Day 242 - Miles 237-238

Happy Bank Holiday Monday!

I think I did all of the walking, jogging and swimming that I am trying to do in this challenge as well as bumping, slipping and sliding today!

I decided to make the most of the bank holiday and arranged an outdoor swim via facebook with some friends, some new friends and some people we had never met before. I have made some lovely friends through doing these events so it's nice to open it to anyone. Trina, Emma, Emily, Pat, Tina, Chris, Jo, Verity, Rachel and I - we were today's team making the most of the sunshine! Poor Chris having to put up with so many women!

Meeting at Barden Bridge at 10.30, we left some cars with the clothes, towels and picnic at the finish point and drove up in the other cars in wetsuits to Appletreewick where we entered the water. Emily was a very good "pack horse" for the day, carrying a rucksack full of vital equipment like hot drinks and chocolate!

We started out in a very shallow part and meandered our way the 2 miles down the river back to the cars. It was a full list of conditions to swim in, from shallow rocky parts where you had to lie completely flat and drift down, bumping and bashing your way down, to deep parts where you can jump in. The group was well matched with some staying in the whole time, some getting out and walking parts, and I am very proud of Emma who's only 2nd time wild swimming, managed to stay in until she was very cold, and then walked down the towpath with her daughter Emily to keep warm and kept an eye on us! Most of the rest of the group are outdoor swimmers and hardened to the freezing cold water that we were swimming in!

My favourite part of the day and of this stretch of river is in the wood and swimming around the boulders. It's just so pretty, deep and magical I forget how cold it is. A friend once said "if we weren't swimming here, I'd be very jealous of us!" and this is exactly how I feel. Over more rocks, into the shallows and finally we all got out a short distance from the bridge - we were cold, it was very shallow and all were in need of our picnic!

A quick jog up the hill for a bit of warmth was in order and then stripping off in the field to get dry and nice warm clothes on before a long leisurely picnic! I hope that everyone had a nice time and that I haven't put Emma off swimming again..... must go out to the river more often....

Lovely pictures here.....

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 241 - Mile 236

Sunday called for lunch and a stroll with Alice. Alice is my cousin's partner, and if I had to chose family she would definitely be on the list! We have both been really busy with work and the events that life has thrown at us over the last few months and we hadn't actually properly talked to each other since before I went on holiday! and that was 2 and a half months ago!

We headed out for lunch at the Roundhay Fox followed by a stroll around the park. A lady in the pub commented on how beautiful my name was and that she new it as a name for pigeon..... she corrected herself saying dove... you call it a dove!!! Just what I need, attacked by a squirrel one day and being called a bloody pigeon the next.... what will tomorrow bring!

It seems the walk was just what we both needed, talking, walking and being blown around a bit by the wind. Alice never fails to make me laugh, and says that she shall write my tragic squirrel incident into a script! I may even end up wearing it as a hat - bloody squirrel!

Anyway, a lovely walk, a few random pictures here and I completely forgot to take one of Alice and I - oh well that's an excuse to go out again!

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 240 - Mile 235

So a squirrel landed on my head......... get your laughing over with now!

You wouldn't think that a leisurely walk with your brother and nephew to the local supermarket could be very eventful. We decided to brave the wind and walk to the shops rather than go in the car as miles were in order and Corin is starting a bit of a fitness kick.... well every little helps. Jen was in need of some well deserved sleep so Corin and I took Harper out in his buggy.

We walked through the park, taking pictures of the trees, and the funfair (it seems a signwriter has had a bit of a joke on Hancock's funfair, as when the doors at the front are open it just says "It's Cocks!" - well.... ).

We walked into Tesco's and as I was checking out some clothes Corin noticed someone's bag with "Corin" printed on it! If you have an unusual name you get quiet excited about seeing your name printed on anything - so I asked the man wearing the rucksack if I could take a picture!

More shopping was done, and we loaded up the buggy with shopping for the walk home. Back through the park and about 5 min after I had taken over pushing the buggy from Corin I was attacked! I kid you not! Part of a branch hit me full in the face with a squirrel attached to it. I screamed with shock and pain, as I tried to tell Corin to look for my glasses which had been knocked from my face! My only visible scar from this disaster is a slight scratch on my shoulder! All very funny now, and unbelievable, but ti happened and my nose still hurts and my headaches! Sympathy please!

Home for tea and a visit from Corin's friend Rob. Very lovely to see everyone, despite the tragic events of my day!

Pictures here...
Love Iona x

Day 238 - Mile 234

I am writing this from my living room..... I love that although the summer is going this does mean that a quiet evening in, music on, fairy lights and candles can be enjoyed.

This morning's jog wasn't great. I took my advise from yesterday and put on a hoodie before going out, but became too hot fairly quickly. Jogging is the ONLY time in my life that I would rather be too cold that too hot!

I got half way around, being annoyed at the grey clouds above and the fog that seemed to incubus the skyline, and felt really rather sick. If I hadn't stopped I think I would probably have been sick n the ark - not a good look, even at 630 the morning. So this morning I jogged halfway around the park, and walked the other half, before getting home and going back to bed for 10 mins.

I have felt fine for the rest of the day, so I think it's off with the hoodie and back to being cold for a bit! Oh well.

I am looking into the swim timetable now that Morley baths is open again... hopefully I shall be able to start swimming before work some days!!! I can't wait to be in the water - I miss it!

Today's miserable set of photos are here,

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 237 - Mile 233

Yesterday I didn't jog, I was ultra tired and it was raining so I had an extra 30mins in bed and it was bliss!

This morning, though was a different story. I got up dutifully, and made my way out onto the street! What shock I got when I realised that I probably should have put on a hoddie as it was cold! I think after yesterdays rain the general temperature has dropped! Jumpers all the way I think.

It was sunny though so I took advantage of jogging on the side of the road with the sun on and tried to avoid the shadows! As I jogged through the park though my fears were confirmed.... we are on the cusp of Autumn and some of the leaves have started to turn! I am going to try not to get too sad about the end of the summer and embrace the autumn! I wonder how long I will keep running in the mornings! Will definitely have to get some weekend miles in to catch up and get ahead I think! Se some pictures here...

Hope you are all having a nice day,

Love Iona x
365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 235 - Mile 232

Monday I got up tired and jogged around the park, spotting some of the spray paint on the road from all the work that is going on around here!

I was still pretty sleepy when I got home, but cheered up no end when I spotted the sunflowers when I went to pick a courgette to go with my lunch! Apart from the infestation of slugs and snail - I love my garden and the ability to grow lovely things from tiny seeds!

Check out the pictures here.....

Love Iona x

365milesin365days@googlemail.com

Day 233 - Miles 227 - 231

I love Edinburgh!

After the Great Scottish Swim being cancelled, Trina and I decided not to waste a weekend being grumpy at home and decided to go to Scotland anyway! Friday night Trina picked me up from work, and by 10pm we were safely in the city that I love having a cuppa with 2 boys whom I love!

Saturday we started our walk down Princes Street. The crowds starting to gather the closer we go into the city. It is amazing how the city swarms during the festival, buzzes with a hive of activity.

After collecting some random tickets from the half price hut, watched some street theatre, we meandered our way over to Monster Mash for some lunch. It's a great little cafe and basically dinner and mash is what they sell! Simple and effective - it works!

We headed to watch a fairly dire comedy act, and the took part in a "Glee club" of sorts singing everything from war tunes to advert themes! It was great! But that is what the festival is all about.... a bit if this, a bit of that, some brilliant and some crap!

We made our way back through the city to Laurence and Gareth's flat, in time to watch The X Factor, have dinner, drink wine and then play board games. A lovely day in a city that walking is such a joy! Pictures here.

Love Iona xx