Suburban walking

During the current lockdown i feel i shouldn’t drive far to walk and i am avoiding buses. Whatever ministers say, the rules are not clear. We can leave home for exercise, but how far?This means walking from home. Rural walks have disadvantages: stiles, steep hills, and mud. Urban walks lack these but have uneven pavements, people, and traffic. Any walking is good for mind and body. Though i dislike being wet.

I walk at least a mile a day, though rarely more than three. A dry day unlike the previous four. Today’s walk was two miles around south Canterbury. A route i used for brisk walking some years ago when it took me 30 minutes.

Uphill on Heaton Road, named after one of Canterbury’s MPs, with Victorian houses . Through the newish houses of Chineham Way, in the former chalk quarry. Onto Zealand Road and uphill to South Canterbury Rd, passing the site of South Canterbury station on the Elham Valley line, closed in 1948. Past the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Through an alleyway past a small park to Raymond Avenue where i met our windowcleaner who thought i was lost. Prospect Place, Norman Road and Oxford road to home. In 48 minutes.

I passed few people, easy to avoid by stepping into the road. Little traffic. Oxford Road has the most uneven pavements in the area but the puddles had dried up and i avoided tripping. Home for a welcome coffee.