The Lure of a Walk to a Walk

The Lure of a Walk to a Walk

Byrichard

There is a good chance that tomorrow I will go for a walk along the Toblerones from Prangins to the lake side and on to Nyon. For this walk I have the luxury that I can walk to the starting point before doing the group walk.

The issue is that the walk to the starting point is about 8km which will take at least an hour and a half or more so I need to set off at least an hour and a half early if not more. Due to the activity starting at 1300 that’s quite easy to do, with a relaxed morning.

The train ride takes three minutes, once I have walked 20 minutes to the train station, so really it takes 23 minutes, every half hour. In contrast the walk takes one hour and 20 minutes. The train will cost about 4CHF whereas walking costs time.

The loop, if I walk the entire thing, will be about 14-20km, so a good day of walking. Due to the walk being linear, starting in Gland and heading to Nyon it doesn’t make sense to drive to Gland because I would then have to walk back to get the car. I could take the train but it seems absurd to spend so much on such a small journey. Having said this, if I drove there and back I would spend 4 CHF in petrol. 😉

There are two things to consider. The first is that this is a tame walk. For the most part walking from Nyon to Gland, and Gland to Nyon is relatively flat. The second consideration is that i like to walk loops rather than linear walks. By walking the loop I get to experience new portions of road that I have previously cycled rather than walked along.

From Nyon to Gland I would walk along the top of Nyon, and then head down towards the road that runs from Prangins to the aerodrome, and from there either to the left through the industrial zone or to the right down to the bowling, climbing gym and then up to the train station where I would wait for people. I would then walk the “toblerone” walk back to Nyon and from there home.

And Finally

If the experiment is a success then I will have a new, ambitious walking route that I could enjoy on Sunday, without the need for a car. I have walked from Nyon to Coppet and up towards Crassier but I have barely done any walking beyond the East of Nyon. This is a good opporunity to range.

Tired of Garmin and Apple, Playing With Casio
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Tired of Garmin and Apple, Playing With Casio

Byrichard

For a while now I have been wearing a Casio and an apple watch or a Garmin and an Apple watch, or a Casio and a Garmin watch or a xiaomi smart band and a casio or a xiaomi smart band and… it goes on.

A Break of Routine

The reason for which I’m flying between so many devices is two fold. I have too many devices. There was a time when I went climbing, hiking, cycling, diving, swimming, on via ferrata and more and I was happy with just one watch.

Collecting

Now, with the pandemic and other factors I seem to have more devices than arms, and no loyalty to either. I believe that it’s due, in part to walking the same loops over, and over, and over again. Every so often I walk clockwise and then I walk counter clockwise. I take the short route, then the medium route, and then the long route, and then the extra long route, and sometimes I backtrack, especially on weekends.

To break from that monotony I think I fiddle with various watches and tracking devices.

We think nothing of wearing a different pair of socks every day, or trousers, or t-shirts, but if we switch between watches, or wear two at once we’re lunatics.

Compulsion

If I wanted to be nasty about myself I’d say that I’m not a lunatic, I’m an addict. I feel the need to preserve my step count on as many services as possible, as a result of which I feel the urge to wear multiple devices each week.

Personal Fitness Tracking

There are two solutions to this. The first is a learning opportunity. Home Assistant and NextCloud have fitness tracking sort of built in. If I worked on updating HomeAssistant automatically, with data from Garmin, Apple, Casio and Xiaomi then I would have by data in a central place, and I could wear just one device at a time as the data aggregator I care about is my own.

Apple and Garmin

Apple and Garmin have frustrated me with their apps. They have taken fitness tracking and tried to make it an addiction. Apple and Garmin want you to push yourself every day, seven days a week for years. I burned out on Apple several times and yet I can’t stop wearing their device. My steps are counted by my phone anyway. Garmin has been faulty on occasion. It has crashed on some walks.

Stop Hesitating

The second solution is to pick one device and to stick with it, without flitting between one and the other. I feel myself drawn to Casio at the moment. I like that it tracks without nagging, and without judgement. I also like that I can go for months or even years without the need to charge.

The Paradox

Garmin, Apple and Xiaomi don’t care about walking as fitness habits, so you wear them every single day, but they won’t mark your fitness as progressing. You’re quantifying for the sake of quantifying, and wearing a casio would be fine.

Yesterday Garmin asked if I wanted to join the beta so I did, but I need to run or cycle for two weeks for the app to provide me with feedback.

And Finally

For years I wore a Suunto, and then for years I wore an Apple Watch, and then I played with an Apple Watch and a Garmin device, and now I feel like experimenting with Casio, as I did when I was a child.
Casio stand out now, because everyone already has an Apple Watch or a Garmin device, but few wear Casio.

Exploration on Foot

Exploration on Foot

Byrichard

Walking is an easy activity. You put your shoes on, and you go for a walk. Sometimes you walk from home. Other times you walk from a car park. Sometimes you walk along rivers that are full, and others you walk along streams that are almost dry.

A few years ago I did the same Via Ferrata by a waterfall two or three times within a few weeks because I liked it so much. The beauty of waterfalls is that sometimes they’re erupting with power. They’re roaring and sending a mist of water outwards. Other times they’re running dry and you can really get a good look at the underlying rock beneath.

Yeesterday I walked in a different region than usual so we explored. We walked a little bit, and then to decide to go a little further, and then a little further again. In the end it was an 8km loop.

For the most part the walk was about walking along the indications from L’I’sle to Le Puits and then on to Montrichet, and then back. For the outward journey we followed the paths, but for the return I wanted to explore if there was a secondary path.

The secondary path led along a path, until you hit some woods. You could head down, back towards a road, or you could head upwards and then across a field. At this field there was a lot of water flowing so it required finding clumps of grass not to submerge shoes and soak socks. This time my feet stayed dry.

The reason for exploring a secondary route is simple. I like my walks to be loops, rather than a bounce. I like to walk in a circle so that my outward and homeward legs are different. Yesterday’s walk could have been a loop but it would have required walking along either of two main roads, and main roads are not designed for people to walk alongside them, which I think is a shame.

When you walk three to five kilometres it is easy to find loops that do not expose you to cars, but once you walk across several villages you have to walk along roads, and deal with traffic. It’s because I like long walks that I encounter so much traffic. With short walks I would encounter dog walkers and normal people, with normal lives.

I have cycled around where I walked yesterday. On foot you more. You can look through windows. You can stop to read signs. You can go to look at the collection of books that are available in lending libraries. You also get a feel for the ondulations of the landscape.

And Finally

I tracked this walk with my old Apple Watch and a casio. The casio tracked the entire walk, via the phone, without issues. The Apple Watch ran out of power without saving the walk, so I lost the track with that device. I am frustrated by this. If I wear a watch, I don’t want it to lose my track.

The Temptation of a Group Hike
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The Temptation of a Group Hike

Byrichard

A few days ago I signed up for a group hike but decided not to go for two or three reasons. The two main reasons were the size of the group and the weather. From what I saw fifteen people were going to go on that hike and I am still in pandemic mode. I would be happier with a smaller group of people. fifteen is too large.


The secondary more valid reason is that rain was forecast. It’s not that I don’t walk in the rain, because I do, but if I’m walking in the rain I might as well not drive the electric car, to do a group activity where we will be walking through puddles in a forest. My hiking shoes are in the car. I put them there yesterday, so I could walk comfortably in the rain.


It bothers me that Switzerland, England, the US and other countries decided to pretend that the pandemic was over, because, for single people, without families, we are completely responsible for how irresponsible we are, for our own safety. If we have children then we have no choice.


When Switzerland decided that vaccination, without COVID zero was enough, I was agonisingly depressed by the news. It destroyed my hope of returning to a normal life. I’m still living for COVID zero. I’m still masking. I’m still social distancing. I’m still avoiding crowds.


I want to work remotely because I don’t want to be on a temporary contract and catch COVID-19 and Long COVID because then I’m doomed to a low quality of life until I die. I don’t want that. I don’t understand why people have given up hope of COVID zero.


I still remember Foot and Mouth England, where we avoided going to see wild horses, where we walked in soap baths to clean our shoes. I also remember the Mad Cow disease crisis. It’s a shame that with the COVID crisis we had such awful people in power, in Europe and the US. It doomed us to living with a disease that we could easily have eradicated.


I’m trying to stop wearing the masks but it’s hard. For me, not wearing a mask indoors, is akin to self-harm. I don’t like that normal people have decided just to live with COVID, to be fatalistic about this situation.


I will resume normal life. I wasn’t ready this weekend, especially given the expected bad weather. I have no choice but to play COVID roulette.If people tolerated masks then I would socialise. They don’t, so I stay in solitude.

A Growing Fear of Wolves

A Growing Fear of Wolves

Byrichard

More Wolves

In Switzerland they reintroduced wolves and they are thriving, to the point where a collection of 17 packs of wolves became a pack of 35 wolves. As the number of wolves increases so does the probability that humans will fall victim to wolves. They are thinking of reintroducing them to Ireland too.

“Wolves create a landscape of fear that keeps deer moving, it keeps deer away from the roads, it keeps deer up in the highlands where we want them, not down in our fields or in our gardens,” he says.

Reintroducing wolves also takes away the freedom of hikers, walkers and children. The more wolves are around, the more likely it is that humans will fall victim to these wolves. If they behave like foxes or cats then I have no problem. If they behave like domestic dogs we will need to walk with fog horns, pepper spray or big sticks. If wolves are reintroduced it is no longer safe to walk alone, and that is all I do.

The very argument for introducing wolves, to frighten deer, is the same argument for why they should not be reintroduced. Europe is densely populated. If we introduce predators humans will encounter them more and more regularly, and eventually people will be attacked. We don’t introduce sharks to swimming waters. Why do people think it’s okay to reintroduce wolves?

Fear of Dogs, Fear of Wolves

Dogs attack humans regularly. I have been threatened by dogs at least five to ten times during my walks. I have never been bitten but I have changed where I walk because of my fear of dogs. If dogs were not cruel, sadistic animals, I would not fear wolves. If I knew with certainty that wolves behave like foxes then I would feel safe. Foxes usually slink away, or sprint away, depending on whether they know they have been seen. If wolves behave like foxes then I am less afraid, but I still don’t want to walk in woods alone anymore.

Loss of Freedom

By reintroducing wolves we remove the freedom for people to walk alone. We also decrease the safety of children to go out alone. There was a recent petition where 25,000 or more people signed against the culling of wolves in Switzerland but the article doesn’t address the key point. Are the people who sign petitions to keep wolves, hiking alone in the woods? Are the people who want wolves around stuck in cities, where there is little to no risk of seeing wolves?

Carry an air horn, bear spray, or something to ward off nearby wolves.

And Finally

Are wolf attacks rare because wolves are rare, or are they rare because wolves, like foxes fear humans. If attacks are rare because wolves behave like foxes then I am not afraid. If attacks are rare, because wolves are rare, then I do not find this reassuring, especially with growing numbers. I am tempted to walk with pepper spray, an air horn and trekking poles.

Playing With the Switzerland Mobility App

Playing With the Switzerland Mobility App

Byrichard

Yesterday I was planning to walk from Nyon to La Barillette but rather than take the usual route that takes me via a set of cabins where there is sometimes a dog I wanted to try an alternate route. In the end I used the Switzerland Mobility app and website because I can trust that the paths they suggest actually exist.

Garmin Explore

At first I was experimenting with the Garmin Explore App and although it does provide us with the opportunity to draw routes it creates a track but we don’t have information about whether it’s on a road, or other surfaces, and we’re not sure that the data is correct.

Komoot and Alltracks

I then tried to draw the same route with Komoot, and possibly Alltrack, and it created a route, and gave me information about what to expect, but once again I didn’t know whether I could trust that the route existed or not. That’s when I looked for the official Swiss eco-friendly mobility app.

Sqitzerland Mobility

Switzerland Mobility is an official app that provides you with all hiking, cycling, canoeing, snowshoeing, canoeing and other routes. Look around the map and you can see local hikes, bike routes and more. You can also see places to sleep, whether hotels, hostels or campings. This simplifies adventure planning in Switzerland.

Skating and Canoeing

It amuses me that they have skating and canoeing routes available for people to enjoy. Those are two sports I wouldn’t have considered looking for. With skating they also include slow ups. Slow ups are good because roads are closed to cars, for cyclists, walkers and skaters to enjoy the surface, without the danger of cars.

The Phone App

The phone app is well designed. It is easy to look for routes, and to jump between route stages. If you’re looking at the Via Jacobi you can go back and forth between stages, as well get info about the distance of that stage, climbing and descending, as well as the hiking time. Finally it will provide you with access to the Swiss transport network, to get to and from the starting and end points.

Drawing Routes

If you pay 35 CHF per year you gain access to draw routes. The reason for doing this is that you gain access to the Swiss database of walking paths that other websites and services may not have. You can zoom in to a scale of 100m to whatever your screen is set to, so you can see a very detailed map, with contours and more. It also provides you with information about path closures and alternative routes. This is practical for local exploration of a region that you may be familiar with.

And Finally

I expected to try the walk I drew yesterday afternoon but due to going to sleep later than anticipated, and then not having something to do once at the top, I cancelled that plan. That’s why I am speaking hypothetically, rather than documenting an experience.

Hiking in the Jura in Minimal Shoes

Hiking in the Jura in Minimal Shoes

Byrichard

Today I went for a short walk in the Jura with minimal shoes and I felt fine. The shoes, despite being thin soled, felt fine on the dry dirt paths. They do get wet when walking in dew covered grass but that’s what you would expect so that’s acceptable. 


When you’re wearing minimal shoes you can be barefoot or with socks but both the shoes, and socks dry quickly when there is so little fabric. That’s the bonus of minimal shoes. The other benefit is that they’re light and responsive, so I felt comfortable for the entire walk. They feel natural. 


I walked with these shoes because I know the path well so I don’t worry about wondering into the unknown with shoes that are not adapted to the situation. The route is one that I know very well, thus the lack of concern about shoes. 


View of Cuvaloup with dandelions
View of Cuvaloup with dandelions


Now is a good time to go to the mountains as there are thousands of flowers that have bloomed.


The Two Cultures


It was interesting to see the two shoe cultures today. On one side there was me, wearing thin, minimal shoes. On the other you had conventional shoes that offer a lot of cushioning. What’s interesting is that I noticed. Before wearing barefoot shoe wearing I saw a shoe as a shoe. Now I notice the difference and look and feel. 


The trail gloves felt great on the walk today. So thin and light and yet perfectly comfortable. I don’t know whether wearing vapor gloves, and then trail gloves has much effect on comfort levels. I really do feel happy with the trail gloves. They’re simple, comfortable shoes. The only question to answer, now, is whether they will last 800 km of walking or not. If they do then they are a good future option. 

Appalachian Trail Progress Via Garmin And Walk The Distance

Appalachian Trail Progress Via Garmin And Walk The Distance

Byrichard

Recently I started the Appalachian Trail Challenge on Garmin Connect and every sstep I take counts towards the goal. The goal is to walk 3,500km, which is around 4.9 million steps. I have walked 652 km out of 3,500 so I have completed about 18 percent of the challenge. I am almost a fifth done.


More Than A Year


According to the pacer app I have taken 4.6 million steps in the last year, 2.6 million in the last six months. My average steps per day is around 15,146. According to this data it will take me just over a year to complete the AT at the current pace. As I look at this data the effort and goal seem futile. It means a year of wearing a Garmin watch, rather than other brands. A year of loyalty.


Forgotten Apple Watch


Yesterday for the first time in a while I forgot to wear my apple watch so the first walk of the day was counted by the phone, rather than the watch. The step count wasn’t affected.


Walk The Distance


https://www.walkthedistanceapp.com/
While writing this blog post I decided to look for other ways to track walking distances and I came across Walk The Distance. This application tracks your distance walked and displays it on a map of whichever thru-hike you choose.
I chose the Pacific Crest trail for a change. I’ve used it for a few minutes. I like that it shows the distance you have travelled on a map, rather than just theoretically. I like this because if I’m reading about someone walking the AT, the PCT, the Camino De Santiago or other walks I usually hear place names, and some are familiar, but I have no idea of where they are in time and space. With this app I do.
With the Garmin challenge you walk 4.9 million steps and the only moment you see anything is when you complete the challenge. With the Walk the Distance App you see it permanently, if you’re obsessive, or daily if you’re not.
https://www.walkthedistanceapp.com/about-us


And Finally


Taking half a year to walk from Point A to point B is not possible for everyone so by tracking walking progress with apps people are given the opportunity to go on a journey while continuing their daily lives. This gives people the opportunity to experience something new, by proxy.

Hiking With Cats
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Hiking With Cats

Byrichard

Usually when we hear of people hiking with cats we think of them walking with the cat, or cats, on a leash. In a Pass Moi Les Jumelles (PAJU for short), we follow two guys who go for a walk with four cats. The report is funny because the cats, or some might even say kittens, are allowed to roam and explore with the human companions. They can leap across streams over and over. Occasionally they, the cats, fall into the water. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbW8Wo1Bu4


It is refreshing and fun to see a report like this because it shows that cats can roam with humans, without harnesses and other equipment. They automatically follow the humans. 


Of course there is a flaw with walking with cats. They’re nocturnal, and sleep a lot. This means that you have to walk at a different rate than you would usually walk. At one point the two principle people decide to have a siesta in the middle of the day, because the cats are lazy and tired after playing so much the previous day. 


We see them walking with their cats on the back of their bags, in order to rest and recover. 


As I watched this short documentary I was led to believe that the person who filmed this loves cats. You can tell they love cats because they know what to expect, they know what cats will get up to and capture it. It’s a fun and pleasant documentary, especially if you understand french. The visuals are nice too. 


I enjoy the idea of hiking with cats, without leashes, of expecting them to stay around, rather than stray too far. I like the idea of them galivanting, exploring and playing on a linear walk. It is amusing to think of them sheltering in sleeping bags to keep warm. 

A Walk To Los Molinos from Javea
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A Walk To Los Molinos from Javea

Byrichard

This walk takes you from the Port of Javea up to the lighthouse near San Antonio before continuing along the top towards Los Molinos. These are old grain mills. They used wind power to grind grain for several centuries before being taken out of action as modernisation arrived.


The walk takes you along the port before you start to climb. As you walk along the port you will see a number of cats, either being lazy, or playing. You will then start to climb. The first few metres require some bigger steps but after that you will find that it gets easier. There is a good view over the port at several moments. You also get a good view of the sea.


Where a stair used to be

Hiking paths and duration

The Mediterranean sea and boats

A plant

Mediterranean view

View of the port of Javea

View of Javea and the Montgo

The Casio track

View of the Mediterranean sea


On this walk I could hear the bees and other insects buzzing. You can also see that many young trees are coming up. Many of them were destroyed by a fire a few years ago. In a few more years this will be a walk in the shade, once more.


A year or two ago, we did this walk. We came across the old kiln. Due to rain and nature recovering though, the kiln is hidden once again. I don’t remember if I have the GPS coordinates for the kiln. Nature will help keep it hidden and safe.


I tracked this walk with the CASIO GBD-200 and the Apple watch with the Steps app. The casio gave a good track although it did not track altitude and heart rate. The Steps app, with an outdoor walk, was crap. It didn’t track heart rate for some reason which makes it crap. The Apple Fitness app says that I didn’t burn my daily calorie goal today, as a result.


And Finally


This walk is quite easy, for those used to walking over rough terrain but it does come with seasonal difficulty variability. As soon as the weather gets warmer walking with enough water is important. You are exposed for at least an hour or three, dependent on how fast you walk. In 35°c heat you will cook. In 19°c you will feel comfortable. Consider this, before trying the walk.