Ireland day 0617. Wednesday 07 June 2023- Grey day *

Ireland day 0617. Wednesday 07 June 2023- Grey day

Today’s summary	Val was at work. I had a video consultation with my hip physio in the morning, then went to the gym then a short speed-walk. Video call to friends in Chester in the evening
Today’s weather	Dry and bright but cloudy until the evening, when the sun came out. Moderate to strong cold north easterly wind. Appx 15C

Today’s overview location (The grey mark shows the location of my route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where I walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Pace improver lagoon shore walk

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

A relatively quiet day today, and a bit of a change in the weather, too. Rather than the wall-to-wall sunshine that we’ve enjoyed over the last week or so, it was overcast and cool most of the day. There was blue sky visible all day about 2 or 3 km off the coast, but it didn’t actually make its way onto land until early evening.

Anyway, the day worked out well as Val was at work and almost as soon as she went, I had a video consultation with my hip physio. She seems pleased with progress, though has given me some even more tortuous exercises to do to help strengthen my leg muscles. Every journey starts with the first step, as they say. I decided to put everything straight into practice, and as soon as the call had finished, I headed off to the gym for a couple of hours, finishing off with a decent swim.

After lunch back in the flat, I did a bit more Spanish using my new app, then headed off for a brisk walk through the north side of the demesne to Seabury, and back along the shore. I am trying to improve my pace a bit, and managed to get up to 9m40s/km which is reasonable, though I’d like to be able to maintain 9m00s for decent distances, so I still have some work to do.

We’re having jacket potatoes with tuna and sweetcorn for tea, then a video chat with some friends in Chester. We might even enjoy a beer or two to celebrate the start of Val’s career break – she’s taking a couple of months off the model railway museum so she can enjoy a bit more of the summer, and then going back to work in September. We are both looking forward to a bit of a break from the early morning starts!.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Periscaria affinis (sometimes known as Polygonum affine) – Himalayan Bistort – growing by the car park near the castle entrance on Dublin road	Those alliums again, because I think they are fantastic

Wild roses in Hanlon’s lane	Sambucus “black lace” – a pigmented variety of elderflower. Growing on Seabury Drive

The cygnets are growing up fast!	Drogheda bound train on the embankment

I’m looking smug because I can once again walk at a decent pace without feeling ill with pain