March 2012 - All's Right with the World

March 2012

The Leggies in Motion
Miles walked this month 33.6
Total Calories Burned 3270


The Alternative Olympic Legacy
No of Free Tasters Given 31
No of Free Tasters Remaining 924

I LOVE this month!! Well it is my birthday on the 1st and to celebrate I had a little jolly into London
with a dash of shopping thrown in too! (as good for  my well being as a Nordic walk in my book. New dress, new shoes... birthday girlie heaven!) We also took in a show, a spontaneous decision made when we saw the title 'In Basildon! And yes it was about Basildon, or a family in Basildon,Wat Tyler got a mention too! It was a quirky theatre and very apt for a show that you could naturally assume a bit dull, which was not as it happens, an interesting play and experience, and I'm always up for that!

 At this time of year there is even more time to cram even more interesting experiences as the days   get longer and the evenings lighter! It feels such a hopeful month to me, with nature waking up all around us;  I am out and about so much I can observe it in micro detail. it's the first time I've had the time and the awareness to really appreciate my surroundings, and it is something not to be missed! It can't fail to make you HAPPY! And of course the cherry on top is when the clocks go forward and even more daylight tacks on to the end of the day. Here comes the spring ... dootendoodoo....

My BIG THANKS for the support of  Langdon Leggie superstar Teresa Birch this month who organised a Free Taster Session for her colleagues at American Express  in Woodham Ferris, giving a lovely boost to my Legacy targets which hit a record 31 this month. A few more of these and I will get there! Any ideas anyone?

Walk of the Month

The Langdon Leggies at Weald Country Park

To welcome the spring some of us ventured out a bit and explored Weald Country Park, www.essexcc.gov.uk/countryparks  with thanks going to Glyn Bedson who provided lifts for some of us,  making it an eco friendly expedition too! This lovely park  made up of 550 acres of mixed woodland and grassland plus two lakes and a number of ponds, (although some of these had dried up as a result of the drought), is worth a visit, the deer paddock is a thrill for children and adults
 alike and some of the views are simply stunning due to very considerate and artistic tree planting. The cafe provided a well needed cuppa after , and my Lavender shortbread delighted a few palettes as
well, even if I say so myself!

Spring is nature's way of saying "Let's Party"Robin Williams

SH

February 2012 -There's No Stopping Us!

                                                                                                                              February 2012

The Leggies in Motion 

One Tree Hill -  Langdon Hills

Accumulative miles walked 463
Total Calories Burned 463
Total kcals burned 4504

The Alternative Olympic Legacy 

Number of Free tasters given 16
Number of Free tasters remaining 955


February came, the snow came, the snow went again, and then it felt like spring, my thermals were on and off and then on again, it was all such a busy blur!  Walking in the snow was...er...interesting! Langdon Hills had a good 4 - 6 inches ' in places, and negotiating the slopes that had been turned into sledging runs was seriously taking you life in your hands, and in my case ending up on my backside a couple of embarrassing times! It did not however put off my hardy Nordic Walking Technique Course participants with Rachel Kemp, Mick &  Maureen Saunders   and Pauline Fielder who all  graduated this month in spite of their slippery intro, and they are now Nordic Walking pro's, with some Nordic Ice & Snow walking skills under their belt too! Out of the five of us I was the only one to fall over, ' teacher... teach thyself!'

Seriously,  well done to them and it's great to have them joining our group walks in March.

The snow did put a little bit of a kybosh on the number of Free Tasters I could do this month although I am happy with the way I am chipping into my target. I am now looking for some big events to attach myself too as that's where I can get bigger groups and spread the Nordic Walking Word.  A BIG THANK YOU to Rachel who  linked me up with the organisers of the Scout and Guide  International Jamboree that is held in Chelmsford during August. There will be up to 10,000 visitors to the event and I will there 3 evenings, my poles are gonna be smokin'!  

(NB.  I am looking for any volunteers who would be up for a fun couple of hours helping me to give Free tasters at this event,  speak to me if you would like more details about dates etc).

Walk of the Month.
This is a place that is really growing on me and fast becoming a favourite, Wat Tyler County Park. The council is doing a lot of work to make it an interesting and educational place to visit. The walk around the park is mostly flat, which actually makes a nice change as we can stride out a bit and easily walk the parameter taking in The Explosives Trail that features  information panels that explore the history of  the park.  There is a World War 11 Trail, A Sculpture Trail and more recently added, a sensory education area, still a work in progress and fascinating to see the developments each month. I am hoping to organise a guided heritage tour for us all in the next couple of months, maybe finish off with a picnic in the designated area by the thatched cottages. There is also a lovely cafe in the Visitors Centre that has great views over the park, especially if you can nab a window seat . Keep an out for this walk on the monthly schedule. SH

The silvery banks carve a shimmer & sparkle across the wharf at
Wat Tyler Country Park

"When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body.  I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out". 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson

January 2012

   The Leggies in Motion

   Accumulative Miles Walked 40.3

   Total Calories Burned 4020

   The Alternative Olympic Legacy

   Number of Free Tasters Given 29

   Number of Free Tasters Remaining 971

 

January for me used to me a month to just get through. After the Christmas build up and festive jollies everything suddenly feels empty, vacant and very flat. Nordic Walking has completely changed that for me and I now see this month as well as the winter season  through different eyes. The absence of leaves on the trees offer us previously hidden views and natures barrenness reveals paths yet unexplored.

There is also nothing quite like a challenging goal to lift the spirits and galvanise action, as I have found with my Alternative Olympic Legacy and my pledge to give 1000 FREE TASTERS by the end of 2012. I'm off to a good start with 29 and still counting. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step so far that's 29 done!

Walk of the Month

Living in Landon Hills we are spoilt for choice, there is not much that can compare both in beauty and variety. However, I think the GOLD award this month has to go to Hadleigh Country Park and the Olympic Cycle Track, it was a quite a bit special.

After a somewhat  bumpy start with the discovery that there are two car parks we all eventually found each other and started our walk from an entrance on St Mary's Rd. We followed the natural and well trodden path along the top of Benfleet Downs taking in the  vast views over the boatyard and Benfleet Creek. It was the crispest and brightest of January mornings and the high winter sun dazzled as it reflected off the water. The chill of the  days freshness was soon a memory as the sun warmed our cheeks and the  occasionally soggy terrain  raised our heart rates as we cautiously negotiated the slippery slopes ! We adopted a trekking style for this purpose praying we would remain upright! Not a problem for the Leggies, intrepid and on a mission to find the Olympic Cycle Track.

 "Where the hell is it " I  wondered silently, secretly worried that I wouldn't find it  and my promises too the Leggies  of a 'pre Olympic nose' would be dashed.  We continued up a steep slope and my prayers for a 'sign'  were answered when a very helpful cyclist came along. In spite of having to get off his bike to tell us directions halfway up a hill he remained super friendly and pointed us in the right direction. It wasn't long before the detectives among us started spotting tyre tracks and other 'cycle clues' that indicated we were getting close.

 As if on cue. and as we stood peering into a deep groove in the ground that revealed the tell tale signs of tyre tracks on an incredibly steep incline,( it would probably be easier to cycle up an escalator!) a determined cyclist was edging his way up.  For the Leggies, in that moment, this was OUR Olympics and we clapped and cheered as he made his way past us. As our eyes followed him up his destination just happened to be the closet you could get to the Olympic cycle track. We had made it! 
Impressed with the way the track had been carved naturally out of the side of the hill, as we headed back we appreciated how the landscape has been left unspoiled. After crossing the marsh and railway track we walked along side Benfleet Creek towards the boatyard.  A good mile of level ground for an easy leg stretcher, the sun now even warm on our face and a sense of mission accomplished!

NB. The picture that frames this biog is the Hill where the Cycle Track is located: South of the Salvation Army farmland and East of Hadleigh Castle.

visit www.hadleighcountrypark.co.uk for more information


SH