Walking Oxford
Thank you for all the encouraging emails! I appreciate each and every one of you who helps me along. Thank you.
You would be hard pressed to find a town that is more pleasant or interesting to walk than Oxford. Without a car, we live like medieval peasants, traveling on foot two or three miles from home. It is a small sphere, but what an amazing little city it is! Here is a bird's eye view of Oxford. Since I got my Fitbit last October (thanks, Mom and Jim, for the best birthday present ever) I have walked 1,615 miles, mostly here in Ox. Just for fun...more oxford pictures. It is not just the scenic countryside that makes walking in the UK great, but most importantly the amazing and generous right of way laws that protect over 140,000 miles of public footpaths in England and Wales. In Scotland, you don't even need to keep to a path, you can tramp about almost anywhere!! It is a walkers paradise and I will miss this most of all.
My longest "post surgery" walk was July 14th, when I participated in the Thames Path anniversary walk. A group of Ramblers, including my friend Shelley, walked 11 miles on the tow path from Oxford to Abingdon. The event was even documented in the local paper and I took a picture with the Lord Mayor. One of my goals this year was to walk the entire Cotswold Way, a 103 mile trail of picturesque pastoral pleasantness just west of Oxford. Most people walk the trail in 7 days, at 15 miles a day. Unfortunately, that is still too ambitious for me, I downgraded my goal. To celebrate my upcoming 6-month post surgery day on Sept 3rd we are heading out to walk part of the Cotswold Way. 10 miles a day, for 3 days, from Cheltenham to Stroud -- with an extra rest day in Painswick because the hotel looks so lovely!! The lesson I have taken away from this is: don't give up on your dreams, even if they have to be modified! I am excited because this feels like the "old" Michelle and at the same time, very ambitious. It gives me hope of grander adventures to come. If I can just keep my mind "in today," life is good.
Hugs to all and get out there and go for a walk.....
Michelle
Comments (11)
We are walking into town today but have to go between sprinkles Have a long way to go before catching up with you! You and that amazing husband of yours are awesome‼️‼️ Truly awesome Mom
Great to hear of your latest adventures and your enthusiasm for future trails to explore. Look forward to seeing you when you get home. Many hugs, ME
Dear Michelle, Wow! You have really put some miles on the fitbit of yours, and I am so impressed. Since returning to NY I miss all the great walking we did in Oxford. We have wonderful walking trails here in the Hudson Valley, and the Appalachian trail crosses the Hudson River in our neck of the woods! Do plan to do some walking out in New York at your first opportunity. The Hudson Valley is beautiful throughout the year, but especially in mid-October to enjoy the autumn colors. Your corgi escorts will be here ready to show you some of their favorite trails! The USOpen starts tomorrow in Flushing Meadows, and Tuesday we have tickets to slip down for the day. I know you and Bruce are probably pretty busy saying your good byes, and packing out of Oxford, but perhaps you can catch some of the tennis too. You keep up the good work on your end. Congratulations on your six month anniversary of your surgery. Boy, does time move quickly. Enjoy your final weeks in Oxford, and going home will be special in its' own way. We have spent the last month making all of our favorite recipes that we could not replicate in Oxford, and enjoying life while not "camping." FaceTime whenever you have time to chat and catch-up. Love, Anne Marie
Bravo!! Amazing!! Walk on, walk on . . .
Go you!!! Glad you are continuing to set goals - and are achieving them and then some. Enjoy these last weeks in the bucolic countryside. Hope to chat soon. XO
Hi Michelle It's been so nice to hear your voice twice this week!! I'm so glad you two are headed home soon so I can (selfishly) see you in the mountains. I read your words with awe. Not only are you an inspiring woman but a fabulous travel writer. It is one of my greatest regrets that I had not enough time to travel outside of London (except to Bath) on our visits to England. You are one courageous and curious woman and have motivated me to get going on my treadmill. Thank you for being the inspiring and joyful person you are. Many hugs---Suz
Wow, Michelle! 1,600 miles would take you from Santa Barbara to Kansas City, Mo, more than half way across the country. Keep it up and you will soon rival Bruce's cross-country bike trip mileage when he was but a youngster. Evelyn and jIm*, what a wonderful birthday gift you gave to Michelle last fall! Bruce and family and friends have provided the truly incredibly support that has nourished Michelle during this past six months, but the Fitbit has been the daily motivator that has gotten her out and about--once around the block before bed to get in 10,000 steps before she sleeps--back and forth on the trail so as not to waste valuable walking time waiting for her lagging mother-in-law--abandoning the cab stuck in Oxford's 6-o'clock traffic jam and walking home, in the rain. (Yes, there is another reason walking is preferred means of getting about in Oxford.) Your admiring, Milly *Don't mean to belittle you, jim, but has anyone noticed the the cap j doesn't work on this site?
Walking through Oxford with you and Bruce was a highlight of our summer. Let's keep walking when you come home! Xoxo
Hi Michelle, 10 mi for each of 3 days is still pretty substantial; I'm glad to hear that you're doing so well! Hope we manage to see you after you come back to the States. g
I'm just exhausted thinking about all that walking.
Thanks for the links! We are so proud of you. Walking is one of the best medicines ever! It will be good to have you two back in the states. Thinking of you often!