be thinking about Walking School buses in our neighbourhoods so we can share more of those moments together.

I also attended another important first step in a long walk this summer. My niece got married. She and her Dad took that long walk down the aisle. Again think of the conversation. ( I'm sure he was saying we love your choice but if you want we can walk right out the door! and she was saying this is a great first step in a long life together) . And yes they did stop at the appointed spot and everyone was delighted to watch the ceremony.

So while all the steps we take aren't quite so momentous, there are some steps this weekend you can take with your family and friends. I found a great little walk/run in Tatamagouche that is a great way to end the summer. Take a peek at http://buttertrailfunrun.blogspot.com/2009/06/butter-trail-fun-run.html

It seems like a lot of fun. Maybe I'll see you there.

Walking along the waterfront

2009-07-20T16:45:00.007-03:00

If your feet could take you, Monday's sights along the waterfront were certainly worth the walk! Tall ships flooded the harbour in Halifax this past weekend and were a treat for the eyes and feet. Monday morning I left home early and meandered along the waterfront on my way to work! What an amazing way to start the day; aside from the treat of seeing dozens of tall ships grazing on top of the sun-kissed ocean, it was very calming to see the sights and sounds along the water in the peaceful early morning before the hustle and bustle of the day. (Un)fortunately, not many people who can take advantage of the scenic and pedestrian-friendly places to walk in Halifax actually do (myself included)!

For the remainder of July, my goal will be to take a different path to work at least twice a week. Given that I like structure and routine, shaking up my walking route to work will not only allow me to see different parts of the city but it will also allow me to push my structural boundaries as well. The rewards are also breathtaking - yesterday my walking detour allowed me to catch the tall ships before the parade of sail, which took place in the afternoon (thanks to Lenn for playing photographer!).

ps. the walking challenge is progressing... and it's safe to say I am leading. While I can't claim victory yet, I did log over 20,000 steps on Friday and I am consistently hitting 10,000 steps or better on a daily basis. It looks like I will be the benefactor of a beck-and-call-person after all!

Reigning in Queensland

2009-07-20T16:19:00.003-03:00

This is a look at what one of my favorite beaches is like on a normal summer day. Since Numbers 1& 3 grandchildren live nearby, we often spend a lot of time there . I usually rule the beach from my favorite camp chair and watch the world go by.Well, I just got back from another girls' road trip. Loaded Numbers 2 & 4 in the car and headed for Hubbards NS to visit Numbers 1& 3. Imagine how thrilled I was to leave the sun behind in Truro and drive into the rain ...for days! I couldn't believe it, my only trip to Queensland beach ( one of the most beautiful spots in the province)this summer and I chose the rain. But did that stop the intrepid swimmers? Not on your life. Friday am , we loaded up the old granny ( me) with a chair ( good for putting your gear on to keep it out of the sand but never for sitting on) , snacks, life jackets( great for wearing in the breakers) dry towels, sweaters, and did I mention snacks? and off to the beach we went. It is a bit of a walk so we had to get the rules down pat. Since there are no sidewalks, we had to follow the red light-green light method. If a car is coming Red Light..everyone stands off to the side of the ditch and doesn't move. Green light occurs when the car goes by. Needless to say it took a while to get to the beach. Luckily on a foggy day there weren't too many cars.
Once on the beach we were thrilled to have it pretty much to ourselves. Air temp of 19 and Water temp of 17 degrees meant we were the only ones really in the water. From my vantage point the lifeguards seemed to be wearing their snow suits but that was only because I wished I had one myself.I congratulate them on staying put on their post when the day was so dismal .Discouraging for most but not the little otters, I call grand kids. We played in the waves until one or two of us were turning blue and than called it a day. Then the whole procession proceeded back up the hill yelling red light -green light until we hit the home front. Along the way we had to have a little detour into the wild strawberry patch. I've not seen one so large with so many berries in a long time. So I still think I was in a little bit of heaven, even though it was not a sunny day. I'm still the queen of my realm and my loyal subjects still think gramma is ok.

I highly recommend finding your way to this lovely spot of NS when it is sunny and go for a long walk along the sandy shores. Its great for the kid in all of us. You can read about it and other great NS beaches at www.tenbeaches.com.

Pedometer challenges!!!

2009-07-06T14:01:00.007-03:00

So, I'm a bit competitive. Albeit, mostly with myself, however, if I'm faced with a challenge I generally won't shy away. When there's prizing, incentives or even bragging rights involved, I will also try my very hardest to rise to the challenge. I tell you this to set the context for what I'm going to say next.

I've entered into a friendly challenge with a close friend of mind - over the course of the next month we are tracking our steps and the person who has accumulated the fewest steps will have to be a 'beck-and-call-person' for a day. This is NOT a challenge I intend to lose. I'm already plotting the extra steps I can gain through taking the stairs and running. We've both agreed that we won't convert other activities to steps, so it's my feet that will be doing the work this month to help me with this challenge. However, my biggest weakness will be remembering to put on my pedometer; it's day 2 and my memory seems to be holding so far. For the next month I'm going to share my progress with you. I am sure there will be high and low points!

Even if you're not the competitive type, there's lots of activities taking place this summer that you can take part in if you're looking for a new way to look at walking:

Kool FM recently announced a fun challenge through Heart&Stroke Walkabout - if you track your steps in their Kool walking group for a month you have the chance to win fun prizes including new sneakers and gift-certificates just for participating! So, even if you're not into competitive challenges this is an example of a challenge where you can be a winner for participating at your own pace! Check it our here: http://www.planetkool.ca/index.asp?mn=2&id=1262&cc=7

Nova Scotia CAP sites have also launched friendly walking challenges to encourage communities to be active this summer. People can win individual and community prizes for most steps and just for participating. Find out more here: http://www.walkaboutns.ca/newsItem.aspx?id=23 .

Or, if non-competitive challenges are your thing, I invite you to share your steps and journey with me! I'll share where I walk and what I sights I see, and I would love to hear about your walking summer as well! Fingers crossed, I hope my journey involves a soon-to-be-declared-pampering day as a result of winning my own walking challenge.

Heading out across the flats

2009-07-02T19:09:00.001-03:00

A look at the runners/walkers as they make their way through the mud out to the island.

coming back from the mud run by boat

2009-07-02T19:08:00.001-03:00

Coming back across the flats by boat ( tide has turned)

Mud continued

2009-07-02T19:03:00.002-03:00

A picture of how the shoes looked at the end of the run!

more mud

2009-07-01T10:26:00.002-03:00

My bragging rights have been somewhat curtailed. While I can continue to brag about my intrepid daughter, grandchildren and colleagues for their great runs at the Not since Moses, it seems I am as Proud as a fancy pheasant not a peacock!

not stuck in the mud

2009-06-28T21:04:00.002-03:00

Imagine how proud as a peacock I was on Saturday when Grandkids number 1&3 did the Not since Moses basket run!With much slipping and sticking (shoes) in the mud they rounded the finish line with Dad and puppy in tow in time to get the basket run medals.
Then on up the hill to see the Heart and Stroke gang ( basket cases really) getting ready to launch off on the 10 k . Sunday my better half and I volunteered in the Minas Basin while daughter number 2 ran her 10 k.It couldn't have been better.In fact five hours later there was 41 feet of water where I was Standing! How cool!
Check out the front page of the CH Sunday edition to see what 350-400 muddy runners /walkers look like.
Oh and by the way, I saw a peacock in full color on the way out of Five Islands. I guess he was proud of them too! Check the walkabout facebook site for picturs later in the week.

fun look at Mud run

2009-06-24T10:45:00.001-03:00

If you are wondering what in the world will this thing be like, look at the videos and descriptions in these helpful sites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LBYX4aj340&feature=related

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/SportFit/GAC/bmmoses08.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8phbAlbsoo

Walking, rocking, radio and more...

2009-06-22T14:38:00.006-03:00

As my bio indicates, I work at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. I spend a lot of time ensuring that Walkabout is consistent in its look, and true to its being: supporting Nova Scotians in walking, and providing the tools and resources to support the pitter-patter of steps.

I also get to work on creative projects as well. One of the components of Walkabout includes a campaign focused on changing the way we think about walking. Walking is not glamorous. I know. However, here's the thing: I also think it is one of our best kept secrets - it can bring friends together for an evening, allow you to connect with your pet dog (or someone else's), helps you clear your head, and the lists goes on. Part of what we're focusing on is bringing that magic back.

We recently developed radio spots to support the Walkabout message. These cheeky, light-hearted pieces are engaging and pack a lot of punch. I invite you to listen to them here. Venture down the page to the bottom where the links are to the radio commercials! The main message is about walking, but there are also virtual ways to share this message: send an e-card, join the Facebook fan page, share interesting information you find on Twitter or other sites. Think of it as virtual walking 8--)

Where does walking take you? For me, I walk to and from work everyday (well - there was an exception when it was raining, if you'll recall from an earlier post), and I use the time to get lost in my head or work through work or home issues on my plate. Where does walking take you? I'd love to know, so share your walking secrets with a comment to this post!

Walking

2009-06-22T13:55:00.002-03:00

According to Helen Keller, it is better to walk in the dark with a friend than to walk alone. ( Yes I did the cryptoquote this morning) . But how true it is. I'm looking forward to walking with the Grand kids again at the Not since Moses walk in Parrsborro NS this weekend. If anyone has any pull with the weather person, please use it for Sat and Sun. Check it out www.notsincemoses.com at and check out the Walkabout team as they walk/run/slip their way to the islands on Sunday

Scenic Main a Dieu

2009-06-19T14:44:00.009-03:00

I had the pleasure not long ago to combine two of my favorite things ... Library visit and walking. What more could you ask for? Well I got it. I was privileged to walk with some of the Main a Dieu folks who were and are responsible for the fabulous Main A Dieu Coastal Discovery centre(You can find out more at wwww.coastaldiscoverycentre.ca ).We went for a talk and walk on the first warm CB day, and while it was warm and sunny in Sydney, it was sunny in Main a Dieu and I was glad to have my sunhat to keep my head warm. But I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face while we walked down the beach around the boardwalk. All the sunshine makes the solar panels on the front of the building an understandable renovation. All along the boardwalk, there are look off nooks to see wild vegetation and to gaze out into the deep blue water. I can't think of anything more inviting than this beach on a July day. Then you could spend the day swimming, picnicking, poking around the local C@P site ( where you could borrow a walkabout pedometer) , touring the museum, and finishing up by borrowing a book from the library on site,. If you forget your picnic lunch, you could pop into the restaurant where the fish chowder makes the visit memorable in its own right.
And if you go down to the end of the Harbor, Moque Head Trail is an easy hour walk.

By the way, my goal this summer is to hit all of the CB groups who are walking for Walkabout and join them at least once. Let me know where you are and I'll come along for a walk.

CB Youth Fiddlers Run/Walk

2009-06-18T13:36:00.007-03:00

My weekend was made a roaring success, not only because all four grand kids were in residence, but because all four decided to take part in the Dr's NS CB Fiddlers Youth run. While I made my way to the volunteer lines at 8:00 am , four little folks found runners, hats, and sunscreen and made their way in for the 11 am start. Over 600 youth from just about 3 years of age to Junior High were in the Joan Harris Pavilion next to the big fiddle to set out. I had the privilege to hang out with a very enthusiastic bunch of Grade 3 students before the official start.
Grand kid Number 1 was initially pointed in the Tots Run but stepped up to run with the elementary school kids.You couldn't have seen a happier face when he arrived at the finish line, and arrived before some of the big Junior High kids finished their run He and his Mom had a great time. And so did all other 599 participants. Lots of green T-shirts arrived at schools on Monday with the medal for proud display!

Meanwhile back at the Tot Trot, there were over 40 little folks who ran, walked, or toddled through the bubbles around the five laps to come in for a big finish to medals and cheers. I don't know who had the most fun, the runners or the watchers!

Walk the stress away

2009-06-13T13:09:00.003-03:00

Walking seems so simple and uninteresting. I mean it's just one foot in front of the other until you reach your destination. Not very many people think of how complex it really is. For something you learn when you're very young it sure is useful. Walking can be used for something as simple as going to get the mail or as difficult as going across Canada. Today I decided walking would be used as a stress reliever. With exams starting on Monday and other issues building up, I could barely think. I didn't think that any amount of spa treatment could possibly help me now. I seemed to have everything going wrong precisely when school had to be my number one priority if I wanted to pass exams. Of course there wasn't much I could do about most of these problems but bite my finger nails and worry. There wasn't much I could do about anything I, after all I was just a kid to the majority of people. This morning though I decided that everything was going to be forgotten and today was going to be my me day. I had studied so much that I swore I could take the English exam on Monday in my sleep. I always had tomorrow to cram a little more. I could definitely afford and use a me day. In movies and novels 'me days' usually consisted of shopping and going out to lunch. I do not only find shopping unbelievably boring but fast food makes me feel sick so these things were not for me. I decided this morning that maybe my 'me day' could start with a picnic on the beach with nothing but my black lab Sasha. Surprisingly there wasn't many people on the beach this morning. I guess most people wait until a little later in the day to show up. The sound of waves crashing and fresh air was just what I needed to forget about everything on my mind. Walking across the sandy beach may not seem like much but when you have the beautiful scenery, the nice sounds and the wonderful feeling of the fresh air going through your lungs it really is something. Relaxing doesn't always have to be on a couch watching t.v or in a spa getting a massage, it could be walking down the beach letting the cool breeze massage and relax every tense muscle in your body.
- Sarah

Running away for the day

2009-06-12T10:53:00.002-03:00

There are a few times a year when I just run away from home...just for a day. Saturday was one of those days. No one had a job for me to do, I had no obligations, and I found myself in Truro with no plans. So I just let my nose take me where it would.( It is spring after all and the blossoms are coming out.)

You know I have a few bad habits... and gardening is just one...Spending money is another, so when I can combine the two, how perfect. I started the day at the Truro Farmers market. ( Farm Markets are an entire subject unto themselves) . But since I have a gardening habit, it was mainly for the plants I went. And what a selection of vendors there was. Trees, native species, little gems I don't yet have. What more could I hope for? Well there was some great coffee and a a few crafts that called out my name as I passed by.

Next I hit a few antique shops , luckily no room for furniture in the vehicle. But lots to see.

Then a great little bistro near Margolians . I think it may even be in the same spot I used to buy fabric for my Quilting volunteers in another life. Then the highlight was up to AC to see the rock garden.The last time I was there, it was a work in progress. Now it is just a wonderful spot to go . I could walk around it all day and still see some flowers I missed on the last pass. And I was drooling over a pasque flower. ( Fate had it that my daughter bought one for me at the Halifax Farmers market , so I am now thinking about where to put it at home.) But there are samples of a scree garden that might have an influence on me too! Anyway if you want to go, checkout this site www.panoramio.com/photo/286433, and it includes directions. Or else visit nsac.ca/nscc-map/rockgarden.asp to take a peek. Then put your shoes on and take a walk to AC.

Nova Scotia election candidates on the move!

2009-05-29T13:30:00.004-03:00

Great news - Walkabout's election challenge has sparked interest across the province, resulting in a flurry of candidates signing on for their own informal walking challenge. For the rest of the campaign (and possibly beyond), they will wear Walkabout pedometers, track their steps online for a friendly competition, and hopefully spark conversations about the issues this brings to light, issues like infrastructure, health and healthcare costs, active transportation, gas prices, the environment, and community safety. Here's the news release, and here's the great part of the story as far as I'm concerned:

Politics is not a drive-by sport. These folks know that, if you want to really connect with people, you've got to do it on foot. I learned a similar lesson on a personal level when I gave up most driving for short distances - I got to know my neighbourhood a lot better, and I enjoy it a lot more. But more on that later....

In other news.... with the warmer weather, beautiful "street parties" are popping up all over the place, including in some extreme places - like Times Square, which is typically wall-to-wall cars. Check out these pictures of pedestrians reclaiming the street!

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/05/25/nyregion/0525-BROADWAY_11.html

... and from the sounds of it, it may become permanent. What I would call a pedestriarchy.

Makes me want to get out my white paint can and claim my own street for a sunny stroll this weekend. Instead I will settle for some HRM Bike Week activities (http://www.halifax.ca/bikeweek/ScheduleOfEvents.html#May29) . Walkers bike and cyclists walk - streets which are friendly to cyclists are very much in the Walkabout spirit. It's true - walk and roll can save the world :)

Walking takes me... to the finish line

2009-05-22T14:25:00.006-03:00

This was a big day. I sprint-walked-sprint-walked the course. It wouldn't have been possible without building up my endurance through the simple act of walking every day.

This was the Bluenose 10k. Now that I know that I can go further by breaking up my sprints with walking - and that, mind-blowingly, this can give me the same average speed as many of those hardy souls who jog the whole way - I'm game for more marathons, maybe even longer distances. And that just blows me away. I'm a walker, not a runner! But walking helped take me there.

Turns out there's whole communities of people who have already discovered this. Check out http://www.marathonwalking.com/. With proper preparation, you can walk a whole marathon. My entire worldview has shifted...

Olympics now and then

2009-05-13T17:08:00.007-03:00

I was at a meeting in Richmond county and my colleagues and I were chatting about the Olympics.One of the group felt that the cost of training elite athletes was just not worth it; it was not beneficial enough for the general population to keep doing it year and year. Needless to say that began a lively discussion about Physical Activity and motivation! Some were pro , some were con. As I was making my way home again, I was musing on this very topic when I came around the bend to my family's kilometer. Now why does my family have a kilometer of our very own? Well, it is a most beautiful little spot of paradise on Route 4 including a beautiful little church and a road leading to Salmon River. We ran it, together, in the dark, with the gods of Olympus with us( or at least their flame).

Back in the day, during the 88 Olympics build up, a gasoline company offered the chance to run in the torch run to anyone who entered a contest. My youngest must have filled out a hundred entries. And because she was too young to go to the service station alone, her Dad filled out some too. Unfortunately for her, her name wasn't picked but her Dad's was. So it became a multi generation , neighbourhood event. Our elderly next door neighbour came along . Dad's kilometer was about an hour away from home, and on a cold,crisp night we waited by the side of the road for the torch to come along. As he was passed the torch, the organizers said to the girls "you can run along with your Dad for awhile". How exciting for a little girl and her sister. To touch the torch was a thrill. To run together was a thrill. And afterwards in the Hall in the local community, other families celebrated that same thrill . Pictures of everyone holding the Olympic flame were taken, hot chocolate was drunk, and stories told. Was it money wasted? I think not. Even today, as I drive that section of highway with an acquaintance , I always say " This is our kilometer"

And research does show that children who have active parents are more likely to remain active into adulthood. And if our daughter is an example, it's true!

Summer is coming

2009-05-06T09:44:00.004-03:00

So is it really pre-summer or was that just a teaser last week?

We think it is really going to happen. So many firsts. The first slug crawling up the driveway, the first ladybug on the bikes, the first bonfire of the season, the first earwig. As you can see many of these firsts are not at all my favorites but... the best is watching the magnolia tree blossom. And you can just see it , bit by bit, all day as the blossoms slowly open up. I have to tell you the magnolia is a stunner. And I can sit in my old rocking chair and see it even when I am not outside. I consider this spot of ground a little bit of paradise ; but I am sure others have their own spots to think about.

And I can think of one.

Really I don't ever think that I'd like to live in the "big city" but I am a little jealous when I hear that the Halifax Public Gardens are going to open tomorrow. Check it out at www.halifax.ca/publicgardens. I think it is one of my favorite gardens to walk about. If I lived in Halifax I'd be grabbing my sun screen, my hat,my lunch, and heading over to the gardens every noon hour to see what's in bloom, what's new with the ducks, and who is entertaining in the grandstand. But for those of you who live there, take a walk over for me and take a look around at the spectacular beauty that has withstood the storms of this century and last, the pressure from developers, and the wonderful planning of the designer! While I, at home in the country, will enjoy a scenic vista a little less grand but almost as satisfying. This week Number 3 has been picking flowers with wild abandon. Her mother chastised her and told her not to take any more flowers into the house. So when I went outside , every puddle and the birdbath had a lovely daffodil arranged nicely in it!

So take a walk to wherever your heart leads you and enjoy your surroundings!

The little engine that could (walk, run, play...)

2009-05-05T12:14:00.011-03:00

The annual Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon is just around the corner and I have signed up to run the half marathon. Now, 21 km is no joke. After completing this run, I will have three half marathons logged with my running sneakers. However, the training - mentally and physically - doesn't get any easier.

The way I see it, whether you're running 21km or walking 21 km, there's a certain amount of focus and commitment required. Not to mention, a whole lot of steps logged, water consumed and memories made. For the first time, I've kept a journal about my running experience. And while there's still two weeks to go, upon reflection, I've come to realize that the real learning isn't in the distance I've logged, but in the thoughts I've kept, the people I've seen and the places I've been.

I've witnessed pure, raw friendship that comes from a congratulatory high-five or hug after a long run. I have thought about why I'm running, and the negative demons that can haunt my steps. I've seen rain drops dance along the pavement and I've seen the sun glisten off citidal hill after a snowfall. I've even seen my running partner throw-up. Now that's dedication.

So, while I've logged many kilometers, and countless steps, the journey has also been emotional as well. This year, I will be running with my brother, and taking part in the kids run with my niece. So, while the training has been long, it's the journey (and destination) that's worth a thousand words.

I'm not sure how many of you are participating in this year's marathon weekend, but for all you runners and walkers, I wish you happiness and good luck! Whether you're running or walking the 5, 10, 21 or 42 km, there's distance to be covered and memories to be made. So relish in it.

Steps to ponder:

10 days, 29 hours, 29 minutes until the marathon.

This year, if you're participating in the Blue Nose Marathon, you can also join a charity challenge team. I'm on the the Heart and Stroke Foundation team. If you're walking or running, you can join our team as well! Or you can pledge to support the team (shameless team promotion I know 8--)

There once was a little train engine with some very wise words: "I think I can. I think I can!"

Good luck!

I think I'll stick with walking.

2009-04-29T21:15:00.003-03:00

As my sister and I walked down the faded grey road we talked about normal things, normal for us anyway. We thought it would be a good day for a nice stroll down the road, so we geared up and started toward the street. After we got walking we were oblivious to how much exercise we were getting. After a while, we found ourselves gawking at a retired doctor's property. The landscaping around his enormous house was gorgeous but there was one thing in particular that caught my eye. A red paved square to the side of his back yard with a big grey fence around it. A tennis court. So, right away my sister and I turned around and walked home, we were pretty physicked after seeing two people running around hitting tennis balls at each other. When we arrived at my house I went straight to the garage and grabbed two tennis rackets and a green tennis ball. We were already geared up in sneakers and gym clothes so we got ready to play some tennis. After we found a good place in my drive way to play we realized a simple fact... neither of us have ever played tennis before in our lives. We decided that if we could play it on the Wii then it couldn't be too difficult, right? Wrong! We're not sport people so after a few blunt head injuries, a small encounter with the Atlantic ocean and a minor dent in mom's Nissan we decided to call it a day. Well, it was fun while it lasted.
Walking takes you places :) but just because it doesn't look like it requires skill doesn't always mean unskilled people can do it although we had lots of fun trying. We have both decided we're going to stick with walking and volleyball for physical activity.
-Sarah
Can you see the world from your car window?

Spring is here

2009-04-27T14:35:00.009-03:00

Spring is here.

What are the signs? Kids playing in the water.( #s 1 & 3 were playing in the ocean this weekend) Ducks playing in the water. I caught a glimpse of these ducks in the ditch on the road by my house. Scared of the flock of Canada Geese in the lake perhaps?

Bees buzzing around the flowers. These croci were home to the first sighting at our house this year.

And I’m glad that the bees are back. Across North America over 1/3 of the cultivated populations are being hit with some sort of illness which wipes the colony out. What would we do without these industrious little fellows? Most of our veggies at the local markets are pollinated by these little fliers. They’ve had a bad reputation but really are so necessary to life as we know it.

And the true sign of spring. As I look out my window, my trusty better half is busily pruning (or slashing ) down my favorite smoke bush . One guy's pruning is another plants massacre.

Lucky Pennies

2009-04-23T11:34:00.011-03:00

So, there I was walking with my head in the clouds making my way to work when my random thoughts about spring ran smack up against a more pressing thought about keys.

That's right, suddenly my tranquil thoughts about running a half-marathon were disrupted by more a more serious thought about whether I put my keys in my backpack.

Responding as I do to such immediate, annoying thoughts, I stopped to search my backpack. That's when a pleasant, soft-spoken elderly woman interrupted me.

"I have to give these to you," she says with her hand extended out to me with two tarnished pennies laying flat in her palm.

“What,” I ask staring at her, then the pennies, then at her again. “The pennies?”

“Yes, I have to give these pennies to you in order for it to be lucky,” she responds.

“Sorry,” I ask, not sure what act of superstition I am about to partake in.

“If you find pennies, you have to give them away for luck. And I found these ones back there” she tells me, pointing back to the sidewalk behind us.

“Okay, sure,” I say, “I’ve never heard of this, but I’ll take them, maybe they will bring me luck today.”

I thanked her, placed the pennies in my pocket, and returned to my search. She smiled and walked off relieved that she had passed on her pennies to someone. Finding my keys, I returned to my walk when my mind turned to thoughts about pennies.

Curious, I decided to find out more about pennies when I got to work. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the penny is composed of the following: 94 per cent steel, 1.5 per cent nickel, and 4.5 per cent copper plating or copper plated zinc. It weighs 2.35 grams and is 19.05 mm in diameter and 1.45 mm in thickness. The Royal Canadian Mint minted 846,420,000 in 2007 and 928,434,000 in 2001.

On 10 October 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint released a study on the future of the penny in Canada. The findings show that most small retailers were slightly in favour of removing the penny while consumers were split on the issue.

You can find out more about the penny’s future at http://www.mint.ca/store/dyn/PDFs/FutureofthePennyENG.pdf.

I say we keep the penny. For, were it not for the penny, I would not have met this elderly woman eager to ensure I had a lucky day.

Rain Rain stay today little children love to play

2009-04-15T14:46:00.007-03:00

Well the rain can mean different things to all of us. I was sitting in my rocking chair as befits an old gramma on Easter Sunday lamenting about the rain, when I realized number 4 grandchild was quietly putting on her boots ,over her night attire,and taking her new umbrella for a walk. (Apparently the Easter bunny also has a thing for umbrellas.) Now she did not see the same challenges I did. Her challenge was to sneak by the adults and get out the door without being told to get dressed!

And again I marvel at how we put obstacles in our way when none really is there. (I too own boots and an umbrella, but was not prepared to use them on such a cold drizzly day)

And it is amazing how the word spread.

Soon One, Two, and Three were in their boots, slickers and umbrellas and away they went on an adventure. Apparently it is a lot of fun to get really, really wet.

Again I thought of how social walking is, how much fun they were having, and how just one little girl (just 3 years old) could inspire an entire family to get on the move. (If only to run for the camera so we’d have a good shot of the adventure gang!)

So her song is “rain rain don’t go away”.

Wait, Think, Go

2009-04-11T23:40:00.039-03:00

Sure we were cold from walking in the rain. But there we were, taking pictures of what we thought was interesting. Or, I should say, my nephew was taking pictures of what he thought was interesting.

For me, holding back as he took pictures, I found it to be an easy way to talk to him for in between me showing him how to change my camera's settings I was able to ask him about what he was doing lately. See, the thing of it all is his girlfriend just broke up with him.

The loss of your first love is always difficult. Surprisingly, my approach worked for he wasn't as guarded as he normally is when I ask him questions.

Who knows, maybe the "so, you want to push that button on the left three times" interspersed with "so, how are you feeling about everything" was an easy - or seamless - enough distraction to him that it didn't seem like his uncle was prying, but rather making sure he was okay.

He took these traffic light pictures, I simply told him where to stand and what to look for when we was ready. I like the photos for two reasons: first, it showed me what he thought was interesting on a windy, rainy, weekend afternoon on our way to get something to eat and second, it captured how we should approach life.

The red light means we should stop to take time out for ourselves and for those important to us in life.

The yellow light means we should proceed with some caution about big decisions in life.

And the green light means that if something or someone is important to us then we should go after them in life.

You never know what you'll find out or what you will see when you start to ask questions or view the world through the eyes of another when you go for a walk.

I found out that he's upset about the break up. He found out that he'll be okay.

He found out that he has an uncle he can talk to. I found out I have a nephew who likes cameras.

By talking and by walking, you'll eventually get to where you're going.

Umbrellas and such

2009-04-02T09:47:00.002-03:00

An umbrella or parasol (sometimes colloquially, gamp, brolly, umbrellery, or bumbershoot) is a canopy designed to protect against precipitation or sunlight. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)An umbrella or parasol (sometimes colloquially, gamp, brolly, umbrellery, or bumbershoot) is a canopy designed to protect against precipitation or sunlight. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I’ve been thinking about umbrellas and how we use them; mostly because I expected sun today but maybe it might shower in a bit. I just came back from a spot where the umbrella is definitely used as sun protection. And as I watched folks using them, I thought there may be a fair amount of wisdom that we could take from these people.
For example: Our bus ride which would have been a quick 2 hour ride here in NS, was almost 4 hours. Why? Not just because the roads were bumpy (they were), but because we were heading through towns at noon, everyone was fetching their kids from school. On foot…with parasols (such a great word) and guess what? Busses yield to pedestrian traffic! And in areas of heavy population, the sidewalks were in better shape than the road. Walking is a way of life. Walking is important transportation for the population, and walking deserves some consideration.
So as I get ready to go to a meeting, I’m tucking my umbrella in my pack and hoping I’ll need it as a parasol not for avoiding the rain!

2009-03-31T11:01:00.004-03:00

I’ve just recently come back from one of those vacations that are heavenly for us folks who have the winter blahs. Here’s a shot of what the coast looks like on a breezy day.

But of course I had to let reality creep in. I took a walk on the beach, but not at the resort. Down the coast and around the turn. We were able to walk for about 30 kms (but only went 5). We saw a stretch of beach they call the Seashell cemetery. A spot where the waves pound so hard the conch shells wash up and eventually disintegrate. Beautiful to see but think of the power of that water. Last year when we were there (on the same beach) there was a fisherman and his family who lived in a traditional home. Concrete slab, wooden structure, gardens…the usual family home on the coast. Then along came a hurricane. No more house, no more concrete pad, no more trees, no more boat. Hard to be a fisherman with no boat. He is now living well back from the site in a plastic hut. Poles strung from the trees, with plastic tarp over the frame, and it was a cold winter this year. Which leads me to think about how lucky we are here in my area. Yes we have a two day storm raging around us, but when it is over, my house will still be here, I’ll still have supplies to purchase and life will go on.

They’re tearing down a church in the Hydrostone. Do you want to walk by it?

2009-03-30T14:23:00.008-03:00

“They’re tearing down St. Joseph’s Church in the Hydrostone. It will make for some interesting photos! Do you want to go for a walk to see it?”

Who wouldn’t, really? I mean, it’s got the makings of a great day out: coffee, friends, history, not to mention a bit of walking and a hint of destruction. For someone who lives near but not in that area, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw among the twisted metal, broken concrete, and splintered wood. While I walk a lot in Halifax I haven’t happen to come by this area for some time during my walks.

Of course, I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t excited by the photographic opportunities in the scene I saw, but truth be told I also was saddened by the historical losses I witnessed.

This church has a story to tell. St. Joseph’s Church is situated in Halifax’s North End at the corner of Russell Street and Gottingen Street, which is in the vicinity of Halifax’s Hydrostone area. That location alone meant that the church would have been destroyed by the Halifax Explosion.

But there was more to this church. So, with some investigation, I came to learn that on Thursday 6 December 1917 – the year the Halifax Explosion occurred – more than 400 parishioners of this church were killed, representing about half of the parish at that time. Still, determined to rebuild, the area’s parishioners and residents began reconstructing the church, first as a basement church in the 1920s and later with the final construction of the upper structure in 1960s.

Declining attendance finally led to St. Joseph’s Church’s closure last summer. You never know what you’ll learn about this city when you get a phone call to go for a walk. You may see interesting sites, but you may also see history fade.

Weather detour

2009-03-30T11:34:00.008-03:00

I typically walk to and from work everyday. One could even say that being active is part of my everyday life. I am fortunate to live in a community that is well-lit and includes sidewalks, and I try to take advantage of it through active transportation as well as running.

However, life isn't always about smelling the roses, and it's not always easy to do the right thing (maybe that's why life is about perseverance, but that's a topic for a different blog!). Despite being well aware of the benefits I receive from walking - from contributing to my health and the environment to connecting with friends and helping me work through issues - it's not always easy to do the 'right' thing.

So, here's the truth. I didn't walk to work today. I live a 12-15 min walk to work, and I took my car. I know. Not cool. However, I just couldn't face the rain today. The weather made me want to reach for a book to read, not my walking shoes.

My question to you and for myself: How do we fight the weather? Even with all of the awesome reasons to walk, the great places to walk and the resources to support walking decisions, how do we overcome the weather? Weather is one of the most common barriers to walking - my morning story is an example of that. What are weather-walking strategies to turn the detour into a much needed change of plan?

Walking Feeds the Imagination

2009-03-23T13:46:00.006-03:00

I’m interested in the doors I see during my walks.

I find them interesting not only because they tell interesting stories of care and neglect, but also because they hide historical secrets either innocuous or serious. For example, take this door, which I photographed recently one Saturday afternoon during a walkabout of the Halifax Citadel. The paint on the door – faded, blistered, and peeled – reveals character and history. Who knows, maybe the faded initials are the result of an enamored worker; the pockmarked imperfections the result of a misplaced hammer; and the rusted metal the result of a harsh winter.

I don’t know the initials, the pockmarks, and the metal that make up the door, but I can try to imagine those who built it and fixed it and it could go like this: a Parks Canada employee applied a layer of paint to a door years ago placed there by a Canadian Forces corporal a century ago. The two individuals separated by time are connected by the object. For the employee, the door is old. For the corporal, the door was new. The employee a student of preservation; the corporal a student of engineering. The employee a young student working to pay for school; the engineer a young corporal working to protect the fortress. The employee, soon after, graduated school and left; the engineer, soon after, was transferred overseas and killed.

Doors are important because they hide secrets not just behind them but also about them. This door is important because for three separate days it occupied the attention of three separate individuals: the photographer, the employee, and the engineer.

I can’t tell you how much this city has to offer to those with active imaginations. Clearly, it does. However, to let that happen for you, you need to get close to them, study them. And to do that you need to get out of your vehicle and out of your house. By valuing the historical spaces around us, we can begin to appreciate them, honour them, and preserve them, to say nothing about letting our minds wonder about them.

One year with pedometer

2009-03-20T09:39:00.000-03:00

It was a year ago this morning that I first clipped on my Walkabout pedometer. 365 times since then when I've noted my daily step count. Probably thousands of times I've been reassured to hear it quietly clicking away at my hip as I went about my daily business. It's funny how the pedometer changed my habits; I became happy to take detours, happy to have the bus drop me off a distance from where I wanted to go, and *almost* happy to be the one to have to pick up groceries. Almost.

There's something funny about human nature - well, mine anyhow - that the simple act of measuring progress is such a powerful motivator. I wanted to walk more, sure, but once the website was graphing my progress, I really wanted to nudge that red line higher. In fact, once I formed an online group with friends and family, I took unseemly joy from long walks because I knew this could make me "win" today. It was only gradually that I (re)discovered that walking was fun for other reasons. And on the raniest or coldest days, it was only the competition that kept me walking at all. Is this a bad thing?

Along the way, of course, I made other discoveries, some more profound than the power of competition and self-measurement. I'll blog about those another day. Today I want to rejoice in my personal accomplishment over the past year.

I walked the distance to Regina.

Next year's goal?

Walking took me places I never imagined.

2009-03-18T14:49:00.006-03:00

Guest post:

Eight years of University came to a halting end and left me feeling that despite the knowledge I had squeezed into my now rather expensive brain, I had yet to really explore the world. So with 3 months before starting a yearlong internship and no friends who could afford to travel or had time to do so, I made up my mind to do it myself.

Now, I assume that most people would have prepared for such an adventure. I, however, decided to prepare by packing a backpack the night before leaving for Heathrow and buying a Lonely Planet Europe on a Budget book. In retrospect, I assume that before leaving on a 3 month solo journey, most people would also learn how to use a map. I did not.

Although I had always been active, played varsity sports and any pick-up game that happened in the summers, walking had never been a passion of mine. Upon arriving in Europe alone and on a very tight budget, my feelings quickly began to change. With no plan of attack for exploring this continent, I looked for cheap buses, trains and airplanes to take me to each exciting new city. For three months I planned 2 days in advance and bounced around Europe. I would arrive in a new city with my trusty Lonely Planet city map and would walk to the chosen hostel. Mastering map reading had happened out of sheer necessity in only a few short days and I found that the beauty of walking to each hostel was that by the time I had found it, I had also oriented to the city and was ready to discover it. I would drop off my backpack and then have an exciting, exotic, fascinating city at my fingertips to explore however I chose to do so. I would walk around markets, churches, memorials, parks and, to my mother’s horror, anywhere else that I could find.

I spent the summer on my feet and in the sun, exploring everything and anything I could from Dublin to Croatia and everywhere in between. I rarely rested except for travel time and people watching after picking up fresh fruit, bread, cheese and often wine from a local market. By the time I reached Spain, the walking had done so much for my mind, my spirit, and my body that despite my Canadian modesty, even the topless beaches of Valencia were mine to embrace, I suppose this time to my boyfriend’s horror.

Walking around Europe this summer took me places I never could have imagined: bumping into the Queen while walking to climb Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland; wandering the grounds and history of Versailles outside of Paris, France; the smell of chocolate in a back alley of Brussels, Belgium; wandering through War Memorials in Berlin, Germany; haggling over fake Prada purses outside a church in Milan, Italy; or catching the most breathtaking sunset I could have ever imagined while walking home in Zadar, Croatia.

These are the places that walking took me.

Walking Takes You – To Foreign – Places

2009-03-12T15:57:00.015-03:00

For me, the excitement typically starts months before at the bookstore with the purchase of two travel books: one for the traditionalist, one for the adventurous.

My walking pace quickens as I eagerly set home knowing hours of reading up and jotting down await me once I crack the spine on my new travel guides to learn about this year’s vacation spot and what I should see. Once that's done, I open the more adventurous of the two books to find locations that aren’t listed in the first book so I can add the 10 best off-the-beaten track locations to my list. I find the best way to explore a foreign city is to pass by things slowly, never quickly; always on foot, never by vehicle.

Walking provides me with the opportunity to find hidden, twisted alleyways where I may come upon a pub filled with locals who will strike up a conversion with me and give me more insight into what else I can walk to and what else I can discover.

Walking provides me with the opportunity to search out the steep, spiraling staircases away for the maddening crowds where step by step – and seemingly hours later – I’ll emerge at the top of a castle tower overlooking the city where I'll then cast my mind back to when kings and queens ruled and castles were attacked and defended.

Walking provides me with the opportunity to take extraordinary photographs of the ordinary or ordinary photographs of the extraordinary like broken trucks or old branches.

Those that know me know I’m passionate about photography; I’m passionate about travel; and I’m passionate about walking. I walk not just for physical activity, but also so that I know I can handle walk ing for hours . Doing so, I have been able to see foreign cities in more meaningful ways.

Winter is over

2009-03-12T09:13:00.003-03:00

Well, the storm forecast for last night was a shadow of what we expected…and that’s because winter is over. Finished, Kaput. Now you ask I am out of my mind? Not really. This week the signs are all there. A pussy willow came into blossom at the end of the street. ( I wish I had my camera but this is what they look like)

The deer are coming out of the woods to gather around the warm pavement. ( Keep your eyes peeled)

The kids are trying to leave the snow gear at home when they go to school.

All signs.

And March break is coming…so the snow will be soggy, the ice soft, and the mud…. well…muddy. And the kids will have a ball. Slushbogganing, puddle hopping on ice, all the fun stuff.

So we know we can handle anything that comes our way from here on in.

Walking takes you to places, photographing them allows you to remember them!

2009-03-09T10:17:00.018-03:00

Walking takes you to places that you might normally find yourself in, but should you go, you will see the world differently, you will see yourself differently. As a tourist in your own country it’s easy to forget what a national park smells like in the morning after a torrential five-hour rainstorm.

But should you have spent the night trying to stay dry in a small tent refusing to pack up and leave in that same torrential five-hour rainstorm and should you force yourself to get up out of your sleeping bag you know there is photo waiting to be taken.

When you go – for “if” is not an option – you will find yourself standing alone amongst the vivid, green and brown woods reconnecting with nature, reconnecting with yourself.

As a tourist in a foreign country it’s easy to get lost in the hustle and the bustle of the streets. But should you have spent the afternoon walking around those city streets and should you force yourself to look up at world-renowned skyscrapers and meander through famous landmarks you know there is photo waiting to be taken.

When you go – for “if” is still not an option – you will find yourself standing alone amongst the multi-coloured, wind-snapped flags or stoic, somber buildings remembering this moment, remembering these details.

To paraphrase Samuel Johnson, the use of walking is to regulate one’s imagination by introducing reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.

Inspiration???

2009-03-05T11:19:00.002-04:00

http://www.funny-videos.co.uk/videoTeletubbieswalkitout.html

This site might give you the inspiration yu need to get moving. Or it might just scare you to death!

What about other funny reactions?

2009-03-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

After reading Jojorunner's blog about the inspiration of her furry friend, I started missing my old dog and thinking that cats really don't have the same love of snow that dogs do. If you don't believe me check out this site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwvMhSwUNqY&feature=related.
The other little creatures I hang out with usually love the snow, but the rain changed that a bit this morning. One well clad little gal in a big pink backpack tried to navigate the icy yard. To speed up the process she stepped into the snow bank where she could get some traction but ended up sinking up to her knees in soft wet snow. Now you know what happened next. Her boot got vacuum sealed in the bank, she pulled out her foot sans boot , and in the process fell over on her back. Of course the backpack ,being bigger than she, caused her to turtle in the air... all feet and hands and not getting up. Now a good grandmother would not have laughed, but I never claimed to be good at it, only to have fun at it. Luckily physics was with us and we managed to break the vacuum, retrieve the boot, restore the pride, and send her off on her way. (The good grandmother angel on my shoulder prevented me from getting the camera before rescue attempts were made , or was that fear of retaliation when I am decrepit and she is a teenager?)Anyway,we are all glad for the warmer temps., sad about the loss of snow, and hopeful that the lake will freeze up again before the next snow.

One reason to walk/run: dog sightings

2009-03-02T12:33:00.006-04:00

So my first lesson today is to keep my camera handy when out and about to capture the moment. Instead, I'm trying to re-create the moment which is not nearly as fun or authentic. Nonetheless, here goes.

I was in the park over the weekend doing that 'walking really fast motion' otherwise known as running, and - to my absolute pleasure - there were many others taking part in similar outdoor activities, but with their dogs. Now, for context, here is a bit of personal information - I love puppies and adult dogs. I do not own a dog but I desperately want one. This is part of the reason I love seeing dogs and upon doing so, secretly will them to come over to me so I can pet them. In fact, part of the reason I run in the park is so I can live vicariously through dog owners walking with their four-legged best friend. Plus, being introduced to a dog is a great excuse to take a break from running or walking.

Now, back to the park. I was running on Saturday and a puppy named "Jessica" was off leash and decided to take up the challenge of running with me. I would have happily continued with my new running mate, however her owner - who was very apologetic at the running disruption - probably wouldn't have been okay with this. But this is not the first time a furry friend has provided an inspiring moment. Last fall, I was training with my running partner and a mid-sized dog tried to over take him on the hill. It was the funniest sight to see from behind - my friend passed the dog and the dog took off in an attempt to catch him; both of them started sprinting up the hill, and I think (despite what my partner may recall) the dog would have won that race had it not been for the owner calling for him to come back.

Motivation is a funny thing - it comes in many forms and it can also be easy to lose. But having a running / walking partner can help focus and harness that motivation, especially during times of doubt, busyness or even when life just gets in the way. The beauty of this is that it doesn't have to always be a person. Dogs make great friends and they can also help keep you mindful of the need for outdoor walks or runs. Now that's pretty inspiring.

What motivates you?

For interest sake, check out this video I found on YouTube. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, my goal is to capture my walking experience in photo or on video to share with you. Until then, I will thank those who are mindful to share such moments with others and use this video to capture some of the nostalgia from my park-walking weekend.

ps. If you smiled or even chuckled then I've succeeded in sharing the 'happy feeling' that can come from walking or running in the park. It's not the distance - it's what you discover along the way. Imagine what adventures are to be found from taking the first step.

A Call for National Walk in the Snow Day

2009-02-24T11:19:00.002-04:00

Okay, okay, I freely admit that I haven’t posted in several weeks; however sometimes it takes me a long time to write what I need to write about events I attended and the thoughts I had, but I have found that walking in the snow lately has helped me get over my writer’s block. In fact, this whole walk in the snow routine reminds me that 28 February 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, our late, and in my mind great, prime minister, taking his now-famous “walk in the snow”. For those that don’t know the story, Trudeau walked alone in a snowstorm until midnight on 28 February 2009 wherein he made – or confirmed – his decision to step down as prime minister. The next day, 29 February 1984, he announced publicly that he was stepping down. So, in honour of Trudeau’s walk in the snow, I think we should all take time on Saturday 28 February 2009 for our own “walk in the snow.”

Let’s encourage everyone to get out for, what we should call it, I dunno, how about “National Walk in the Snow Day”. Of course, not everyone will face the decision to step down as prime minister and not everyone will make the “right” decision that will be best for everyone involved. Remember during Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister we received great things, such as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and we received not so great things, such as the National Energy Program. In taking a walk in the snow this weekend, the decision you think about – and maybe postponed – could be about whether you take a job in a different city, about whether you reveal a secret to your family, or about whether you purchase a one way ticket to a foreign country.

The thing about decisions is that you can only make them with the information that is available to you at the time of the decision; remember only the passage of time will tell you if you’ve made the correct decision. The walk in the snow may only result in telling you to jump headlong, but responsibly, into something. See the benefit of walk in the snow is that it gives us that chance to focus our thoughts by freeing them from distraction, and instead of postponing decisions that we have been avoiding, motivate us to make and, ultimately, accept our decisions. Enjoy your walk in the snow on 28 February 2009.

What a weekend

2009-02-24T10:44:00.002-04:00

To say it was an amazing weekend in CB is to be understated.
I spent Sunday afternoon at the Hoppitt-Loppitt at Ski Ben Eoin ., a fun family event. The day was made for it, sunny, clear, views from the heavens. I was only sory I couldn't be in Baddeck at the same time, but had a bit of a taste of the Silver Dart Ceclebrations when the F 118s( I think) did a flyby on the way to the Flyby in Baddeck. I wonder whatr.(s) Mc Curdy and Bell would have thought 100 years ago about the technical improvements that allowed their little craft to evolve into the craft I saw?

And speaking of evolving , I spoke to the organizers of the Walking MArathon at the Ski Hill and plans are well underway for a multi distance ( for beginners to pros) Marathon on September 12 in Cb.
and then I got home to this email.

Hi Claire,

I've been holding Nordic Walking clinics since January at the track
next to the Bicentennial Gym off Cabot Street in Sydney. Working
with Velo Cape Breton I've trained 24 people and would like to
continue, so I'm hoping that you can help me get the word out. The
clinic consist of four one hour sessions and people can pick Tuesday
or Thursday at 2pm to 3pm OR Friday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. I
teach a maximum of 8 people at a time. Now for the good part ----
the clinics are FREE. Participants need nordic walking poles ---
these can be purchased on the net. Locally, Bill at Frameworks
Fitness and Cycle on Townsend Street has them for sale at very competitive prices. He also has a rent to own offer, which is perfect if you want to try the sport out before buying poles.
Just what is Nordic Walking? Using poles while you walk transforms
walking into more of a total body workout. It also lowers the impact
on your hips and knees. To see videos of the sport go to www.keenfit.com . Nordic walking is suitable for people of all ages and athletic ability. The only basic requirement is that you be able to walk
continuously for 20 minutes. To date I've trained people who are
highly athletic to individuals recovering from joint replacement
surgery. But most of all it's a great way to get out and about
winter or summer. The track has been in a good walkable condition even when the sidewalks have been the pits.
If people are interested they can call me Andrée Crépeau at 539-9521 or email me at acrepeau@ns.sympatico.ca

So walk on anyway you want.

Let's bring it back to Batman...

2009-02-20T15:44:00.005-04:00

One of the earlier posts here reminded us that walking lets you observe some strange stuff you might not notice from a car - in this case, a seemingly inexplicable juxtaposition of neon Superman and Batman signs in a store that appeared to be not about comics. We were asked to imagine who would win in a fight, Superman or Batman. And I did give it some thought, unwilling to accept the too-easy answer that Superman's superpowers would make mincemeat of Batman's.... emotional depth...?

Obviously I didn't keep this issue front-of-mind at all times, but I do pass that same eccentric store on my own walk to work (if the sidewalks haven't been cleared along the more-direct residential route - but that's another story!)

Then, this morning, I saw this.

Superman's neon burnt out.

Batman wins by default.

Update: this issue is apparently bigger than I realized. Later that same day (that would be today), I passed a known comic book store in another part of the city, and saw that, at least in this neighbourhood, the controversy is very much still alive.

What's in your radius?

2009-02-17T13:19:00.002-04:00

Thanks to our friends at VELO Cape Breton for finding this interesting spot.

HERE'S A TIP - THE 1-MILE SOLUTION

link: http://isocrates.us/bike/2008/12/the-1-mile-solution/

The idea is simple: Find your home on a map. Draw a circle with a 1-mile radius around your home.( My note 1.6 kms) Try to replace one car trip per week within that circle by walking or biking. At an easy riding pace you can travel one mile on a bicycle in about seven minutes . Walking takes about 20 minutes at an easy pace. So what’s within 1 Mile of your house? Check it out at http://walkscore.com/

For me it’s not too hard. If I head north , I can walk to a very neat Island ( this month only! The lake is frozen right now), east I can get the mail,;South, the neighbors are fairly quiet in the cemetery;but South there are lots of neighbors to chat with and a small hobby farm to spend time with the horses, Shetland cattle, and a miniature horse! All cool.

Manic Mondays (or Tuesdays)

2009-02-17T11:25:00.005-04:00

So, here's the thing about walking: If you're late for something, often times you don't have anyone to blame but yourself. So, in addition to being active, proper planning and punctuation are key life skills to work on as well. I thought about this as I rushed out the door with a quick stride this morning to make it to my 9:00 meeting (I was just past the buzzer). If I only left a few minutes earlier I wouldn't have been trying to match roadrunner in a race.

I thought about how I would rationalize my late entry (watch broken, traffic, blizzard?) and I felt a little classic Bangles tune haunt my head:

Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there (Manic Monday, The Bangles, 1986).

Now, note that walking is not on the list for reasons one could be late. Granted, the message in the song is about the issues that Mondays can present for getting to work, and clearly the ability to make it on time is the real issue. But still.

If we are to take a lesson from pop culture, perhaps the real manic message in all of this is that walking as a means of transportation isn't on our immediate radar as an option. And maybe that could be the best reason of all to be late.

Walking in the big, bus-less city

2009-02-13T09:58:00.007-04:00

I love to walk. I wouldn't mind walking pretty much everywhere. But I like it most when it's a choice. And so, when I found myself in the midst of Ottawa's recent transit strike, I had mixed emotions.

Though I ultimately chose Nova Scotia to call home, I did live in Ottawa for almost a decade. My first visit back showed me how much the city has changed without the busses.

On the one hand, this time friends were much more amenible to my suggestions that we walk to wherever we were going - because the alternative was not a quick and cheap bus ride, but an interminable wait for one of the overworked, overpriced cabs. For once, walking was the quick way 'round.

But on the other hand... busses help pedestrians. They get us (close to) where we wanna go so we can walk the rest of the way. They extend our range, letting us access farflung places in the region that we'd otherwise have to drive to. And they help keep the neighbourhoods relatively free of the stinking, honking, crosswalk-blocking mass of road-rage that results when so many bus riders are forced back into their single-occupancy vehicles.

And there were heartbreaking stories about people who were forced to walk hours to work. To these folks, for these 53 days, walking was the only way to save their jobs, and it was cold and icy and not a choice, and not exactly what Walkabout calls "the joyful side of walking".

Still, I have to tip my toque to those who were in a position to rediscover why they like walking. As student/journalist Marlee Wasser wrote,

"I forgot how much I love walking!... And you know what? It actually doesn't take much longer to get places on foot...And I get to work feeling great because I got all those happy-feeling-making endorphins going. So I’m hoping maybe the strike also helped other people realize how great walking is and how socially acceptable it should be to take the sidewalk over the road."

You go, girl. Way to take power in a disempowered, crippled city.

For me, I'm relieved to be back in Halifax - and like you, eager to help build this province's culture of walking. Unlike Ottawa, this city's core is small enough to walk comfortably, and while we get our share of storms, we don't get nearly as much frigid cold - or even as much snow. (Check out the snow that obscures my pics of Ottawa's empty bus stop and newspaper boxes announcing the eventual end of the strike, above). We've got a good thing going here.

Who do you like enough to take for a walk?

2009-02-10T09:16:00.001-04:00

I’ve been thinking about who walks and why. We usually think of women as walking to get the social interaction (gab fest), but my observation of one group of guys who walk around my neck of the woods proves men like companionship too. One of these groups is a bunch of young retirees who get together 3-4 times a week. They walk around various neighbourhoods and then head off to breakfast together at least once a week. The interesting thing is that these guys have known each other for years. Two of them were in high school together. Three of them went to university together, all of them worked in various capacities for the same employer for over 30 years! Their families have played baseball, camped, curled, and attended weddings and funerals together. Walking keeps this bond strong. So who in your life would you like to bond with? Call them up tonight to go for a walk.

Nordic Walkers are cool.

2009-02-05T14:06:00.002-04:00

You can imagined how pleased I was to read my latest Velo CB newsleter and see this item:

CHEERS TO WINTER
by: Andre Crpeault, VCB #57
I thought I'd send you some news re the Nordic Walking. Despite the cold and the bitter wind and my own cold-- I've trained 19 people to Nordic Walking since the first week of January. And except for some cold fingers we've had alot of fun. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm at the track next to the Centennial arena(off Cabot street) for regular walks.
And I'm starting a third clinic this Sunday at 2pm. I'm hoping that the Sunday and Friday group will also evolve into a regular walking session.
I've had a number of questions about footwear. You need a flexible sole----- a running or walking shoe is best. A hiking or winter boot with a stiff sole will hinder your progress.
In response to queries re trying the poles Bill at Frameworks has come up with a rental plan. Please see the following note from Bill.
Cheers to Winter - See you at the track,
Andree
ps. I can be reached at acrepeau(at)ns.sympatico.ca or by calling 539-9521.

To read more interesting stuff going on here in CB... not just winter walking but winter riding visit the spot
www.velocapebreton.com

Storm is here.

2009-02-03T15:21:00.004-04:00

Well. the storm has arrived in Cape Breton. To follow up on the sidewalk reports, shall we also have wiper blades for glasses available for the walkers who get caught in the snow? It seems to me that that is one of the great hazards of walking , not being able to see where you go. I saw this great gadget that might help out for the walkers who have to battle their way throgh small drifts.

There's a storm coming re: side walk reports

2009-02-02T12:19:00.014-04:00

As the saying goes, if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all. To that end, I should end this blog post now. I guess I'm not a quick study.

I do feel compelled to follow-up to August's Journey's earlier comments re: side walk reports. (See his comment from January 30th, "Why do we have road reports, but not sidewalk reports or phone booth reports?")

It can be problematic and dangerous to walk in winter - even with the proper clothing. Part of a culture of walking could include a change in the measure we use to evaluate safety. In addition to road conditions, it would be great to also include sidewalk reports. I wonder how this idea would be implemented? What is the criteria to assess? How often is it reviewed? In a city with slippery walkways and a requirement to clear paths, such a responsibility could be part of the duties of those who so diligently ticket cars violating winter parking. It's an interesting idea to consider. That's all I'm saying.

Consider this interesting fact reported (Halifax offers parking spots to drivers caught in ban,CBC News, January 28, 2009) : "Since Dec. 15, 9,333 tickets have been issued [in Halifax]. At $25 each, that works out to $233,325."

I wonder your thoughts on the issue.

Superman versus Batman

2009-01-29T10:36:00.013-04:00

Here’s the thing about walking to work, you never know what you’re going to see or happen upon, which is why I always have a digital camera at the ready. So, on my walk to work this morning in Halifax I happened to walk by a store that had Superman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman) and Batman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman) signs in the window. (I never usually take this street, but for some reason I did this morning.) This got me to thinking: If there was a battle between Superman and Batman – assuming both were kicked out of the Hall of Justice, which served as the headquarters of the Super Friends team, for unpaid membership dues – who would win?

I agreed with myself that while it would also make for an interesting film, it would not make an Oscar worthy film and would probably go direct to video. Sure, they’ve tried such things in the past; Predator and Alien comes to mind. Right, so back to what I was thinking on my walk. Why not Superman versus Batman?Then I thought it wouldn’t really be a fair fight because Superman has super human strength and flying abilities, while Batman has nada, zilch, nothing, no extraordinary superpowers to speak of. So before I knew it I had passed 15 minutes of my day getting some walking in and taking some pictures all the while not even realizing it.

And then, there I was at the corner, walking sign beckoning me to cross the street. But noticing the green light, I got to thinking again: Superman versus Hulk, who would win?

2009-01-28T14:35:00.003-04:00

Well, who would have thought -10 degrees Celsius was warm? Only those of us who have been fighting wind chills of -29. It is indeed a challenge to stay motivated. I don’t have the coordinating hats that some of my friends do. In fact you’d see a decided grandkid influence in my wardrobe. The warmest mittens paired with the biggest scarf, wrapped around my old purple down jacket…and so on. The other thing we can take from the grandkids is the sheer joy of the day. One of my little darlings actually complained that there was sand down on the ice in the driveway. It ruined her ability to go skating! So she had to go over to the tobogganing hill. And there’s a great way to get some steps in…hauling the sled up the hill! And the view I see from the top of the hill is this:

And I must confess that I actually regretted having to go to work today because I was missing some great snowshoeing with the snow shoe group led by Micheline out at Ski Ben Eoin. From memory, I can guarantee the view from the top is spectacular. On a clear day ( today) you’d be able to see all the way down the Bras D’or Lakes. But next Wed am at 10am I'll be there with bells on...or at least my snow shoes.

Accessories turned necessities

2009-01-26T16:09:00.007-04:00

The one joy I would take from the winter season is the knowledge that I could coordinate my mitts, scarf and hat with my winter outerwear. Now, do not confuse my love of winter wears with the need for fashion as I have a number of winter woollies I'm not afraid to pull out should the temperature tempt me.

However, despite my general appreciation turned adoration for mitts, hats and scarves, I feel that mother nature is robbing me of this joy.

"How?" you may ask, given that the current temperatures are a playground for such winter wear. Simple. The choice has now been taken away from me. With the FRIGID weather, one can no longer take pleasure in finding the best ensemble to match the coat or opting not to wear all three pieces because you "can't find the matching mitten". Oh no, now it's about survival of the fittest - it's about keeping those appendages warm.

This morning was a cold, bitter walk - wind at my face, rosy cheeks, and a runny nose to boot. There was no sight-seeing or smelling of the proverbial rose this morning. Even the warmest of fabrics can't compensate for the fact that it's cold when you walk!

Now, I could allow this weather to weaken my mood, or - worse - deter me from walking to work (I don't believe there's a call in "cold" day). The reality is we live in Nova Scotia, and it gets cold in the winter (yet somehow we are shocked when this happens?!). Now, such face-blistering weather can make for cranky walks or even provide the perfect excuse for abandoning the outdoor excursion all together. Or, such situations can provide the perfect opportunity to invest in a very warm and hip collection of mitts and hats.

I'm going with the later.

Our blogging ideas

2009-01-21T11:56:00.010-04:00

We want this to be an open community to discuss walking stories, challenges, issues, etc. Mostly we want it to be a place to connect and chat and to share some of the experiences we call life.

We will grow and evolve together, however we thought it would be helpful to set some parameters for our blogging:

More is more- We've set up this blog to purposely allow for more than one blogger. We all have our own experiences and perspectives about walking and walking creates different meaning for all of us! This blog allows us to access different perspectives - from walker turned runner to walking advocate and more. We will have a different blogger for each day Monday-Friday. You can learn more about the different team members by checking out the contributor section.

Let us know! - We want to hear your feedback. We want posts and responses related to the topic of walking. However, posts that are unrelated to this topic or that use inappropriate language will be removed.

Our content - Our blogging team includes individuals who work on the Heart&Stroke Walkabout project. However, we're blogging because we're interested in sharing our experiences and want to learn about other people's experiences. The views of the blog are our views, and while they may share information about the program, they do not represent the views of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the supporters and sponsors of Walkabout.

That's all for now.

Welcome!

2009-01-20T10:52:00.007-04:00

We're Jolene, Melinda, Claire and other walking friends. Heart&Stroke Walkabout is a provincewide initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia focused on building a walking culture in Nova Scotia. We started this blog because, in addition to working on this project, we're simply passionate about walking. Well, Jolene is more passionate about running, but that's another story.

The point is, we want to talk about some of the places walking takes us - less about the exercise (although that's important) and more about the places, people and interesting situations we observe along the way. We're also passionate about walking issues and accessibility and want to use this blog to talk about them. And we want to hear from you. Share your images - a great place you walk, who you walk with (is it a friend, a pet or are you flying solo?) - and your thoughts with us.

Let's see where walking takes us. And so the journey begins.