Beautifully written Rebecca. I like how you go into so much detail. It's nice to see the photos especially of the deer. Can't believe the spoon is still there. I'm glad you found your way out. Think confidently, and you can do it. :)
The park I used to go to all the time is about 20 minutes away from me so I can't get out into nature as much as I would like to. There are a couple of parks right down the road from me but I haven't ventured into them yet.
“Panic spaghetti” is an amazing line 😂 and as a fellow high arch hiker, when I learned about alternative lacing styles, I was shocked that it worked that well! Beautiful post, enjoyed the journey with you ☺️
Thanks, Bryn! When I looked at the map app I was horrified at how it had depicted my struggle to find the gap, and giving it a silly name made me feel so much better! 🤣
It’s amazing how much more or less comfortable boots can feel just with attention to the lacing. My mind was blown!
I loved this, Rebecca! I had my own “walk” of a sort today, though not nearly so far. I chose a river stone for you as I put my feet in the cool water. I’ll send it along with your book next week.
“...to be out in nature and to damp down the sparks of anxiety that make my everyday brain so fizzingly busy,...”
That phrase totally resonated with me, and I’m thinking of my time in nature as just that--time “to damp down the sparks of anxiety...”
Glad you had a great walk too, Holly! Those fizzy brains of ours seem to appreciate the treatment!
What a lovely, lovely thought about the river stone - I’m very touched! Thank you. 😊
It’s funny, where I live there are plenty of little muddy streams but none that I’d want to go near with my bare feet! In the wilds of the less populated parts of Britain, though, there are wide, clear rivers - I’ll make sure I show my toes to one of those one day soon!
What a difference having the right boots can make! So glad you got professionally fitted boots that work for you. That could be a game-changer :-) And it's so weird how our feet grow like that... I also wear a full size bigger shoe than I used to, but I've decided it's very luxurious :-D
Seeking advice from a professional has made all the difference - I’ve got a way better result than any of my experiences buying boots online!
Encouraged by the last words of your reply I’m now changing the script in my head from ‘my feet are so huge that I have to wear men’s boots’ to ‘these boots feel very luxurious’! I feel better about my feet already! THANK YOU!
You capture that feeling of panic when the place doesn't quite map out like you imagine perfectly. And I thought it was just me. I'm still not as brave as you to go out in a new wild place yet, but you give me hope. And always, the best shoe sales-people are AMAZING, and provide a life-changing service. Thanks for this post!
Honestly, I despair of myself most of the time. I even got lost after a hospital appointment last week - while I was still in the actual building. I was so embarrassed. That's one for a future post, probably....! It wasn't even a big hospital - just our little community one. Cringe!
Yay to the shoe experts indeed - in fact I acquired another pair of boots in the Lake District last week, thanks to a credit voucher in respect of the ones I broke a while ago. Thank goodness for the warranty, and excellent customer service! Feet are SO happy.
Having good boots is SO important. They feel so clunky initially but settle into such comfortable well-worn delights. Happy sigh. Our boots have witnessed very different places. We’re not allowed to walk across other people’s fields over here. Our public pathways tend to be more clearly defined or on public land. I can’t imagine what would happen if I ventured across freshly sown crops! I think I’d learn a few new swear words from the owner! But a pleasure going walking with you. Hugs dear Rebecca. Thanks so much for the link to an older story.
There's nothing like a comfy pair of boots, is there?
Very many footpaths over here run across private land, but you can't go 'off piste'; you have to stick to the footpaths. On my last walk with my navigation coach I pointed out that there was a much more well-trodden path at the field boundary, and the *actual* footpath marked on the map looked pretty much ignored, so why couldn't I just take the path that was obviously more often travelled, and go around the outside of the field instead? He was horrified, and encouraged me to take the prescribed route of the public footpath (much less convenient, I felt, and surely more of a pain-in-the-neck for the landowner for me to be using)! Still, 'rules is rules', even when they feel wrong!
Thank you so much for joining me on my hapless journeys, Beth - I so appreciate you! 😘
Was momentarily worried you rolled your tongue AROUND the aforementioned spoon.
LOL Aoife, I guess it does come across that way! 🤣 You’ll be glad to hear that I didn’t!!
Thank goodness🤣
Your posts are almost like seeing things in person, well done!
Thanks so much, Mark - I’m glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time out there! 😀
Beautiful photos Rebecca and YES Nature!! everyday for me to unplug for the hurry. Thank you.
Thanks, Julie! Where would we be without the great outdoors?! :D
Beautifully written Rebecca. I like how you go into so much detail. It's nice to see the photos especially of the deer. Can't believe the spoon is still there. I'm glad you found your way out. Think confidently, and you can do it. :)
The park I used to go to all the time is about 20 minutes away from me so I can't get out into nature as much as I would like to. There are a couple of parks right down the road from me but I haven't ventured into them yet.
Thanks, Matt - I’ll keep working on that confidence!
Enjoy checking out those local parks. 👍
No (to your final question): it's not the nature I need, it's the walking. The act of walking helps me sort out the world. Your dew was so heavy!
That’s really interesting, Tom - yes, the act of walking itself is a great thing, perhaps regardless of the surroundings.:D
If I had such great scenery where I lived, I'd be walking more too. Great post!
Thanks, Mark! I’m very lucky to have some great footpaths right on my doorstep. :D
Loved the story & photos of your adventure. Science has proven that being in nature can lower the blood pressure (unless you get lost, of course!) :)
I enjoy being outdoors and have a wonderful park just up the road. Glad you found the right boots for the job!
Thanks so much! I think it’s still a win for my state of mind when I weigh it up against all the getting lost! 🤣
“Panic spaghetti” is an amazing line 😂 and as a fellow high arch hiker, when I learned about alternative lacing styles, I was shocked that it worked that well! Beautiful post, enjoyed the journey with you ☺️
Thanks, Bryn! When I looked at the map app I was horrified at how it had depicted my struggle to find the gap, and giving it a silly name made me feel so much better! 🤣
It’s amazing how much more or less comfortable boots can feel just with attention to the lacing. My mind was blown!
I came here to comment on the same phrase--“panic spaghetti” indeed!🤣
🤣
I loved this, Rebecca! I had my own “walk” of a sort today, though not nearly so far. I chose a river stone for you as I put my feet in the cool water. I’ll send it along with your book next week.
“...to be out in nature and to damp down the sparks of anxiety that make my everyday brain so fizzingly busy,...”
That phrase totally resonated with me, and I’m thinking of my time in nature as just that--time “to damp down the sparks of anxiety...”
Glad you had a great walk too, Holly! Those fizzy brains of ours seem to appreciate the treatment!
What a lovely, lovely thought about the river stone - I’m very touched! Thank you. 😊
It’s funny, where I live there are plenty of little muddy streams but none that I’d want to go near with my bare feet! In the wilds of the less populated parts of Britain, though, there are wide, clear rivers - I’ll make sure I show my toes to one of those one day soon!
What a difference having the right boots can make! So glad you got professionally fitted boots that work for you. That could be a game-changer :-) And it's so weird how our feet grow like that... I also wear a full size bigger shoe than I used to, but I've decided it's very luxurious :-D
Seeking advice from a professional has made all the difference - I’ve got a way better result than any of my experiences buying boots online!
Encouraged by the last words of your reply I’m now changing the script in my head from ‘my feet are so huge that I have to wear men’s boots’ to ‘these boots feel very luxurious’! I feel better about my feet already! THANK YOU!
Crazy times and great post!
Thanks, Mary!
You capture that feeling of panic when the place doesn't quite map out like you imagine perfectly. And I thought it was just me. I'm still not as brave as you to go out in a new wild place yet, but you give me hope. And always, the best shoe sales-people are AMAZING, and provide a life-changing service. Thanks for this post!
Honestly, I despair of myself most of the time. I even got lost after a hospital appointment last week - while I was still in the actual building. I was so embarrassed. That's one for a future post, probably....! It wasn't even a big hospital - just our little community one. Cringe!
Yay to the shoe experts indeed - in fact I acquired another pair of boots in the Lake District last week, thanks to a credit voucher in respect of the ones I broke a while ago. Thank goodness for the warranty, and excellent customer service! Feet are SO happy.
Having good boots is SO important. They feel so clunky initially but settle into such comfortable well-worn delights. Happy sigh. Our boots have witnessed very different places. We’re not allowed to walk across other people’s fields over here. Our public pathways tend to be more clearly defined or on public land. I can’t imagine what would happen if I ventured across freshly sown crops! I think I’d learn a few new swear words from the owner! But a pleasure going walking with you. Hugs dear Rebecca. Thanks so much for the link to an older story.
There's nothing like a comfy pair of boots, is there?
Very many footpaths over here run across private land, but you can't go 'off piste'; you have to stick to the footpaths. On my last walk with my navigation coach I pointed out that there was a much more well-trodden path at the field boundary, and the *actual* footpath marked on the map looked pretty much ignored, so why couldn't I just take the path that was obviously more often travelled, and go around the outside of the field instead? He was horrified, and encouraged me to take the prescribed route of the public footpath (much less convenient, I felt, and surely more of a pain-in-the-neck for the landowner for me to be using)! Still, 'rules is rules', even when they feel wrong!
Thank you so much for joining me on my hapless journeys, Beth - I so appreciate you! 😘