19 Mar - Jonathan the Bold - 527.9 miles to go

I realise now that it is unlikely that I'll make 1000 miles in 2014. Work and home commitments just don't leave enough quality time to get out. Something very important to me is the pleasure of simply getting out and about. Stomping along just for the sake of it is no fun.

So, I am re-inventing this blog at jonathanthebold.blogspot.com. If you enjoy reading about my ramblings, follow me there. I've a new (secondhand) lens in my camera, and am keen to try it out. My plan now is to post every Sunday, to give a bit more regularity to the blog. I'll still be counting down the miles, but my new target is 621.4 miles, or 1000 kilometres. 

My last image for this blog is the following, taken in 1998, on a short holiday in the Lake District, the chief memories of which are wandering about in the mountains above Buttermere, listening to Wood Warblers whistling in the trees, and an evening when I sat for two hours watching the sky fading from misty blue to the almost imperceptible hues of the night.

Buttermere (1998)

13 Mar - Shopping in Międzyrzecz - 906.5 miles to go

A walk to town and back, on a hot, sunny, early afternoon. 2.3 miles.

Brunch

Crossing the Obra

A Międzyrzech (pronounced something like 'mee-oud-zi-zech') street

Międzyrzecz

Garncarska (=Pottery) Street. The Church of St John Baptist is in the background.

Miédzyrzecz Castle

Święty Wojciech Church - the tower really is leaning back a bit, it's not an effect of the photograph.

The main street in Święty Wojciech

Home

One of numerous feral cats that hang around the place

11 Mar - one thousand miles in a day!

A thousand miles on foot this year? Managed a thousand miles in 12 hours yesterday by automobile and aeroplane. If only it was that easy! Now on holiday in sunny Poland, visiting family.

Inside a Ryanair sardine tin

The yard, Święty Wojciech. The 'mist' is wood smoke from chimneys, plus dust blown up from the yard along with that kicked up by the numerous free-ranging chickens.

The village is name after one of the patron saints of Poland, Święty (=saint) Wojciech (pronounced something like "shvee-on-té voy-cheh"), a tenth century priest murdered by pagans in the year 997. Known throughout eastern Europe, he is famous as a patron of the poor, of slaves and of prisoners, which kind of ties in nicely with the charity I'm raising a few pounds for, Freedom from Torture. If you enjoy reading this blog, please make a donation, however small, by clicking on the following link: www.justgiving.com/jonathan-russell-2.

7 Mar - Ladbroke Hill - 908.8 miles to go

Down the Banbury Road, across Ladbroke Hill, then back along the footpath running amost parallel to the Welsh Road. Got over a little, local hill in the process, somewhere I'd always intended to visit but never had in 49 years! The stretch over the hill is pleasant enough, but path marking and maintainence 'unenthusiatic' on the return route - there was even a signpost saying 'PRIVATE PROPERTY NO PUBLIC ACCESS' directly across the public footpath by Southam Bypass.

On holiday from 10-17 March, visiting family in Poland - expect some interesting photos, but not many miles!

A promising start - some open hillside

An interesting stile - yes, I did climb over it

Along the side of one field there was a wall a bramble - absolutely impenetratable

The famously leaning trig point on top of Ladbroke Hill

A random hedgerow scene - love the colours and the geometry of this scenary

Last year's berries

Another hare - just managed to capture it darting away

1 Mar - Marston Doles - 913.8 miles to go

A short walk to get back in to the habit after a while of doing nothing. Starting at Marston Doles, south along the canal, across the first bridge then farm tracks back to the beginning. 1.9 miles.

There are the ruins of some old, stone-built building at SP 4583 5751, probably a barn.