When I moved from Bath to Bristol quite a few years ago, I re-discovered the joy of walking.
This rapidly escalated into trekking, hiking, rambling...call it what you will.
I sold my car and started walking everywhere. Combined with the nature of the physical job I was in at the time, working a nightshift which messed up my metabolism, and packing in the booze for the while, the weight just dropped off.
Inside of three months I'd lost two stone and at my lowest weight I only scaled nine-and-half stone ~ I was all sinewy, lean and toned, and I even had a six-pack for a while! Lol.
I had tried to resurrect and re-live my footballing days, but alas the accumilative injuries had taken their toll.
Any sustained pressure or impact on my joints made my body ache for weeks, especially my knees and ankles, so much so that I couldn't even run anymore...yet I could walk all day with no problems whatsoever.
The worst injuries that I'd sustained were two seperate blood clots (one in my right thigh, one in my right calf), a right knee which still can't 'lock-out' due to the effects of a very dubious tackle (it was so bad that one of the opponents studs was actually embedded into my knee-cap!), and worst of all...a severely twisted pelvis.
The impact of the twisted pelvis wasn't initially known, but after repeated and lengthy treatment the full extent of the injury was discovered. The lower back had been put out of place to try to balance the pelvis, then the middle of my spine bent the opposite way to try to counter-balance this damage, and finally the top of my spine also bent in the direction of the lower back to further try to counter-balance the injury. This resulted in my spine taking on an 'S' shape, but fortunately with the help of a great oesteopath my back was eased back into some form of normal appearance.
However, there remains a permanently trapped nerve in the bottom of my back, where the muscle has fused to the bone, but the doctor's advised me to live with the occassional discomfort as they feel it's far too delicate and risky to correct by way of an operation...hence my competitive football days were finished.
But back to the walking...
With the impact of these injuries I was left with the knowledge that extensive walking was definitely my best option of exercise. Whilst in Bristol (Bradley Stoke) I regularly took a three mile circuit around the conservation area where I lived, as well as walking to and from work every day.
Then in Cheltenham I undertook a four mile walk around the city every day first thing in the morning.
When I moved to Berkshire (Crowthorne) I regularly walked in the woods to keep me fit (the same woods which have recently been destroyed by the forest fires I'm afraid to say).
Once I moved back to Bognor I walked along the seafront every day, from West-End car park right along to Elmer, just past Felpham (the picture attached to this blog was taken as the sun was setting one early evening along Bognor Promenade).
Even when I visited New Zealand I purposely trekked and hiked my around the South Island.
Specifically there was the trek along Waterfall Creek and climbing up Mount Iron, both in Wanaka.
Also I spent a day hiking along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track within the Abel Tasman National Park.
And finally, I completed all sections of the Peninsula Walk in Kaikaura.
Now that I'm living in Chichester I walk to and from work every day, and I usually go on at least one ramble over the weekend ~ this takes the form of about three hours continuous walking, which by my reckoning equates to approximately 12 miles. Initially I trekked along the Chichester Ship Canal tow path until it reaches Chichester Marina. At the back of the Marina you can pick up the Salterns Way trail all the way into Fishbourne, before crossing farmland to meet up with Centurion Way which meanders all the way to Lavant and beyond.
You can then either check out the woodland around Brandy Hole Copse, or continue to as far as Binderton, when you can take a public bridal way across the West Dean Estate and hike up the steep hill to the Trundle.
Once you reach this point the views are breathtaking. Behind you is the Goodwood Racecourse, to the east you can view Bognor, directly in front is Chichester, and if you gaze to the west you can clearly see Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, which is over twenty miles away.
All of these routes that I've undertaken are very scenic in places and extremely peaceful and tranquil.
I genuinely find that I think better when I'm walking, and believe me I've had plenty to think about recently.
Hopefully the next blog will provide some answers, and it should be able to tie up the two previous series of blogs that I've written ~ 'A Spiritual Journey To Find A Home' and 'Observations of a Single Male'.
Ramblin' Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment