To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

[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!)

Absolutely agree with the posts about manners. Most people are lovely but there are people who don’t move over and barge up the middle of a path when a step to the side would give you both space. I take a mask for narrow path situations now and secretly think of the bargers as Covid deniers.

My question was really about what walking is an alternative to and I still don’t totally get it. If you’d usually be in the pub or having lunch with family or shopping then how is walking an alternative?

The pubs are shut, there is nothing else to do. People don't normally walk every weekend. They mix it up a bit. So now they walk all the time.

Are you really this dense?

I get the sense that OP cannot process the idea that her wonderful healthy wholesome activity of walking in the country might be enjoyed by the type of person who also enjoys wandering round a shopping centre, going to the pub or attending a football match. Turns out she’s not as superior to all those people as she thought...

Well apparently they all hate it so maybe I am...

Joking aside, I don’t think I’m superior because I enjoy walking. Bit of a nasty comment but that’s on you. But if they banned walking and opened all the gyms I wouldn’t go as I hate the gym. So I’m surprised people would rather do something they hate than nothing, though I do get the need to keep kids active.

I walk with a friend. She's higher risk so whilst could bubble with us she doesn't. I find walking itself utterly tedious but fine if with my friend.

But I don't think you find this perplexing at all, that I might choose to do this even though I find it tedious - given I can't do anything much at all. I think you fully understand this.

I'm not perplexed by the fact you posted about this even though you aren't perplexed either, my MIL is full of passive aggressive comments so I find it easy to spot.

@FranklyTruly
In particular, I'd implement the Spanish policy of under 14s not being allowed to leave home at all
Wowee...ds is 10 and been mostly shielding since March, and you'd have him NEVER being allowed to leave the house! Have you ever thought of a future career in dictatorship.

I've no idea. From what I heard life is going on as normal, nothing has changed and all other leisure activities and social opportunities are running as usual. I can't think why people might go for a walk.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation I bet you wouldn’t talk like that to me in real life so there’s really no need to be rude online.

I wouldn’t go to the pub if they banned walking because I don’t enjoy going to the pub.

It's out of the house, which is desperately needed. Of course its popular right now!
That's literally the only entertainment isn't it for staying local? A bike ride or a walk? If you're in quite a small location that's about it. We have probably 12 different walks of different lengths from our front door. But doing one of them every day rather than the longer ones once at a weekend.

I wouldn’t go to the pub if they banned walking because I don’t enjoy going to the pub
I highly doubt everyone who is walking hates walking though.
It's fairly obvious that when sports clubs, gyms, recreational areas, exercise classes etc are all closed people might want to do something than potter around their house all day.

I walk my dogs daily. There's more people when I go out. It's not rocket science for me to see why.

I wouldn’t go to the pub if they banned walking because I don’t enjoy going to the pub.

The people you see walking do enjoy walking, they just don't do it every weekend normally.

I absolutely would speak to you like this offline if you were being this stupid.

My question was really about what walking is an alternative to and I still don’t totally get it. If you’d usually be in the pub or having lunch with family or shopping then how is walking an alternative?

Oh for....

It's an alternative as something to do outside of the house. It's pretty much the only thing we can do outside of the house right now; there's running and cycling but they're a bit harder if you're not used to them or don't have the equipment already. If you can't see your family for a coffee or pub lunch or shopping trip, it'll have to be for a walk.

Just own the fact that you're annoyed because your walks are busier now, even though you know that's not really reasonable. We understand and we won't judge much. But please stop with the "I don't understaaand" schtick because it's actually making lockdown even more annoying.

I don’t think of us as a very active, outdoorsy nation but maybe people are more bothered about exercise than I thought.

I don’t really get bored at home either but I’ve already been told on this thread I’m clearly a very boring person so maybe that’s why.

The rest of a normal weekend we would be doing something like volunteering and swimming then entertainmemt wise:
museums/ railways/ sites of historical interest/ country parks or national trust etc.

I'm always out with the dogs quite early, OP, but I try and make it even earlier now to avoid the enormous increase in people.

It's obviously understandable, reasonable and perfectly expected for my space to be encroached on () but I still can't wait for it to be quiet again!

So we are not active but we dint stay in and have no fecking clue how to fill up weekends without bloody long walks

There is no ‘us’

People would normally be:

Swimming
At the gym
In the pub
Playing golf
Playing tennis
Visiting restaurants
Taking the kids for an ice cream
Meeting a friend for coffee
Having their hair done (or nails)
Spa days with friends
Dinner at friends houses
Visiting the library
Shopping
Going to the cinema
Going to the theatre
Weekend breaks
Attending weddings, christenings etc.
Going to the zoo
Attending school functions
Visiting family
Watching sporting events
Attending live music concerts & festivals
Taking the kids to play barns
Taking the kids to birthday parties
Driving lessons
Going camping
Etc. Etc.

Walking and grocery shopping is just about all people can do these days....so this is why people have discovered walking (it's not their first choice of activity but for now it's all they've got)

....be patient OP we're all doing what we can to get through this.

I didn’t start the thread to annoy people - I genuinely think it’s weird that SO MANY people are out walking. I am genuinely surprised people are that bored. And I can’t think there are many physical alternatives that people would do on a Saturday afternoon that they now can’t do. I appreciate the comments about getting kids active, people wanting to lose weight and be healthy, mental health etc. And I see now that some people would rather do anything than be at home. I don’t feel that way.

Yes I’d prefer to have fewer people around when I walk (and know that’s unreasonable, as I said in the OP). But genuinely it seems weird to me that so many on here are angrily going for walk after walk (and their kids are crying about going for a walk!) There really are other ways to exercise even right now if it’s that torturous.

And honestly, many of the people I see out doing their 'exercise' when I'm out for my daily run (something I've done for the last 10 years or so), well - I think a lot of these people definitely need to walking a lot more. Clearly, for a some people exercise has been a closely guarded secret no-one told them about ...

So, even in your unpleasant judgmental post you could see that these people going for a walk is a good thing. It's probably much better that they are out walking than you are out running. Sure;y you should be applauding these people deciding to go,out and improve their fitness, rather than pulling them apart for not being at the peak of their fitness.

You also know nothing about them. I've put on a bit of weight and my fitness has reduced over recent years. Well, that's arthritis for you. Not something I'd choose to have and not something I can do much more about. So sometimes when I go for a walk I may be hobbling along slowly, maybe my knee won't fully bend or fully extend, maybe the pain in my joint is intense so I don't look like I'm happily bouncing down the lane.

I've also had covid so in the last month or so it's now about needing to get my fitness up as 3 months in I'm still breathless, I'm still struggling with fatigue. Having a walk in the fresh air is great. But being judged for doing it if not in too health by posters like you isn't quite so great. I'd imagine there are a number of people out their using daily walks to try and rebuild their health after covid right now.

I hope you don't as I'm not actually as nasty as your comments are. However, maybe one day you may get hit by a disease out of your control and suddenly see your fitness and health drop down in front of you. Then maybe you won't be quite as judgemental as you currently are.

Think of it like this OP.
Your town has say 1k people living in it.

Normal weekend
100 shopping
100 in pub
100 walking
100 at heritage site
100 visiting family
100 at the gym
100 at sporting event
100 at a restaurant
100 at home

Now only 2 of that list of activities are allowed. So even split between home and walking that's 500 walkers. A 500% increase on normal times.

@CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS

I didn’t start the thread to annoy people - I genuinely think it’s weird that SO MANY people are out walking. I am genuinely surprised people are that bored. And I can’t think there are many physical alternatives that people would do on a Saturday afternoon that they now can’t do. I appreciate the comments about getting kids active, people wanting to lose weight and be healthy, mental health etc. And I see now that some people would rather do anything than be at home. I don’t feel that way.

Yes I’d prefer to have fewer people around when I walk (and know that’s unreasonable, as I said in the OP). But genuinely it seems weird to me that so many on here are angrily going for walk after walk (and their kids are crying about going for a walk!) There really are other ways to exercise even right now if it’s that torturous.

Whatever your intentions it’s still twaddle and yes I would say that to your face.

And if you have children you should know they moan and bitch about doing a lot of things that are good for them, including and not exclusive to going out for a walk.

And I can’t think there are many physical alternatives that people would do on a Saturday afternoon that they now can’t do.

I honestly cannot believe you are this hard of thinking. There are hundreds of things people can't do! Not everyone is out 'just' for exercise. Wow.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation

My question was really about what walking is an alternative to and I still don’t totally get it. If you’d usually be in the pub or having lunch with family or shopping then how is walking an alternative?

The pubs are shut, there is nothing else to do. People don't normally walk every weekend. They mix it up a bit. So now they walk all the time.

Are you really this dense?

That's exactly what went through my mind.