A bijou strollette....

[AimlessWanderer]

I woke quite early this morning, and after coffee and ablutions I decided to wander off to the nearest budget supermarket for bread and milk instead of just going to the corner shop. As it was still quite early by the time I was ready to leave, I thought I'd have a stroll through the park on the way there for a little light exercise. All in all, it became a three mile round trip, and I took a few photos along the way.

The new mode of transport proved to be a useful multitool, but more about that later ....... 

[AimlessWanderer]

The first place I stopped for pics was the rock garden. It was nice and tranquil that time of the morning, and free of the usual canoodling teenage couples that frequent that area when they can be bothered to surface. Day had only just broken, so I felt I'd have a good couple of hours before the first of those would arrive. The only other visitors to the area were a couple of dog walkers, and a mum with a couple of young kids looking for the fish (there aren't any)

[AimlessWanderer]

While I was there, and there was nobody around to wonder WTF I was doing, I decided to grab a couple of pics of the day's carry choice. The Mega84 (more details in the mod forum)

[AimlessWanderer]

Next stop was the memorial garden for a moment or two's contemplation....

[AimlessWanderer]

Next, I headed back up along the main path, and veered round the Western side of the water splash. The area used to be fish ponds years ago, but eventually they filled it in and made a concrete area with fountains and paddling areas for families to cool off in during summer. This time of year the water doesn't get turned on, so it looks a little barren

[AimlessWanderer]

Next up is the skate park, so obviously I had to go and try out some skills with the walking stick....... yeah, right..... 

It's quite a tame area as far as skate parks go, but obviously the council wants to offer somewhere for the kids to go without racking up too many injury claims 

[AimlessWanderer]

The playground areas are actually quite good though...... and there's a permanent mini fun fair for the 5 to 12 year olds

[AimlessWanderer]

The park does get travelling fun fairs, open music festivals, and various other events throughout the year. The circus is in town at the moment.

[AimlessWanderer]

I broke off the wander round the park to go and get the shopping in. The walk to the supermarket isn't through one of the most salubrious areas, but if you look beyond, the views aren't dreadful I suppose.....

I'll try to wander off in a different direction over the next few days and try to take in some different views.

[AimlessWanderer]

After getting back with the groceries and having some lunch, I decided to have a wander back out into the park and get a few more pics. This time I went in via the sportier areas. The tennis courts and bowling greens were empty save for the scattering of fallen leaves. Nothing particularly worthy of pics. The only person engaging in any form of sporting activity, other than runners and a couple of cyclists, was a fat bloke on one of the basketball courts.... on his own... ineptly trying to dribble the ball, and missing every shot he took. It was a sight to behold, and it was a phenomenal achievement for me to keep my face straight 

I didn't get the camera out till I got to the Roman ruins. This is a bit of a scam really. The ruins are of an old granary - which wasn't discovered there - it was actually discovered at Templeborough when they were building the steelworks, and they relocated the fragments of the ruins they deemed were worth saving.

[AimlessWanderer]

Next I headed off past the museum and scandalously overpriced cafe, onto one of the wooded paths. The walking stick became a multitool at this point, flicking bits of detritus off the paths, and reaching up to pull down some beech limbs so I could pick a few nuts to munch on before the squirels nabbed them all. The Mega84 can opener came in handy getting to the kernels.

[AimlessWanderer]

I then dropped down to the old bandstand, which is larger than it looks in the pic - large enough for Marc Bolan and T-Rex to have played there in fact. If you don't believe me, just read the sign...

There's lots of these signs around the park, but I didn't bother snapping any of the others.

I then headed back towards home, and was passed by the road train that offers trips round the park for the utterly lazy

[AimlessWanderer]

A couple of quick piccies of the crazy golf course with the mini fairground behind, and then a steady stroll up the hill and past the big top (within which some woman was slaughtering a rendition of "Big Spender") before tottering home for a nice cup of tea and a cherry Bakewell. 

[jerseydevil]

Nice little jaunt Al.   Does the curved handle of a traditional shaped cane bother you? I could never get along with it......

[AimlessWanderer]

Nice little jaunt Al.   Does the curved handle of a traditional shaped cane bother you? I could never get along with it......

Cheers Tom 

Not at all, though I'm not having to put full weight on it with every step. I walk properly with it, i.e. matching the opposing leg, but for me it just gives a little extra balance. I only need to put real weight on it if I suddenly veer in the wrong direction, or if I get a bit of the dizzies. If the dizzies strike severely, it's ditch the stick and grab a nearby solid object, or ditch the stick and grab the floor 

The ironic thing is that using the stick by putting weight on it, actually puts a strain on my neck, which I believe is where the problem stems. I therefore need it with me, and ready to catch me, but use it as little as possible. It has saved me from a great many faceplants already though 

[SteveC]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you had a nice walkabout   

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks Steve.  I've got a lightweight day pack semi-packed (just needs food and drink) for tomorrow, or whenever I feel like something a little more out of the way. I'm determined to keep active whenever I can, even if it is at a snail's pace 

The neck is giving me some gip at the minute, but I think that's more to do with carrying the shopping than the walking. Either way, I'll see how I sleep tonight and how I feel in the morning. 

[jerseydevil]

Ah, you and I are using our sticks differently. Wait.... My balance is fine, I need thw smurfer for support. When I need to use it, it's taking a lot of my weight. That's why the curved handle just doesn't work for me, the "pistol grip" is much better.

[AimlessWanderer]

Ah, you and I are using our sticks differently. Wait.... My balance is fine, I need thw smurfer for support. When I need to use it, it's taking a lot of my weight. That's why the curved handle just doesn't work for me, the "pistol grip" is much better.

  I opted for this stick for three reasons:

1) I really wanted a traditional looking stick
2) It was the cheapest that the store sells (which is walking distance from home)
3) They market it as heavy duty, or at least heavier duty than the others, so it should handle some abuse 

I also have a Fulton walking brolly with a crooked handle. If I venture out tomorrow, I may give that a try. 

[ColoSwiss]

Looks like a pleasant morning.   

[AimlessWanderer]

Thank you, it certainly was  My confidence is increasing too, and I'm looking forward to pushing myself a little further next time

[zoidberg]

Thanks mate, I really enjoyed the pics.      

[AimlessWanderer]

 

[Aloha]

Really enjoyed the commentary along with the pictures.  Neat to see the skate park, especially me coming from California and being a former skater. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks mate 

I went on a much longer jaunt today, and I'll try to update later (I'm not back home yet)

[AimlessWanderer]

Today's jaunt ended up taking 8.1/2 hours  it shouldn't have done, but there were a few things against me along the way.

I was really struggling health wise this morning, and despite having packed sandwiches and drinks, and the usual light hike goodies, I wasn't fit enough to leave the house until 11:30. Even then, when I got to the end of the street, I almost turned around and came back. In fact the entire first mile was pure grit and determination to not bail out and go back and put the kettle on.

After that I felt a little better, and for a while even felt quite "able", and after 3 miles I arrived at the first place I wanted to visit - a picturesque little village called Whiston, or Whitstan (whitestone) as it is listed in the ancient texts. There's a lot of stone that used to be mined in this area, and the stone for the Houses of Parliament was actually mined in a nearby village.

[AimlessWanderer]

Whiston is a really condense little place, with steep wills, narrow winding roads, little snickets and alleyways, and some steep steps. Eventually I found my way up to the churchyard, and stopped for a sandwich and a drink in the Lynchgate, which was built as a memorial to those from the village who served in the world wars. The church itself has had a lot of work done over the centuries, but part of the building is original and has survived since the 12th century

[AimlessWanderer]

As I headed out of the village, I passed the 16th century Manorial Barn with it's distinctive thatched roof. Apparently this is the only remaining building of it's kind in the North of England. It's main purpose these days is as a wedding venue, and is laid out inside as a banquetting hall.

The nearby pub was tempting, but I resisted 

[AimlessWanderer]

As I headed along the main road and crossed over the M1 motorway, I had already racked up 5 miles and was still heading outwards. From this point I was outside the main confines of the town and stepping into a bit of countryside

[AimlessWanderer]

After a while, I caught a tempting glimpse of what would be the next destination - the tips of sails just visible over the trees