Day Two

I’ve spent the whole day comparing cycling to walking. I’m an experienced cyclist, I know how far I can go in what type of terrain. I know how I feel when it’s going great and how I feel when it’s going a bit wrong and that it’s probably not a big problem.  I know when to rest, what to eat and roughly how my day will pan out. 

I am not an experienced walker. I’ve done bits but not for ages. I do not know any of the above. Some elements transfer but not all. And just in case anyone is unaware, I do not like heat. 

Today Scotland was showing herself in all her glory, birds sang, crickets chirped.  There are clover, hairbells, vetch, starwort, marsh orchids, meadowsweet, and occasional scents of honeysuckle.  A buzzard swooped around in the cloudless sky; swifts and goldfinches and many more birds I couldn’t identify perched below. I even watched a golden ringed dragon fly lay her eggs.

But frankly, for day two of a new hobby, it was a little too warm. On a bike heat (and overheating) sort of creeps up on you. The breeze of moving even at a relatively slow speed fools you into thinking you’re cool.  Obviously this can be quite dangerous but when you’re walking you’re just cooked!  My hands were disproportionately warm. Stopping regularly for a snack and water in the shade helped a lot. As did the very necessary hour I spent in a pub. 

I always worry about water. On the bike I know how much I’ll drink and in heatwaves I carry extra - and drink it. Today I had planned to fill up from rivers. I’ve got a filter and everything but, there weren’t many rivers to be had. Hence the pub. 

Anyway. I’m here, I did the distance I’d planned, I deviated from the route a bit but that was also planned. I didn’t get lost once.  I have enjoyed myself and I like the wandering. I probably should aim to walk faster but if I dawdle, so what?