Decrepitude

Walking is simple: children can do it. Put one foot forward, bring the back foot past it, repeat. Walking is easy on a flat surface such as concrete or asphalt. Fairly easy on rural paths of earth, grass, gravel. More difficult in recent times where heavy rain has turned bare earth to mud and flooded some paths, including part of Canterbury’s Great Stour Way.

This blog is about walking, not about me. But i should explain that my walks are restricted not by the lockdown but by age. Local Morrisman Mark Jopling retired from dancing a few years ago, giving “decrepitude” as his reason. Now i know what he meant. I will not go on about my arthritic left foot and dodgy knees. Decades ago i could walk all day at three miles an hour. Now, three miles in two hours might be my limit. I often say that inability to climb stiles would stop me walking. Decrepitude may stop me first.

So. Recently i’ve been doing short walks and avoiding mud. I had a desire to visit the seaside at Seasalter. Not clear if that broke the lockdown rules, but i felt much happier after a walk on the beach.

Coming from Birmingham the coast was a day’s drive away. A thrill when the sea came into view. After 45 years in Kent i get the same thrill at the top of the hill down to Whitstable. “I can see the sea!”

Trying to walk further. Revisiting the two mile walks i used to briskwalk. Yesterday i did my daily mile in light rain. Didn’t like it.

Today i walked through the nearby Wincheap Industrial Estate. More accurately a trading estate, selling beds, furniture, tiles, cars, plumbing and building goods among other things. Iceland is open; not much else. A van sells drinks and food by the car park. Not the most scenic part of Canterbury, but walking is walking. And no mud. I was on my way to buy screenwash for the car.

Keep on walking! It’s good for you.

February 4th 2021