The retired life - setting the scene.

Noodles - barely a leg to stand on.

The retired life - setting the scene.

Retirement, or the age of no longer working for a living has arrived.The freedom to sleep in on any day of the week. The age of dreams fulfilled. A time to answer the call , to write the bucket list, to wander the world. To do all the things desired in a short space of time. The end of the working day comes with the realization that days are now numbered.

Retirement is not a time to drift into oblivion. It is a time for plans and schedules. Noodles is very good a schedules. She is a planner. Kankles is very good at drawing up plans, making goals, and forgetting where she put them.

To do the things dreamed of, to be fit enough at least, requires effort. Training. Above all teamwork. This is where walking buddies come into their own. A good walking buddy, someone to chat and moan with can make a long boring walk seem like a short jaunt. Laughter makes the K's and hours go faster.

Noodles, has lain down her laurels and is planning to do a BIG walk with her family in February 2019. A long coastal walk in Tasmania - four days carrying pack and tent. Noodles is stoic. 

Kankles has ambitions to walk the The Harz Witches' Trail, small day packs, and B&B's breakfast , lunch and dinner provided. Minimum three stars. Kankles is not, despite her thick ankles, built for the rough life.

Kankles and Noodles share a need for training and are on a mission to get fit. Mondays and Wednesdays are walking days. 

Walking strictly for training purposes takes place in the Springwood Conservation Park.

The stairs are the first challenge. They are not for the weak hearted or asthmatic.