I’m trying to get more walking done. The scientific theory behind this is
that it’s better than nothing. Also I like walking, it kind of suits me.
‘Love Island’ helps. I have nothing against it as a TV Show, I just feel
any time I spend watching it is a waste of time. That’s just me, it’s not a political
statement or anything. So, for that reason, when it’s on, I tend to get up and
go out for a walk. It’s good for me and, besides, it's Summertime, I should be
out enjoying it a bit.
So, yes, I go out walking, in the moonlight… (somebody kills the rising
orchestra… spoilsports).
The other evening, I was walking and I got a little bored with my usual
route so I took an unusual turn or two. Here was a street I hadn’t been on for
quite a while. Here was a place that’s pretty busy in term-time but utterly deserted
this evening. And here… wait a minute… here… was a place I never been before.
Look at it. Where did this place even come from? This is my town now.
I’ve lived here for 22 years, it’s really small. How could a place exist
that I had never seen before?
There’s not much to tell about this place where I’ve never been before.
It’s a huge car park without a single car in it and there’s a huge sign that
threatens terrible things on anyone who parks there illegally. It’s just a big old space with nobody and nothing in it. The only remarkable thing is that it’s in
my town and I never even knew it was there.
Well, there is one slightly more remarkable thing.
This place; it’s less than a five-minute walk from my house.
It seems crazy, doesn’t it? But, thinking about it, I’d nearly bet that
we all have little places (or big empty spaces) really close to us that we
don’t even know exist. Why would we? We tend to go from A to B, occasionally
via C or D, and that’s about it. When we go walking, we go to our local scenic
places or follow our familiar routes. We rarely veer off into the unknown.
But let’s. You and me, let’s just do it.
Wherever you live, I just bet there’s a place less than 500 metres away
from you that you’ve never set foot on before. Maybe it’s just a field. Maybe
it’s just a housing estate. Maybe, like me, it’s just a desolate car park where
they threaten to lock you up if you use it, even though there’s nobody there.
And here’s the beauty of the plan. You don’t have to step outside of your
door to start your expedition. You can plan it first. Hop on to Google Maps and zoom in on
your area, examine the territory from map, satellite, and street view. Where
haven’t you been? What haven’t you seen? Pick a spot, go and see it. Smell the
air, take in the view. Fill in another tiny jigsaw piece of your environs.
On this, the 50th anniversary of the day we went to the moon. Take one small step for you.
Just see where it might lead you.