Page 11 | To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 17/01/2021 10:41

@HazeyJaneII

Op and those who are going through this noble struggle...I found this poem, think it might be a long lost Wordsworth or Pam Ayres or something. Smugness and Solitude I wandered lonely as a cloud But then my route became a crowd Of novice runners with puffing wheeze And groups of teens dressed to freeze. The group's of women, sipping lattes, Missing shopping outlet sorties. The children walking, oh so slowly ...they made me sigh and made me fret At their sheer lack of etiquette But on I ploughed with my faithful hound Covering MY hallowed ground Praying for the day when, don't think me rude, I could walk in my smugness and my solitude.

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museumum · 17/01/2021 10:41

Swimming, gym, classes, yoga, tennis, badminton, drivibg to mountain bike trails, driving to walk in National Park type places, driving to hillwalk.....
people local to me are complaining about “new walkers” in our local hills but many of these are experienced walkers who used to drive to the big mountains every weekend.

Lexilooo · 17/01/2021 10:41

Do you really have so little imagination OP? Or is this another example of "everyone is breaking the rules but me" and "this is a local park for local people".

People who are now walking would normally be:
Going to the gym,
Going swimming,
Going to national trust/heritage properties (they are still open but with vastly limited numbers,
Going to cafés,
Going to pubs,
Going to shopping centres, out of town retail centres, and discount outlets,
Going to the cinema,
Going to the theatre,
Spectating at sporting events (tens of thousands at each professional football club alone),
Participating in amateur sports that have been stopped,
Going to theme parks,
Going to museums and art galleries,
Going abroad on holiday,
Going on spa breaks and UK city breaks,
Taking the kids to softplay,
Taking the kids to birthday parties or hobbies,
Volunteering
Visiting family or friends.

It is no bloody wonder open spaces are busy. People have had so much taken away from them and a walk is all they have left!

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 17/01/2021 10:42

many of these are experienced walkers who used to drive to the big mountains every weekend

Oh yes, excellent point

GabriellaMontez · 17/01/2021 10:42

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museumum · 17/01/2021 10:42

Football, rugby and hockey are the most popular sports for kids so many many families would “normally” be going to and from sports pitches.

bluepie · 17/01/2021 10:43

Well the kids would have been outside during school play times, and I'd have been out for a walk in my lunch break at work, so now we are all at home we make sure we get out for a walk everyday to get some fresh air! It's not exactly "garden play" weather.

It's not rocket science though is it really.

IrmaFayLear · 17/01/2021 10:46

@HazeyJaneII I love that poem! I’m sure Wordsworth would have been mighty pissed off with hordes traipsing through his host of daffodils!

I don’t mind most walkers - a pleasant nod and a wide berth.

The worst: yes, the latte-carrying, smartly dressed women who won’t go in single file (actually anyone who won’t go in single file), the family bike ride who plough towards you so you have to leap onto some rusty barbed wire, and, my worst, the miserable pair who shouted “Get back!” at me (on a wide country lane) “We’re shielding! Get away!” Well, so am I you entitled f**ers and I would never be so rude

NamechangedHelpPlease · 17/01/2021 10:47

Well @CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS if you genuinely don't know the answer then you have plenty of replies now. I suspect that you are either just having a grumble as we all do from time to time rather than being ignorant of what was that has currently gone due to lick down

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 10:50

Our 2 little fluffy dogs are spoilt, yapping, nervous little shits so we walk them in remote woodland and fields near home and we picnic in all weathers. Now those isolated places are full of intolerant, rude, nervous-of- dogs people, in their new, pristine outdoor gear, who shout at us about out of control dogs because they bark when they see other humans. We put their leads on whenever we see people coming. Should we gag them too?

Don't they say dogs are like their owners? I can't believe you call others intolerant! Your dogs sound vile.

pinbinpin · 17/01/2021 10:50

Why on earth are you perplexed? Normally they would be spread out between:
Doing team sports
Watching team sport
Taking their kids to team sports
Meeting a friend for brunch
Going to a restaurant for lunch
A pub lunch
Relaxing in a coffee shop reading the papers
Taking kids to a soft play
At the gym
Visiting a museum
Going to a Gallery
At a NT property
Going to the cinema
Having a mooch around the shops
Getting the car washed
Visiting friends
Etc etc etc!

Now, none of those things are possible so everyone who has been cooped up all week working and kids home learning is doing the one thing they can do to get outside for a bit of fresh air, give their eyes a break from screen time and protect theirs and their kids mental health - going for a bloody walk!

I can't believe anyone begrudges that. All nice walking places round here are totally overrun and busy and what do the government expect? There's nothing else to do.

Baconking · 17/01/2021 10:53

@megletthesecond

Walking around shopping centres drinking coffee 🤷‍♀️.

Im always out running and walk everywhere and am fascinated by everyone suddenly discovering their outdoor legs. I wonder how deficient in vit d they must usually be. Maybe everyone will be healthier after this, but I doubt it.

You really should try adding a bit more variety to your life.

NamechangedHelpPlease · 17/01/2021 10:59

How lucky for you @CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS that the thing you do all the time hasn't been taken away from you. Probably why you struggle to understand what people might do during leisure time when there is no pandemic shutting things down......you know what usually there's a lot to do other than just walk ....

MajesticWhine · 17/01/2021 11:02

Having a pub lunch, swimming, at the tennis club, round at a friends house.

Lemons1571 · 17/01/2021 11:09

Going somewhere

That’s not allowed at the moment.

Destinations are banned at the moment.

Walking aimlessly is allowed.

So they’re doing that.

knittingaddict · 17/01/2021 11:16

I can only speak from personal experience. My husband is doing a daily walk in our local area. When he was working in the office he would use some of his lunch break to have a walk and also walked to and from the train station if he went via public transport. He obviously can't do that now, so he walks from home.

If you were a local you wouldn't have seen him prior to lockdown, now you do. It's really quite simple.

middleager · 17/01/2021 11:20

Walking and gardening are all that's left. I'm not a walker, I'd prefer to be in a cinema or watching a gig.

vanillandhoney · 17/01/2021 11:25

@MaMisled

Our 2 little fluffy dogs are spoilt, yapping, nervous little shits so we walk them in remote woodland and fields near home and we picnic in all weathers. Now those isolated places are full of intolerant, rude, nervous-of- dogs people, in their new, pristine outdoor gear, who shout at us about out of control dogs because they bark when they see other humans. We put their leads on whenever we see people coming. Should we gag them too?

Maybe train your dogs?

They're yappy, nervous and spoilt because of you. Don't blame other people because they (quite sensibly) don't want to be around your badly behaved pets

User2921 · 17/01/2021 11:25

Can only speak for myself, but I do it purely to annoy people who have always been regular walkers.
I try to squeeze it in between shopping for non essentials.

SueEllenMishke · 17/01/2021 11:25

It's not really difficult to understand surely?

There literally isn't anything else to do.

People would usually be in pubs, restaurants, shopping, at gigs, at sporting events, the cinema, visiting friends and family, in the gym.....

Oh making that list has made me realise how much we are all missing out. 😢

User158340 · 17/01/2021 11:25

@CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS

I live in a small village near a lovely green open space for walks. I walk every single day and have done since I moved here many years ago. It's always been very quiet - many, many times I've been the only person out and have walked for an hour+ and not seen a soul.

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed! I'm dodging people constantly when out walking and although the size of the space means I can keep 2 metres away, I now often have groups of people behind, in front and to the sides of me which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Most are considerate but some are arseholes that want to brush past you so you have to be aware and it's a lot less relaxing. I'm pretty sure that they are local people as it's not a 'day out' place or anywhere people would know about let alone go to, and it's nice that more local people are out walking but... why have they all just discovered walking? It's not like it was a closely guarded secret before and we are quite rural. What would they normally be doing (for example today on a Saturday afternoon) that they now can't do that leaves walking as their only option??

(Yes I do kind of wish they'd bugger off and yes IABU for that as I don't own this piece of land! But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!)

They'd normally be in the pub or a football match on a Saturday afternoon, or just a day out in the shops and going for coffee etc.

I love going for a walk but haven't enjoyed it all since Covid. Not because of more people per se, but because you spend the whole time dodging people because of social distancing. It's not enjoyable.

Whiskysoda · 17/01/2021 11:27

Oh, another country bumpkin who thinks the local beauty spot belongs to her and her only eh!

I’d much rather be at my gym where I can enjoy a class or three, a swim and socialising in the coffee shop, but I can’t.

Get off your high horse op, sharing is caring and if they are not walking your garden you have no right to moan or question their motives.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 17/01/2021 11:27

Ilove going for a walk but haven't enjoyed it all since Covid. Not because of more people per se, but because you spend the whole time dodging people because of social distancing. It's not enjoyable.

Cos I usually walked TO places it was just something i did

Now i have to walk for excercise...drs orders 😩

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 17/01/2021 11:27

You’re annoyed people are doing the one think they are still allowed to do? Get over it.

We’ve always been keen walkers, but would usually drive somewhere remote. Now we are stuck doing the same route every day and it’s rubbish. Don’t worry, we will bugger off back to the mountains as soon as we are allowed.

I for one am very glad more people are getting outdoors and enjoying nature. Manors or not.

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 17/01/2021 11:28

*manners