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10:06:28, 22/12/07
I have a solo walk coming up, nothing too strenuous, 10 miles - mostly across farmland and gentle hills.
But the thing is, I'm not a big fan of solo walking. I'll do it out of necessity, but I much prefer to have someone with me. I find that when I walk on my own, I grow bored of my own company and need to distract myself, say by taking pictures, listening to my ipod or colleting feathers for my daughter. I also take fewer breaks than I normally would, and walk a lot faster as well, driving myself to the end.
I was wondering what the folk on here have to say about it, as Summit and Kidsty are both well known for their solo ventures.
Can anyone think of any tips to make solo walking more enjoyable??
(Now that I think about it, that seems like an odd question
)
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10:23:07, 22/12/07
Hi Mr.B,
I'm afraid in this case I can't really offer any advice. You either like "solo" or loathe it.
Over the years I've walke 1000's of miles by myself mainly in the Lakes or Dales and have loved every minute of it. It's only in the last couple of years that I've started taking pictures......what's an Ipod by the way?....summat like a portable radio I guess
I have to agree that when I'm by myself I take less breaks than when I'm with the "Boss Lady" though.
Just enjoy the surroundings,the freedom and look out for cowpats across the farmland.
Regards,
Dave
www.wainwrig.....rings.co.uk/
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10:35:45, 22/12/07
My Kidsty that was a quick reply!
I hope it's not true what you say - either like it or loathe it. My main problem I think is that I tend to do rather long walks, and so was thinking of doing a few short routes to sort of 'get used to it'.
I think over the years, I have been spoilt with always having someone at hand who likes rambling as much as I, but of late, have found this not to be the case. Being on your own makes you aware of your own abilities, and maybe it's just a reflection of my own lack of confidence in those abilities.
Lol, I like your jest about the Ipod - coming from a man who runs his own website, operates a digital camera, and has now started devising his routes on web based maps!
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11:09:40, 22/12/07
I tend to look for natures oddities, for example when i went to Langdale recently i was picking rocks up and looking for fossils.
I also keep a very close eye on the weather and try to spot things on maps.
:-XGEEK ALERT
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13:49:22, 22/12/07
You've said it MrB. Walking is for thinking away from the humdrum and so good to think aloud with a companion. And, I always find when walking or cycling the speed increases unknowingly whilst it should decrease so as to enjoy the ... just to enjoy.
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14:10:44, 22/12/07
When walking solo - which I generally prefer - my head tends to be fairly empty of any sort of serious thought (having just thought about it!) I do sometimes prat about quite a bit - have a paddle, or a snooze or just watch the world go by for a while. I also like to poke around in the rocks and spoil heaps (quite a lot of flourspar around here) I have also, on occasion, done things like practise pace counting or timing - I think its useful to do this sometimes when its not actually needed because it takes a lorra lorra practise to get it reasonably accurate.
I often get a tune or a song in my head and I've been known to go through the entire Beatles catalogue of albums on very long walks... Stuff like that. I don't seem to get bored....
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14:41:10, 22/12/07
You've said it MrB. Walking is for thinking away from the humdrum and so good to think aloud with a companion. And, I always find when walking or cycling the speed increases unknowingly whilst it should decrease so as to enjoy the ... just to enjoy.
Funnily enough, when I was keen on cycling I hardly ever had anyone with me, and if I did it was often the case we would become seperated. I think that never bothered me as I always had something concentrate on, be it mileage or speed, but walking is a different matter.
There has been some good suggestions on here, Mike Knipe's comment about pace counting is an ace idea and something I shall definitely start doing. Can't think why I haven't done it before! At first I thought UKmase's idea of looking for "nature's oddities" meant keeping an eye out for a two-headed sheep or something, but again fossil hunting is a good idea. It's funny but I always have to come with ideas for distracting the kids from themselves, that it's odd I find it hard to distract myself.
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18:37:41, 23/12/07
we've already done the bit about how i do the entire score of oliver when i end up on my own as mr kkm walks faster than me, and is usually ten minutes ahead......
*now being hired out as a scare crow.........*
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20:17:57, 23/12/07
Mr B
Yep i like to have a sing song along the way (even though i can't sing a note) i think i am great, when there is nobody to plead me to stop. Also before i go, i would have a little read up about the area and then when walking try to see if i can spot anything that i have read about.
But what i love best, is being able to just stop, lay on the ground and watch the world go by, maybe eat an apple with my little pen knife and not worry about anyone or anything.... it is a great feeling
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10:13:15, 24/12/07
Yep i like to have a sing song along the way (even though i can't sing a note) i think i am great, when there is nobody to plead me to stop.
we've already done the bit about how i do the entire score of oliver when i end up on my own as mr kkm walks faster than me ..
I often get a tune or a song in my head and I've been known to go through the entire Beatles catalogue of albums on very long walks... Stuff like that. I don't seem to get bored....
lol, I can just picture all these lone walkers across the county singing aloud to themselves down country lanes and on the top of hills!
I think there has been some really good comments on here. I think that I haven't really enjoyed my surroundings enough, always focused on the next mile. I am by nature a fast walker, as I like walking to be a good work out as well as a good hike, but still I think when on my own, I need to take time to stop and look about, and as Mike says, "poke about" more, look under stones and logs and things.
I've come to hiking fairly late in life, I think, and it's great to know that there is more things left to discover about the sport.
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20:52:45, 24/12/07
I doubt if anyone else could stand walking with me. My wife tolerates me, on the rare occasions she accompanies me, but then she's put up with me for years. She tends to bring a book with her to read, because I constantly stop to identify, and sometimes record, any ferns I pass, not to mention taking closer looks at wild flowers, butterflies, tree, birds. Other times, I spend ages taking photographs (no quick snapshots for me). I make diversions to look at things. I can also walk for lengthy periods without stopping for five- or ten-minute breaks. Most importantly, I can please myself on these matters, without having to consider anyone else.
Really, you've got to be the sort of person who's quite happy with their own company. I marvel at landscapes, trees, historical features, the weather, and I wouldn't notice half these things if I was walking and jawing with one or more other people. If I want to talk to anyone, I can do it to myself inside my head, or very very occasionally, out loud.
I don't mean that I avoid humans, for I love little meetings and brief conversations with other passers-by, I'll talk to anyone I will, but I am a "people watcher". If I stop at a pub, I will happily watch the world go by, I look at people's expressions, I look at attractive females, I do that a lot, actually, and I study body language. I'd miss all that if I had someone with me to distract me!
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21:31:59, 24/12/07
having a chat earlier with mr kkm, we both said that we felt we had missed out on the pennine way because we didn't have time to take photo's and really enjoy the scenery. (we were on a mission.....). but we both said that in future we need to make time to take the photo's and really enjoy where we are.
so i think that must be the bonus when solo walking - just being able to please yourself and stop and look at what you want to see.
unfortunately, i dont think solo walking would be an option for me in the great outdoors, a sad thing about this day and age, which to be honest makes me quite sad, as i am one of these people who enjoy my own company, and would enjoy solo walking.
how do other's feel about person safety and solo walking?
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22:53:57, 24/12/07
I'd say I'm far less likely to be mugged or attacked, or far less likely to encounter nutters or weirdos when I'm out walking than when I pop up the road to the local shops. And I worked with the public for 28 years, so I reckon I'm well versed in using psychology and taking the right action in such situations.
But I guess you're a female, kkm, for asking the question? I really saddens me that women are unable to go around as they please, because of the threat that some men might pose.
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23:52:34, 24/12/07
howardfern - you guess right.......female - guilty as charged....
i'm also into my karate in a big big way, and one thing i have found is that i'm more aware of my surroundings, and i must admit that i dont put myself in what i would term a risky situation.
it is a sad state of affairs. got to say i never feel threatened when i am walking with mr kkm, and we have always found the people we meet on our walks really friendly, often stopping to pass the time of day with them. tis one of the many pleasant things connected with walking
that said, i'm not sure i'd walk some routes on my own - just in case.....
how do other females feel about walking on their own? or is it just me who's a scardy cat??