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Lockdown Stories #3

Simple pleasures one hour from our doorstep

By Mountain-Forecast.com

June 19^th, 2020

"you're allowed out to exercise once per day, for one hour"

I never thought a microadventure would be so small that it had to fit into a one hour window, once per day, strictly within walking distance of the front door.

But with constraints come opportunities and like many, our Welsh footpaths, hilltops, green lanes and wildlife got our focus and never failed to serve up a surprise or unexpected new path.

Today is Summer Solstace. 15+ weeks into lockdown. We're still here. As restrictions slowly ease, time allows for reflection on the past strange few months.

6 things I never imagined:

I never thought I'd approach gates and stiles with the caution of a bomb disposal expert.
I never thought I'd develop an interest in dating hedgerows by counting tree species. (... or that Ash tree dieback would be a topic of dinner table conversation).
I never imagined I'd have time to carve walking sticks for me and my family. A new one each week!
I never appreciateed the joy of cooking with ingredients foraged from the countryside.
I never thought I'd carry a hand sanitiser with me and sing "happy birthday " to myself immediately after returning from each walk.
I'll never forget the portly lycra clad man, wobbling along a fire road in the forest like a baby calf taking its first steps. As my eight year old daughter overtook him, we saw the Halfords price tag flapping on his helmet. Our last memory of him was soft groan as a collision with some low trees marked a premature end to his maiden voyage.

Staying Curious

Like institutionalised convicts we got used to the one hour rule (well we never really kept it, but did anyone?). Once our rulers told us we could exercise for an unlimited time we felt even better about what we'd been doing all along. Going nowhere, slowly allowed our powers of curiousity to become superpowers. More time was spent googling birds' eggs and poring over old OS maps.

Australian Ranchers Always Social Distanced

A long time ago I lived in Queensland. One day I was invited to a BBQ with the local ranch owner and his friends.

In an orange dusty cattle yard, a huge fire the size of a holiday cottage cast its shadows on a rusty tin barn. The smell of enormous steaks sizzling filled the air. The twenty or so guests were sat on large logs, speaking loudly to be heard above the crackling fire and the morose beats of Midnight Oil on the radio.

Here's the thing I never forget: each person was sat at least 20 feet apart. There's no shortage of space in the Outback, and that's the reason. The Aussies personal space is much more than we consider normal (or used to think at least).

Now when we meet fellow walkers in a lane or footpath we press our backs against the opposing hedges and exchange nervous nods in the name of "staying safe."

Moorswood Ramblers Roll and my gas stove for morning coffee whilst gazing at flocks of sheep who don't know how to social distance.

"The virus has provided us with a gift to connect and enjoy things we maybe took a bit too much for granted."

As the world opens up again and travel options once more become available I think I rather like my surroundings and don't want these small pleasures to end.