GUEST'S GALLERY: Romantic Stroll

Image courtesy of Pete Tunnicliffe

Our Guest's Gallery series continues with this beautiful shot of a romantic couple walking along the old moat that once ran around Toruń's Teutonic Castle. Thanks to Pete Tunnicliffe for the image.

A Romantic Walk

Love is still in the air for this middle-aged couple enjoying a walk in the snow.

On Thin Ice!

Yesterday, the sun was shining and the skies were clear and blue. So, I decided to take Howard for a brisk walk on the other side of the River Vistula to see the ruins of a Teutonic castle...but we never made it!

We started walking down what we thought was a natural path. As we walked further and further...we started to notice cracked ice and water all around us. We soon realised that we weren't actually standing on a natural path...but rather a natural tributary of the River Vistula!! With the sun shining and the ice melting...we decided not to hang around too long!

A Snowy Walk!

The title says it all! Wind + snow = a damn difficult time outside!! ;-)

Walk this Way - Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

How can you explain that you need to know that the trees are still there, and the hills and the sky? Anyone knows they are. How can you say it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm, the rhythm of the day and the season instead of the hour and the minute? No, you cannot explain. So you walk. Author unknown, from New York Times editorial, "The Walk," 25 October 1967

As often as I promote Magnolia Plantation I should be granted a lifetime pass, don't you think? It is indeed one of my favorite stomping grounds.

Enjoy your weekend, kids!

Car Free King St. Day

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Check out Charleston Moves blog for the scoop on the upcoming Car Free King St. Day on November 22. Coolness! I took a couple of pictures of King St. after an event and people were hanging out, walking, visiting and enjoying it so much.

Coming on November 22, the stretch of King Street between Calhoun and Broad is to be closed to auto traffic, creating a streetscape reminiscent of earlier days on the City's "Main Street." It's a plan promoted by a coalition of local groups and individuals, with the blessing of Mayor Joseph Riley, according to Charleston Bicycle Chic's Kristin Walker, one of the organizers.

Let's do it. Walk on!

Walk on.....

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC

I did a pretty good job of bribing hospital staff to walk around the campus for National Start! Walking at Work Day. Folks were told they could walk at any time but that certain employee leaders would lead groups at specified times. Our beautiful campus makes it look like they are going for a walk in the woods.

So many of our projects supporting the Heart Association involve ....ahem...unhealthy fundraising practices ranging from selling candy bars, Krispy Kreme Donuts, cupcakes and bake sales, it was nice to be part of an actual healthy event for the cause.

Here is the My Start Online page with lots of helpful features from the American Heart Association for anyone who likes to log their steps or miles.

Yep. I practically had to lay on my belly for the shoe shot.

National Start! Walking Day

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

My earlier blog was called Walk this Way. I don't do much preaching but clearly walking works for me. I walk a couple of brisk miles almost every day. I walk to the grocery store, library and bank. Feeling good and staying healthy works for me but if research is your thing there is plenty of it.

Walk Your Way to a Healthier You
Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. It’s the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.

And it's free!

Tomorrow is National Start! Walking Day. Wear your walking shoes to work. Try to get out and walk. Make someone walk with you.

I bought a couple of pairs of discounted Cirque de Soleil tickets to motivate walking at the hospital tomorrow. Employees have to walk the block or path circling the campus on Wednesday to be eligible to enter. As soon as I sent the email out I had entries returned. People were promising that they had walked on Wednesday when it was still Tuesday. Hmmmm. That is some fast walking.

Blog Meet Up - Everything & Nothing

College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

I've been reading the Everything and Nothing blog by Shawn Lea in Mississippi for years. I've stolen poems and recipes and ordered CD's she recommended. I vaguely knew she was planning a Hospital Association meeting in Charleston but hadn't kept up as much since she joined the twitter world and blogged less. Monday Shawn emailed saying she was arriving today and would love to go on a photo walk.

My ears perked. Photo walk!?! Right up my lowcountry alley. I had it all timed to catch the light until we were foiled by her flight delays. Still, we met up at the Francis Marion Hotel around 6 pm and I marched her through some of the peninsula's highlights. We started at the College of Charleston Campus, down King, sidestreets, through Charleston Place, Market St., St. Micheal's Church area, Philadelphia Alley, Waterfront Park, the Pineapple Fountain, Rainbow Row to the Battery. Luckily Shawn wore her walking shoes because I was determined she see the highlights before dark. I practically forced her into the exact spot in the pavement to get a good shot.

We ambled back trying to decide where to eat and I pointed at McCrady's saying "that's where my friend Andre' works, it is one of the fanciest restaurants in Charleston" and Shawn said, "That's where we are going to eat then and it's my treat," and with five minutes notice we did. Andre' sat us at a table near the door so he could keep an eye on us and make sure we behaved. ;P

We spotted blogger Dan T and his wife across the room celebrating her birthday and I thought, here I am sitting with a delightful blogger I've never met before, being welcomed by a new blogger, our meal prepared by an extraordinary chef blogger and seeing blogging friends across the room - how much this whole thing has become a delightful part of my life. We visited the kitchen where Shawn Lea met Chef Sean Brock.

Our meal was delicious and they treated us to the chips of strawberry frozen in liquid nitrogen which tickles me to no end. The vapor pours out of your nose and mouth and makes me want to blow smoke rings. Puff.

Thanks Shawn Lea. What a fun evening!

The solitary Big Fish Tree

Walking along the Polish countryside, I came across this lone tree. It immediately, reminded me of the tree(s) from the poster of Tim Burton's movie BIG FISH. With a little imagination, you can see why! You can see the poster here: http://www.impawards.com/2003/big_fish.html.

A Sunday Stroll...

A Sunday stroll in Poland...really can bring you some real pleasures! Off a beaten track near one of the many forests lies this hidden little gem of a lake (or large pond)...complete with swans and a stork (out of the picture). There was even some kind of bird of prey (possibly a hawk) circling high overhead. It was like our very own Slimbridge*!

In a space of 2 hrs, we saw an abundance of nature...hares, boar tracks...even deer! What I love about Poland is that you can walk into any forest and on any land without the fear of straying off the 'public footpath' and getting arresting for trespassing...as is the case back in England!

Poland really is a wonderful place for lovers of nature!! Pure bliss!

*For those who don't live in England; Slimbridge is a wildfowl and wetlands centre.

Alley walk

Early morning walk towards the legendary leaning tower of Toruń.