At the break of dawn

NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@Tileenah @Fremen @JCU :thanks:
@TheLibrarian thanks! The castle is Kasselburg in Pelm. I haven't been inside but it looks like worth a visit when you have time.
@Montserrat thanks! And your feeling might just be right ;)
@TopNotch so does many European about the Australian views ;) But I agree, Europe has so many gorgeous places!

Monday May 15th
Today was easier. Only a 2.5 hour drive. Then I went for a hike, a stunning one! Though I didn't notice half was part of tomorrow's hike. But nevermind, they predict a lot of rain tomorrow, so at least I got the beautiful shots today. And it's no punishment to hike tht part again, and it would be the other way around.
And wow, my hotel room is so comfortable! There's a couch 😎
▪️  Hike 6.00 km, 108m elev.

Steps today: 11627

Goals progress
Exercise streak: 415 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 44 days (186)
Daily walk streak: 2 days (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 185 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 2

Pictures

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@JCU @Tileenah @CODawn @Anek thanks!

Tuesday May 16th
Today was rainday. Went into the castle and afterwards a hike, but the hike went over a path I wasn't allowed to walk. So took a shortcut and started to walk towards another lake. Halfway I realised that 1. I didn't feel like it with all the rain, 2. I don't have to make all the planned kms just because I planned so, 3. Part of reasonable excercise is also knowing when to slow down. So I turned around and went back to the hotel, spending the afternoon reading.
▪️ Hike 3.38 km 150m elev. towards the castle
▪️  Hike 4.36 km 123m elev. back to the car

Steps today: 11994

Goals progress
I am adding vacation specific goals. Reasonable excersise so I won't overdue it only because I  think I have to do certain things, not because I  want to or because it's  reasonable. And a recurring problem during vacation is that I won't eat dinner. I find it stressful to eat dinner alone in a restaurant, and I just don't have appetite. But with all the hiking I'm doing, it is important to eat enough.

🙂 Reasonable exercise (2/7)
🙂 Having dinner (2/7)

Exercise streak: 416 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 45 days (186)
Daily walk streak: 3 days (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 186 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 3

Pictures
Unfortunately taking pictures inside the ccastle wasn't allowed.

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@PetiteSheWolf yes, it is gorgeous 😊

Wednesday May 17th
I am at Venice Airport to pick up a friend, she joins me a few days in Venice. But wow, the airport is very badly signed, and my navigation didn't talk, so I drove wrong and I think I took an illegal route.. also the parkings were so little written on the signs.. it killed my mood, while I was so happy to see my friend arrive. Luckily there's only little traffic at night.
On the way here, I made a stop for a hike, but it was dissapointing. But silver linings: I did find a few spots with view.
▪️  Hike 3.36 km, 103 elev.

Steps today: 9257

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (3/7)
🙂 Having dinner (3/7)

Exercise streak: 417 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 46 days (186)
Daily walk streak: 4 days (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 187 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 4

Pictures

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manuela

Well-known member
from Venice, Italy
Pronouns: she/her
Posts: 63
Not the best days to enjoy Venice, but in the mornings the tide is low and if you're lucky you can take pictures of egrets, herons, ibis and even flamingoes along the Ponte della libertà (Sounds like Freedom Bridge if translated, it's the only land connection between Venice and the mainland. It's the first year flamingoes come so close to the town, I'm trying to have some luck tomorrow morning.
Have a nice holiday!
 

NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@JCU thanks!
@Julian4077 @Tileenah @CODawn :tu:
@manuela I missed your post, but thanks for your recommendations. We had a great time 😊

Thursday May 18th
Today was playing tourist, which was a lot of walking and standing. On the way back there was no place to sit, so I had to balance in the boat and the bus. But my achilles didn't like it, so I tried to hold myself steady primarily with my arms. Big workout 😅

Steps today: 10914

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (4/7)
🙂 Having dinner (4/7)

Exercise streak: 418 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 47 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 188 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 5

Pictures

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Food porn

Lasagne!

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Banana split!

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
Friday May 19th
We went to the 'glass district', to endulge ourselfs in even more glass works than in the other parts of the city. I love it! I bought 2 little, perfect cats (because I couldn't choose). I'll take a picture when I'm home and be able to unoack them. Also bought a little owl for my mom. And a picture frame, to show one of my Venice pictures in it. We went to the glass museum (weren't too enthusiastic about it..) and a glassblowing demonstration. The last looked like magic, weird how the guy transforms the glass into a horse in less than a minute...
Exercise wise same as yesterday: a lot of walking, standing and trying to keep myself balanced in public transport.

Steps today: 9953

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (5/7)
🙂 Having dinner (5/7)

Exercise streak: 419 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 48 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 189 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 6

Pictures

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Food Porn

Pizza!

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
Saturday May 20th
Last full day at Venice. My achilles is not really happy. It's not bad, but I feel I'm reaching my limits. The standing in particular is taking its toll.
We are visiting different neighborhoods today, to see a few things we think we will like. Fist a park, then a square, taking a boat to Teatro la Fenice (só beautiful!) and a book shop. We accidentally came across a beautiful building, went in and got also access to the old churse across the street. Lovely accident! Because we walked more than we were standing, my achilles felt better. In combination with the many pauses we took at terraces. We had a superb dinner, with really nice staff and very, Very good food!

Steps today: 12059

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (6/7)
🙂 Having dinner (6/7)

Exercise streak: 420 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 49 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 190 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 7

Pictures

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Food porn

Risotto with mushrooms and truffles. Yummie!

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
Sunday May 21st
Last moments of Venice. My friend's plane leaves in the afternoon. We decide to go see some see life. No public transport today.
After I said goodbye to my friend, I drive to the mountains. The view is splendid! I go for a 'short' hike, making it back just before sunset. I waked way too fast, I hope it won't affect my big hike tomorrow 🤞
▪️  Hike 7.1 km, 271 elev.

Steps today: 14255

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (7/7)
🙂 Having dinner (7/7)

Exercise streak: 421 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 50 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 191 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 8

Pictures

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The view during my dinner:
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Food porn

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@JCU @TopNotch @Anek thanks!
@aku-chan @TopNotch then you should get one! It is so delicious!

Monday May 22nd
Today I made a very long hike. Because the hike I wanted to do was starting on top of the mountain, but because the summer season doesn't begin until next month, I had to walk up to get there instead of taking the lift. It was an awesome hike up, but the hike I wanted to do was too dangerous because of the snow, so I had to take another way back down at the same side of the mountain (the other one was at the other mountain side, so I would've had another view).
I made it through all the kms, but I wonder if it was a wise plan, or that I was carried away again.
▪️ Hike 20.82 km, 1260 elev.

Steps today: 35043

Goals progress
? Reasonable exercise (. /7)
🙂 Having dinner (1/7)

Exercise streak: 422 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 51 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 192 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 9

Pictures

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Food porn

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
@JCU @PetiteSheWolf @Tileenah @CODawn thanks! :LOL:

Tuesday May 23rd
Today a planned rest day. Made a short hike.
▪️  Hike 4.00 km, 73 m elev

Steps today: 7090

Goals progress
🙂 Reasonable exercise (1/7)
🙂 Having dinner (2/7)

Exercise streak: 423 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 52 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 193 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 10

Pictures

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Food porn

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NancyTree

Well-known member
Valkyrie from The Netherlands
Posts: 1,915
Wednesday May 24th
Today was a disaster. I rearranged my plans for today to spare my legs; I had a 17 km/1100 m hike planned, but changed it to 8 km /750m. But, as I was almost at the end, my way was blocked with woodchoppers, I couldn't get around it, so had to go all the way back. Then, when I dragged myself out of my hotel room to get dinner in the one restaurant that should be open: closed. Everything was closed. So I ate cookies, and nuts, and chocolate.
▪️  Hike 16.36 km, 1095 elev.

Steps today: 26755

Goals progress
▪️ Reasonable exercise (1/7)
▪️ Having dinner (2/7)

Exercise streak: 424 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 53 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 194 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 11

Pictures

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CODawn

Well-known member
Huntress from Colorado
Posts: 2,066
"Theres no easy way out. Theres no shortcut home"
Beautiful pictures! Sorry about the crappy way your day ended.

When we first moved out here and were inexperienced (we were wearing regular shoes instead of hiking boots) we decided to try some place new. We hiked up this awesome trail in the foothills. We looked at the map and thought we have time to do this loop. Nope. Hiking terrain takes a lot longer just walking. We didn’t start down until after 6. The trails close ar sundown because of the animals (signs warn you are in mountain lion habitat). We ran down the trail as fast as possible but had to be careful of the terrain. The sun was past the mountains when we got to the car. I think we ate dinner at around 9. Total distance was over 15 miles.
 
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