Thursday 23 April 2020

Free to Walk


Over the past few weeks of lockdown, a number of blogging chums have shared glimpses of their daily walks, bike rides or runs. Most recently it was Swiss Adam who detailed his walking routes through the nearby Ees (a word I'd never come across before) and posted a gorgeous sunset photo (along with a fantastic old Dub Syndicate tune). His summation struck a chord - '...this is now life in 2020...taking the time under these restrictions to appreciate what's on your doorstep...'


If the pandemic hadn't happened, I would've hoped that by now I'd be well on my way to selling this house and shipping out, leaving the ghosts and painful memories behind me, but, in these extraordinary circumstances, I count my blessings that I have a roof over my head and a job a mile down the road which allows me to legitimately get out and interact for a few hours on most days of the week - I'm all too aware that many are not so fortunate. And, returning to Swiss Adam's theme, I also truly appreciate what's on my doorstep. Attached are a few snaps, captured on my phone, from recent wanderings.


Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - Free to Walk

8 comments:

Swiss Adam said...

Thanks for the nod Swede. Lovely photos too.

C said...

Wonderful. What a lovely collective gallery of photos we're accumulating here. So grateful too that it's perfect weather for our walks!

John Medd said...

The perfect walk always has a pub on route. Or it did. Until we all unwittingly walked into a real life version of 'Survivors'. Your photos are beautiful. They could only be enhanced further when in six months you take the same set of photos and underneath each one caption them with '2 miles from The Barley Mow', '3.5 miles to The Kebab and Calculator'*.

Sorry, niche Young Ones reference, there.

Walter said...

Fantastic pictures Swede. Taking longer walks is one of the few things I really enjoy in these restricted days.

Rol said...

I used to walk a lot more, it was my main form of exercise. Circumstances over the last year or so have restricted my walking time, so getting back out there has been just about the only good thing to come out of all this. Particularly now the boy has started to enjoy walking too (rather than whinging at the very word "walk" as he did just a couple of months back).

The Swede said...

Cheers SA.

C. Yes, it was only a few weeks ago that I was prepping the wood-burner before leaving for work, so that I could throw a match in to warm the place up the moment I got home. Now, suddenly, it's glorious.

John. You're so right. This past year in particular has seen me increasingly factor in a reviving mid-walk pint or two. I wonder when I'll be able to consider that option again and how many of the village pubs will still be in business by that point.

Thanks Walter. It'd be good to see some of your routes one day.

Rol. My Dad always loved to walk, but I absolutely hated it when I was young. I've been trying to make up for all that lost time since suddenly seeing the light 20 years ago. It's great to hear that your son has already taken to it.

Brian said...

Great pics and green with envy. All of you have had far more interesting places to walk just outside your front doors. I would have to journey a ways to compete with anyone in our little group. Keeping up with the walks though... no matter how boring the scenery. It is good for the soul.

Alyson said...

Great pictures TS and I am struck by the beauty of the horizontal (if that doesn't sound wrong). I am so used to there being layers of mountains, hills, and hollows filled with water up here, that I am transfixed by the straight lines where you are. I've never been to your neck of the woods ever but if we ever get out of this hole we're in (surely one day) I will make the trip south.

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