5 tips to ensure blister free walks

In order to fully enjoy your walking, whether low level walking, hill walking or mountaineering, it is important to avoid the formation of blisters. Here are 5 tips to ensure blister free walks:

1) Wear proper walking socks adapted to the time of year – they will have extra padding where needed to ensure comfort and protection from blister prone areas of your feet. Winter walking socks will keep your feet nice and warm and comfortable in winter and summer walking socks will keep your feet nice and dry with their moisture wicking properties. If your feet are extra sensitive, you can also get anti-blister walking socks which are double layered to reduce friction and therefore prevent blisters. Never wear tube socks though!



2) Wear correct walking shoes suited to the type of walking you are doing: light weight and flexible walking boots or shoes for low level walking (normally low cut). More rigid ones with medium ankle supports for hill walking/trekking. And high-cut boots offering all round high levels of support and duress for mountaineering.


3) Ensure correct size and fit for your new walking boots: always try new walking shoes with a pair of your walking socks since walking socks are bulkier than normal socks. With your boot fully laced up, stand up and your foot should feel comfortable, supported and snug but not tight or pinched in the boot. Then walk around the shop and make sure your toes don’t touch the front of the walking boot, your foot doesn’t move around in the shoe and that your heel doesn’t lift up from the sole. Then, unlace the walking boot and slide your foot as far forward as possible in the boot so that your toes touch the front of the boot; you should be able to place your finger between your heel and the heel of the boot with just a little friction. This is to ensure there is enough clearance at the front of the walking boot when walking downhill as feet normally slide forward in the boot, especially if you are carrying a heavy rucksack. If your finger cannot slide into the gap, then the boot is too small. By the way, never wear brand new walking shoes on a long walk without having broken them in beforehand!


4) If you have a very long and steep descent ahead of you, you can tighten a little bit more your laces at the front of your walking shoes (not too tight that your foot is uncomfortable or pinched and that it is cutting your blood circulation though!) to avoid your toes hitting the front of your shoes when your feet slide forward in the boot. Don’t forget to undo your laces and tighten them normally again once the descent is finished!


5) It is also advisable to take with you blister care products such as special second skin plasters. Nowadays, there are wonderful products available to prevent blisters and to treat and relieve blister pain instantly if you do get some despite of all the care and precautions taken.

And to find out how to relieve and relax tired aching feet after a hard day’s walking, visit Sara’s Blog Treat your feet!

Walking holiday in Andalucia - 17th-24th May 2010

Here are more photos of another delightful small group I had the pleasure walking with in May in the Serrania de Ronda: Alan, Louella and Emma.

The weather was fabulous, with perfect deep blue skies, and the countryside was still nice and green with an abundance of wild flowers (orchids, irises, blue hedgehog broom, foxgloves, ...)!

Such a fun and interesting week hearing about Emma's experience as a wwoofer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms voluntary worker) on an organic goat cheese farm in Andalucia while on Sabatical from her GP practice, prior to joining our little walking group.

It was also fascinating hearing about Alan and Louella's art work, being both artists, and about Louella's Dad, who had had a very special bond with Spain all his life having fought with the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War (to find out more about Louella's Dad, click on Sol Frankel). Not to mention gardening and alotments!



















I will keep very fond memories of the wonderful time spent with Alan, Louella and Emma while walking in the Serrania de Ronda and visiting Ronda.

New walk in Juzcar checked by heavy rain

Yesterday, I managed to escape in the morning to try and discover a path newly opened in Juzcar, a small village just outside ronda, Andalucia. It was a funny morning with clouds rolling over the southern Bermeja hills, pushed over by the Levente (south-east wind) making the sky grey and moist. It was rather warm though.

I drove to Juzcar and parked in front of the Hotel Bandolero. Had a quick chat with David and Ivan who were actually outside. Walked down in the street right in front of the Hotel and followed the concrete track down to the left. Just a few meters down, I saw a lovely field full of Narrow-leaved lupins (see photo above). The concrete path soon turns into a dirt track.

I kept following it down ignoring a track on the right. The bank sides were covered with daisies and Periwinkles in varying shades of purple. Where the track forks, I took the left track and ignored the one fenced off. This is the section that has been newly opened up. It has been widened in places, cleared, walled and some cute steps have even been added in one place (see photo on the left).

The path meanders down through Oaks, Cork Oaks and Prickly Pears, and follows the Arroyo Riachuello, a stream fuller with the heavy rain we have had over the winter, which was gushing down at the bottom of this very narrow, steep valley and could be heard from the path above.

There were a few lush green terraces along the path, carpeted with ubiquitous Periwinkle and planted with fruit trees (see photo of the orange tree and Quince tree in blossom on the left).






The path eventually narrowed and steepened down to the river Genal (see photo on the left of narrow path meandering down amonst Prikly Pears).









There is normally a bridge accros the river, but it had been totally washed away and the river was way too high and strong flowing to attempt crossing it (see photo of the river on the left)! So, after a little rest by the river, enjoying its deafening strength, I had to just turn back and retraced my steps!




While walking back up, I noticed a very distinctive creeper, Dutchman's Pipe, that is growing on the path. Apparently, its roots have been used in Spain since at least the 16th century for reducing fever. See photo on the left.





I also noticed an old tattered umbrella that had been left hanging on a lichen covered oak tree. It looks as if it has been there for a long time as it was blending extremely well with its surrounding! See photo on the left.

It will be a fantastic walk to do once the bridge has been replaced or the level of the water has come down. Maybe in the summer! Back at the Hotel Bandolero, I had a lovely coffee with Ivan before returning home. What a great start of the day!

Fun scenes encountered while walking in Andalucia

It is amazing how often I come accross unusual and funny scenes while walking in Andalucia. So much so that I have decided to start taking photos of funny sights I encounter on my walks or just scenes you wouldn't expect to see in the middle of "no where" or I should say, in the middle of the Andalucian countryside, sometimes only accessible by a single track footpath.

Here are a few funny photos I would like to share with you:

• A witch fully dressed in normal witch apparels from the pointy hat down to black shoes tied up on a fence post outside of Alpandeire.
• An idylic scene with plastic table and chairs in a field on a path between Parauta and Igualeja.
• On the same path, a rubish bin tied up to a Sweet Chestnut tree in the middle of the countryside!
• A sign warning walkers against bees on a path between Alpandeire and Atajate (there are indeed beehives in the viscinity).
• A bath and shower contraption just outside Atajate,
• And finally, a pair of big black knickers on the old Moorish cobbled path going to Atajate!
  

Walking holiday in Andalucía, October 2009

Here are a few photos taken during our walking holiday in Andalucia with Hilary, Stuart, Janet and Michael, beginning of October 2009, who were so much fun to walk with. I don't think I have laughed so much while walking!

Thank you ever so much for being so enthusiast, appreciative and so interested in the area, its fauna and flora, its history, its culture, its people and its cuisine. It was a real delight walking with you.

We were also blessed with the weather! Beautiful deep blue skies and delightful temperatures, so much so that you all enjoyed the hotel swimming pool and some of you even managed to have a swim in the morning before the walks and in the afternoon after walking!

The following photos were taken in the Sierra de las Nieves national park, in the Sierra Bermeja and on some of the paths linking the 7 Andalucian white villages of the Alto Genal: