Ogden Walk

Monday I went aquarunning. Just thought I'd mention it as I can't add pictures of it.

Today I was going to go for a bike ride but couldn't find my cycling pants ANYWHERE.

So a walk was in order. I didn't fancy the usual trek so I got the dogs in the car and drove for about 20 minutes to Halifax - Ogden Water to be precise. This is a reservoir surrounded on three sides by a woodland.

Bear was wearing his muzzle and on the lead but Evie was off the lead. Bear started mutedly barking at a spaniel quite soon but we got past without mishap. When we crossed over the little bridge we started climbing away from the reservoir and there are very few people around here so this is where Bear got let off to run around for a while. This is where we saw the first wood carving of a fox made from a tree trunk.



It was sunny when I set off but it went cloudy and I thought I was going to get wet but it stayed dry thankfully.

After one complete circuit I decided to go round again but this time not climbing high into the woods. I was over halfway round when I stopped to take some photos. Bear was on his lead right in front of me and Evie was on the grass verge minding her own business. This man walked past and said 'put that dog on a lead as well' I said she was alright as she is around 13 years old and never bothered anyone or anything. He said 'I didn't ask that. I said put it on a lead. There are notices all around asking you to do this. Thank you. Bye bye' and walked off. What a despicable man! He really took the edge of my lovely walk. The signs ARE there but it is to stop your dog jumping in the water and causing problems for yourself or them. So he was right in what he said but it also says 'Cold Water Kills' but it didn't jump out and murder me so I ignored the man and carried on with my walk. She was on a lead at the appropriate times.

Anyway we did about 4 miles of walking including some quite steep climbs.






A rather clever idea that they use at Ogden is that they ask people to bring down their old real Christmas Trees in the New Year. They then weave them into the hedgerow to strengthen the existing fence and for various wildflowers to use as a scaffold.






These last two photos are a woodland story telling place. The story teller sits on the oak 'throne' while the children sit on the logs placed around the area with carved toadstools to add interest.

A walk and Saltaire Festival

I was up early this morning but by the time I had decided to take the dogs out for their walk it was 8am. It was a little overcast but the sun was trying to break through. After a bit of ball throwing and retrieving I spotted someone coming on to the moor so went and caught Bear so I could put his muzzle on.

Bear is wearing a muzzle in public now because he is a little snappy with some dogs and obviously some of the owners get a bit huffy about it. If another dog turns on him he runs a mile!



Anyway muzzle in place I noticed it is an older gentleman that I know, Geoff and his Yorkshire Terrier Tom that have arrived so I went over for a chat. We walked down the moor together and talked about apples, blackberries, plums, festivals and David Hockney. He is always so positive and pleasant. He isn't a moaner at all.


Little Tom


We parted company between the moors and I walked down the second moor, crossed over the road and walked down the lane. Just past the farm I spotted a pony foal hiding in the bushes. Unfortunately, Bear startled him and then got round the back of him, so the foal kicked Bear, twas his own fault!




As I had my new with me I took photos of ponies, cows, donkeys, balsam and blackberries before heading back round for the return journey.









This afternoon, Isobel, James and I went to the Saltaire Festival. It has been on a few days so wasn't sure what to expect exactly. There was a continental street market and there were several street entertainers around, In the park there were lots of stalls and a Polish Beer Garden! A classic and collectors car collection were lined up in ranks and included some 'bubble cars'. I was most annoyed with myself as I had left my purse at home so only had £2 on me.

We came across a bunch of oddly dressed people all attired in black, gold and red and carrying mostly brass instrustments. They waited until a neighbouring act finished and then they started playing some tunes. They were fun and very talented and known as The Peace Artists.





When they finished we had a wander and then the heavens opened and down came the rain. Round to the little car park and there was a more normal band playing on the big stage. We then headed across to the church. I visited this church a lot of years ago as part of my middle school curriculum (Saltaire is now a World Heritage Site). Today we just walked around the outside and I was delighted to see the church has it's own allotments.




We crossed back over the river and meandered back towards the car park taking in the sights and smells and sounds along the way.

Once again I have been a bit remiss.

I keep meaning to write this blog up regularly but I am essentially a lazy bugger! I enjoy writing it but I don't want to publish it without the photos and I can only add the photos from the desktop and not my PC!

Anyway I am starting again because I now have to start training again for Hamm 2012! Yes I am doing the bike to Germany again for Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure and Bradford Disabled Cycling Club.

Last week I went to aquafit on Wednesday followed by a half mile swim. Thursday I went aquarunning. Friday I actually went for a bike ride, 22.39 miles according to my Garmin. Friday night I did 90 minutes of canoeing but only in the pool. This week I was at work three days so couldn't do the aquafit and on Monday the aquarunning wasn't on. However I did go aquarunning on Thursday night. Friday we went out for a meal as my stepson has completed his apprenticeship so we went out to celebrate but that meant we missed canoeing.

Anyway enough of the waffle. Aquarunning - this is new to me but I am finding it really enjoyable. You wear a special buoyancy suit and go into the deep end of the pool. No need to tread water as the suit keep you bobbing along on the top of the water like a cork. There are ropes tied across the pool and there are tethers on the back of your suit which you clip onto one of the ropes. This means that, unlike aquafit, you are not hampered by others being slower than yourself or taking a breather etc. Imagine table football in water and you are just about there!

The instructor tells you the moves and it's a bit like circuit training as you do the moves for x amount of time and then she blows a whistle and you change to something different. It can be a little repetitive. The first time I did it I thought that wasn't difficult but certainly felt like I had exercised when I got out of the water.

Right I will try and keep this blog more up to date and I will try and capture a good amount of my training in pictures as well.