Day 31 - Miles 22 - 28

What better way to spend a crisp sunny Sunday in Edinburgh than going on a walk with friends!

Edinburgh is my favourite city, and visiting my lovely friend Gareth and his boyfriend Laurence is such a joy. We headed out in search of some of my favourite views, and most importantly (to Laurence) brunch.

Walking out of their flat, the staircase always reminds me of Evita - "Another suitcase in another hall" comes into my head all the time here, so as we start off I am singing along in my head.

We set off through "The Meadows", towards Southside/Newington. Unfortunately the restaurant that Gareth and Laurence love is being refurbished, due to new owners, so we walked on in search of the perfect brunch. We luckily found a quiet bar, and ate so much we were almost at the stage where we could not walk due to being so full!

We headed down to the bottom of Arthur's seat, which dominates the city skyline here, along with the castle of course. Walking through the park below this and Salisbury Crags, there were lots of people out enjoying the sunshine, even though it is still quite cold. This is where I came to my demise and fell over! Much to the boys (and my) amusement!

We carried on crossing the Royal Mile and into a secret garden. It is a small, beautiful garden that not many people know about. One of the many "hidden jewels" Edinburgh city has to offer.

Crossing the railway, we headed up to Carlton Hill, one of my favourite places here. The replica of the Parthenon, the Observatory, and the views out over the city, to North Berwick and The Forth Bridge.

We headed down to Princes street, where we divided for a bit of shopping. I decided to continue to walk through Princes street gardens, with the castle domineering above me, before meeting the boys again for coffee and hot chocolate.

Home now, after a successful, and very enjoyable day walking. Hopefully I'll come back in August during the festival, and the pictures will tell a completely different story of this great city.

See Day 31 for photos.

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 29 - Miles 20-21

**** Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ****

Up here in Shetland we have had lots of snow over night. My cousin's girls tried to go to school, only to be told as soon as they got there that they had decided to close the school! Much to their excitment!

We sheltered in the house during the morning, as the snow was coming down horizontally. After lunch though, it seemed to have stopped, so Rebecca, Emma and I decided to have an explore down the lane, and around the headland. To begin with the snow was behind us and the walking was fine, however when we turned back home the weather turned bad again, and our faces got very cold!

The girls wanted to aim for 2 miles, so we had to go down to the pier outside their house and up the road to make up the miles.

Home for tea, milkshake, chocolate cake, and a warm by the peat fire.

See Day 29 for our photo's.


Thanks for reading,
Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 26 - Mile 19

Up in Shetland now visiting my Cousin David and his family, and it is Up Helly Aa, see http://www.uphellyaa.org/. It is a tradition that orginated in the 1800's, and now it is an annual occurance. Lots of marching, a viking ship and tonight there will be fire and the burning of the viking ship.

We march along the mile, following the procession of Vikings, the ship and the band. See the pictures here Day 26.

We are off out now to the evening fire procession, so it's hats, gloves and raincoats at the ready. It's wet, but nothing stops the show here!

Get in touch on 365milesin365days@googlemail.com,

see you soon Iona x

Day 24 Part Two - Miles 16-18

It is amazing how many different accents and languages you hear whilst walking down the South Bank. Rowena and Lorrie had suggested that a South Bank walk would be nice and take in quite a few sights.

Rowena and I set off on the tube to Tower Hill, emerging from the underground to the impressive Tower of London. Crossing Tower Bridge, with the hundreds of other people, the sun was setting and the sky was beautiful with a red tinge.

We set off along the path that follows the river that is lined with fairy lights, towards London Bridge, with Westminster as our final destination. We passed The Globe (which I want to go to), The Tate Modern (which I have been to, but always want to go to), St Paul's, The National Theatre (also want to go), British Film Institute, The London Eye, and finally the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

This in total took us 3 miles down the river. I have decided that London at night is a lovely sight Day 24 and would recommend this walk to anyone who is visiting the city.

Now we are home and waiting for the jacket potatoes to cook... yum!

Please email me while I am away,
Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Day 24 Part One, Miles 13-15

Photo's now uploaded Day 24

I am having a great time in London, and spent yesterday going to the British Library to see a photography exhibition, seeing Chicago and eating rather too much. Rowena and I decided Sunday was the day for some miles.

So, after convincing Rowena's gym that I was a candidate for "looking around", we set of off the walk, over Clapham Common. Lots of families out generally making the most of the weather - no rain yet - and sports teams using the great facility that are the many commons around London.

The trees are still showing the harshness of winter and spring has not sprung here yet. I bought Rowena some Daffodils yesteday, as I was determined it was spring.

The swimming pool was very strange, being made from Stainless Steel, and much shorter than the 50m pool I normally swim in. It was a bit like swimming around a goldfish bowl. It was oddly beautiful experience though, as the light from the glass roof and the spotlights in the pool made amazing reflections as you swim and the water makes the light refracts in so many different ways.

On our way home we stopped by to watch Lorrie (Rowena's boyfriend) and his frisby team playing on the common. It was interesting to watch 'Ultimate Frisby', and there seemed to be alot of staring out going on, as well as runnining, jumping, throwing and catching!

Please email me while I am away,
Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Day 22 - still 12 miles

I thought I'd give you all an update as there has been no walking, jogging or swimming over the last few days.

I am off to London, Shetland and Edinburgh for the next week, so will (hopefully) be able to get quite a few miles, and some great pictures.

I may or may not be able to upload photos while I am away, but do intend to upload blogs, which I can add photos to at a later date.

If you have any walks that you would like to share, or comments please email me on
365milesin365days@googlemail.com


Many thanks, Love Iona x

Day 17 - Mile 12

Katy's friend Sarah came over today, with her lovely puppy Josie. Good excuse to get out and do a mile. As Josie is still a puppy we just headed to the park for a bit of a stroll.

Josie was full of energy bounding around, so we quickly managed a mile in the wind!

The rain has melted most of the snow; it was a completely different sight than when Katy and I went a couple of weeks ago! There was still a bit of snow/sludge on the ground.... I'm missing the snow already.

See more pictures see see more pictures see Day 17

and http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 15 - Mile 11

Anybody that loves to swim will tell you that the first dive is the best! Diving into the pool at the Aquatics Centre tonight made me smile. The first few strokes allow you to breathe, with satisfaction, and an overwhelming sense of calm, and then you swim!

Mandi and I, often swim on Friday nights after work, as her daughter Louis dives with her squad several times a week. Ellie, Mandi's other daughter comes swimming with us too, but she thinks we are crazy for swimming so much. What's more, she could beat both of us at a race!

Today, after having not swam for almost a month (I can't believe that it has been so long), I managed a mile in just under 40mins. Not bad considering, and about the time I had hoped for. We were lucky tonight as the pool was set out for 50m swimming, so you get into a good stride, but after we had finished I was knackered!

To see more pictures see Day 15

and http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 10 - Miles 9-10

This morning, Trina and I set off to Otley Chevin for a stroll to look at the view. It is one of my favourite places to walk in the area, because of the trees and the view out over Pool, Otley and beyond.

We started at the lower car park, and took a stroll down the "tree alley". There were lots of people out walking, with dogs, or with sledges.

We came to the top of the hill, and watched some sledgers. I commented how jealous I was, to a couple of Grandparents, who happily co-erced us into having a go each before continuing on our walk. It was great! Both Trina and I kept veering to the right and crashed into the trees!

There are many gorgous wood sculpture along the way, which I must go back to photograph when they aren't so covered in snow.

We walked back long the edge and admired the snowy view, as far as the eye could see, and I was able to take a picture of one of my favourite trees. I just love the shape of it.

To see more pictures see Day 10

and http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 8 - still 8 miles

I have been having a few days of not walking or swimming, however have achieved some pretty exciting stuff.

Firstly, I have set up an email that you can mail me on

365milesin365days@googlemail.com.


Secondly, I have ordered a t-shirt, and cards to advertise my fundraising.


Thirdly, I have signed up to walk 9 miles at Hamsterley Forest on the 25th of April with some friends.

www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/WalkingEvents


Fourthly, a lovely friend introduced me to a website called

http://www.walkjogrun.net/

which is really helping me plot routes for the future, track the miles, so I don't have to fully rely on my pedometer.

Hope you all will contact me to let me know your thoughts and ideas for walks and swims!

Love Iona x

Day 5 Part Two - Miles 7-8

Tonight I did something that I kept meaning to do last year, and never got round to it....... and that was walking up the high street in Farsley (where I live) to take photo's of the lovely simple Christmas Lights.

I started off from home and immediately felt calm walking in the snow. The peacefulness that snow brings is overwhelming.

I only intended to take pictures of the lights, but kept seeing things that deserved a photo. One lady in my street had made such a lovely snowman, with lanterns (see photo link below), I just had to take a picture. She came out to speak to me and was so pleased that her snowman was being appreciated.

The walk took me down Coal Hill Lane and along to the High street. It really was lovely walking up the high street, photographing the Christmas Tree and Christmas lights before they get taken down. I walked down over the park and through the snickets back home, at one point it was like walking through Narnia!

I hope you enjoy the photo's as much I did taking them, see Day 5 for more pictures

and
http://www.nephroid.com/~iona/ to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x

Day 5 Part One - Mile 6

Today it took 2 hours to get to work, and thankfully our MD had the good sense to send us all home early, so I decided to get out there and get some miles in.

Straight home, dragged on my jeans over my work clothes, socks and wellies on, and Katy and I head out to walk around the local park. It's not far from the house so I only bagged one mile to the cause.

It was very pretty with the trees and park completely covered in snow.

Please see
Day 5 for more pictures

and
www.nephroid.com/~iona to donate to the charites that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x

Day 3 - Miles 4-5

The last day of the holidays before I go back to work, so I thought I best make use of the good weather and get out and do a couple more miles. It was also a good excuse to catch up with Katrina who had been away skiing!

We started out on the canal at Rodley, and then headed onto the Nature Reserve. It snowed again last night, so there was a light smattering on the canal and on the path, but it wasn't too treacherous. Lots of people were out, seeming to be making the most of the last day of the holidays.

Please see
Day 3 for more pictures


and www.nephroid.com/~iona to donate to the charites that I am embarking on this endurance for

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x

Day 1 - Miles 1-3

Today I started the first of the 365 miles that I plan to walk, jog or swim over the next 365 days.
Myself, Nat, Chris, Calum, Helena, Graeme and Samuel embarked on a stroll around Fewston and Swinsty Reservoir, just north west of Otley.


The weather was on our side, crisp and clear, and the light snowfall that we had experienced overnight made for great view.

So we walked, jumped in puddles, played hide and seek Gruffalo style, took pictures and generally had a good morning out.

Home in time for lunch and hot drinks!

Please see;
Day 1 for more pictures,

and

www.nephroid.com/~iona to donate to the charities that I am embarking on this endurance for.

Many thanks for reading and please keep in touch!

Love Iona x