How to improve a good walk
Over the last few months I have become an active Geocacher. Apart from giving me something to do on the occasions when I have some free time, geocaching has given me a reason to explore my local countryside. On my doorstep there are great walks and super views that I either haven’t visited since we moved here in the late 70′s or that I simply didn’t know existed. In my teens I used to enjoy hiking, sometimes camping out overnight in some random wood (no organised campsites for me!). Haven’t done that for many many years!
Someone, I think it was Oscar Wilde, once defined golf as something that ruined a good walk. Geocaching is exactly the opposite, it opens up the countryside, makes one get out of the car and explore what lies behind the hedgerow. Oh, and sometimes you get muddy. Very muddy.
Take today as an example. Today I found my 100th cache. OK, that’s a small number as many cachers are in the thousands but it’s a milestone for me. On my way to that figure I have seen badger setts, numerous wild rabbits, kestrels and other birds close up, I have discovered WW2 pill boxes, strange paths and secret woodlands.
Ah, well, keeps me off the streets!
Apparently this quip “a good walk spoiled” is usually attributed to Mark Twain, however now I’ve investigated a bit there seems to be some doubt. quoteinvestigator.com. Whatever, it wasn’t Oscar Wilde!