tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24534871440034765812011-11-27T16:44:12.245-08:00Tom Oxbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864058189049460052noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2453487144003476581.post-74975740231425303432009-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:002009-08-19T12:40:30.646-07:00<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_55RCY6A5sJc/SoxUTWQOsxI/AAAAAAAAAJc/BdNVPfRQY_Q/s1600-h/exploring+northern+italy.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371761146914059026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_55RCY6A5sJc/SoxUTWQOsxI/AAAAAAAAAJc/BdNVPfRQY_Q/s320/exploring+northern+italy.jpg" /></a><br /> <br /><div>I always say there are three important parts to any <strong>walking holiday</strong>. First is telling all your family, friends, working colleagues and hiking club members about your impending walking holiday. Next you actually get outdoors and enjoy the hiking you have been looking forward to. Finally when you return home you want tell everyone about your great walking holiday. Their response is always a request to show the pictures when they are ready.<br /><br />There are two important tasks you need to do while hiking to preserve your memories.<br /><br />Keep a hiking journal, a small book in a plastic case for protection from rain while hiking. It is amazing how fast you can forget the details of the walking holiday, particularly if you travel several times a year. The hiking journal will help you remember this trip and provide a resource when friends ask where you stayed or hiked as they are planning a similar trip the following year.<br /><br />Record who you traveled with, your accommodation details including rates, restaurants and pubs worth a visit. You’ll also want to write about which hiking trails you walked including the distance, elevations and local transportation to the trailhead. You may also write about the weather, interesting things you saw along the way such as a waterfall, historic site, animals or plant life unique to that area. Also note the people you met along the trails who you may wish to contact in the future.<br /><br />The other important task is to take plenty of pictures with your digital camera. When you get home head for your computer and self-publish a book of your <strong>walking holiday</strong>. This may sound like a difficult task but using software from companies such as blurb.com and others it is easily done. I use my hiking journal as a reference in preparing the book.<br /><br />I have found people are eager to look through all my best pictures in the book. In an on-line album people just scan a few of the pictures. The book makes a great souvenir which you can easily refer to. Self publishing a hard cover, table top quality book, is very economical and actually cheaper than just printing off your pictures at the local photo shop.<br /><br />A <em>walking holiday</em> is a fun and wonderful experience and you will want to preserve your hiking memories for years to come with either a hiking journal, self published book or both.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2453487144003476581-7497574023142530343?l=walkingholidaysmemories.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Tom Oxbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05864058189049460052noreply@blogger.com0