If you don’t meet it you won’t catch it.
Engaging in a healthy diet [if you can buy it in the chaos of our supemarkets] and exercising regularly are both recommended to keep a high immunity and a positive mental approach during this worldwide crisis. There are scores of articles out there detailing methods for survival. In my last post I shared the British Mountaineering Club’s sensible advice which may well change in the coming days. Today dawned the perfect walking day, bright sunshine and clear crisp air. Time to put my boots on – but where to go? I thought to keep it local and risk-free – don’t want to put a burden on Mountain Rescue teams or ambulances and casualty.
So a walk around the roads from my house seemed sensible. I peer out to check nobody else about, I am highly vulnerable you need to know. I set off at a brisk pace down the lane and immediately bump into a neighbour who wants to chat, it is embarrassing trying to keep 2metres away.
At last, I’m out of the village but I hate the main road I’m on with cars and lorries flashing past within 2 feet never mind 2 metres – have they not heard the government advice.
I didn’t reach a calm space until branching off up Back Lane and into Ashley Lane. Along here I caught up with another walker who crossed the road to avoid me, people have been doing that for years so I wasn’t surprised. Along this stretch birds were singing and some gathering nesting material, Buzzards were flying overhead, it felt great to be out in the open and worries disappeared.
At the road junction, the Bowland Fells appeared in the distance with Beacon Fell, Fairsnape, Parlick, Birkett Fell, Waddington Fell and Longridge Fell all lined up in a splendid panorama.
As I walked into Longridge the dismal sight of traffic jams caused by new developments greeted me. Gloom descended once more.
I won’t use this route again because of the traffic on the roads. I will endeavour to come up with a better alternative for tomorrow’s Social Distancing walk.
Potential viral persons encountered 5.
*****
I’ve just been looking at the BMC advice and very sensible it is too. I have the same dilemma, and really no choice but to drive a little way to get out into some decent green up the West Pennine Moors. But is that ‘necessary’ journey? It’ll certainly be necessary for my sanity before long.
Yes. The walking is necessary just be careful with the driving – far riskier and casualty is not the place to be at the moment.
Yes, indeed. Probably best to fit it in of an evening, when driving home from work, and in passing so to speak, since I’m on the road anyway. Troubling times. Great blog by the way, have only walked a little in this area. Always found the best peaks and paths to be out of bounds.
Thanks. Good to have you along for the ride.
Yes, nothing to stop one driving to somewhere remote for a circular or there and back.
Not sure how you managed to see minus 5 people.
Spotted and amended.
“Not sure how you managed to see minus 5 people.”
I guess it means he killed off each one that he saw 🙂
Nice little post mate. It is harder when the walks are around where you live and you’ve done them all so many times before – it is nice to explore new places, but at the moment you have to take what you can get! I live in city centre Manchester so there’s always something new happening around, but not much countryside!
Yes I’m lucky to live on the edge of open country although the village is rapidly becoming a town with overwhelming housing developments.
Love your sense of humour. I too am walking every day in Sydney, although today’s it’s forecast to be 30 degrees .. not my favourite type of day for walking. I’m also having fun planning a walk around the coast of England and Wales for .. well, who knows. Next year maybe .. hopefully. It’s good to reading up on the route and planning stops etc. Keep up your blog. It really helps others.
Thanks.
Several coatal walkers here have had to curtail their walks because of the Covid19 situation. Shame when they are raising so much for charity but obviously very sensible.
Regards.
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