Take this whole post with a massive pinch of salt. Believe nothing. Test everything. Your experience may differ. I couldn’t have written this post until a few days ago, because back then, I hadn’t walked 25 miles in one day. (Like, ever.) The 25-point-something mile walk I just did along the Trans Pennine Trail gave me a few insights, which … Read More
A Mile A Day #11: The Art Of The Start
The beach stretches out before me. I’m here to see a sign – but the view grabs my attention. It says: Mike. Forget the sign. Forget all that stuff for a moment. Looooook. Every time, that view gets to me – especially in summer (above), but even now, in winter, with a gunmetal sea and a roaring sky and rain spattering … Read More
A Mile A Day #10: Why I Hate Walking As Much As I Hate Writing
(Inspired/adapted/stolen from semi-rad‘s brilliant blog – and h/t Al Humphreys for making me aware of it.) I hated going for a walk this morning, but that’s nothing new. I also hated sitting down to write this, especially these first few minutes. These minutes are why a lot of people don’t write, and I cannot blame them. Starting to write is … Read More
A Mile A Day #9 – Why Power Lines Don’t Fry Birds (And Other Natural Wonders)
It’s a cold, grey day in East Yorkshire: a grit-your-teeth day, as the cold nips at exposed flesh and the drifting rain ruins hairstyles, drips from eyebrows and makes everyone grumpy. It’s mid-afternoon and the high street is nearly empty, and the gulls have taken over. They festoon the roof of the Methodist church in an interesting way – and … Read More
A Mile A Day #8: Yeah, But Is It An Adventure?
The path stretches out in front of me, yet again. I’m using the same photo from Day 4 because it’s the same view. Except it isn’t. I’m looking further, imagining what’s over the horizon – because in a week’s time, I’m going to attempt something stupid. But is it stupid enough? For the last few years, I’ve been trying to … Read More
Find Your Purpose, Save Your Blog
What happens when you give up on your dream of being a writer? It was the start of 2009, and I was about to find out.
A Mile A Day #7: Cleaning My Boots Like A Loser
Today I met one of the world’s greatest travellers. I found him hunched down behind a bench, just round the corner from my local Tesco. It was a foul night for a walk, with the rain siling down and gusts of wind flinging it in your face, but it didn’t bother him one bit. He’s seen far worse. This isn’t … Read More
A Mile A Day #6: Hey Sky, Why So Pushy?
I took a long walk along the beach with the dog today, and the sky pushed me over. It roared and shrieked and howled, great gusts of meteorological rage out of a clear blue sky, and eventually I was flung off the sea wall (don’t worry, it’s only 2 feet high) and lay there on my back, on the sand, … Read More