To find good walks we sometimes take trains to towns that have a few towns in between. Today was one of those days. The German trains always come into sight a minute before arrival time and I set my watch to it when it leaves. Today we did that three times in nearly three hours as we had, you guessed it, changed trains three times. Our last stop was Fulda.
At some town stations there are too many trains for the amount of stations so they compromise. We went to our platform 3 which also had platform 8 with platform 3a on the same platform and another platform 5 jutting out the other side. We travel at the cheaper times which have less people and therefore always get four seats in a group for the four of us.
So now we’re in Fulda, a big town it seems, with a set of platz (plazas) like Weimar, that flow into each other with each shape peculiar to the other. They look fabulous and in my mind bring aliveness to what may have been simply streets. I am taking a gamble here but I imagine when people walk along streets or go shopping they are focussed, but in the platz they can relax and laugh and talk and not walk.
So I was focussed as I walked my fast walk (I do this to help reduce my symptoms) early and because it is fast and I have Pd I have to concentrate, which is also good for my symptoms. I have to be aware of the traffic as I get used to walking on the right side of the road, picking up my feet especially on the uneven cobbles, traffic lights, gutters etc.
We completed our walking in Weimar and then continued in a huge park in Fulda where I gathered up the rest of my mileage for the day. One issue we had on the walk was a poorly designed map from the information office so these are some of the occasions when I feel the need to ask people. It’s hard to pick the right person so I chose three shop owners on three different occasions and they were only to happy to help an old fella.
Tomorrow there looks to be some great walking in the hills which we are looking forward to, and maybe it is time to pull the nordic poles out.
Dear C&W
you descriptions bring your adventures to life and are a pleasure to study.
I look up the places you visit so I can see what the terrain is like. Then i appreciate how much effort you’re both making.
Sorry Rob,
Pleas delete the second “and become apathetic “
I get used to it Rob and the writing becomes a cognitive exercise for my Parkinson’s and the extra reward is that people such as you write to us.
Just in case you don’t know, dopamine, which people with Pd have lost a great amount of, acknowledges reward, so people like us become apathetic when that system is damaged and become apathetic which means they are then even more unable to see rewards – so why bother. I then try to counteract this by getting involved in those life things and as I do them any thumbs up I get from others encourages me to do more. So you and others unknowingly become my mentors!!!
Hope life is great for the three of you
I become rather tired when I have read the first few paragraphs. Just don’t know how you can keep it up every day. Thanks for keeping everybody well informed. Enjoy your travels.