My walks are more often than not circular. I walk in a clearly defined loop across several villages before heading home. On weekends, and days such as yesterday my habit of walking in loops is scuppered by the habit of normal people to walk with dogs. I wouldn’t mind so much, if they kept their dogs under control, and if I was not walking alone. When I walk alone I’m the only distraction so dogs will investigate me, which I hate.
During the walk up to the Creux Du Van I saw two large dogs that I had to walk by. I waited until other people walked by those dogs before walking by them at the same time. In so doing the dogs didn’t have any interest in me so I felt safe. If I had been alone I would not have enjoyed passing those dogs. I might have turned back, or found another route.
I am so used to walking the same loops, that the idea of backtracking vanished until recently. Until recently I would always walk my loops. Walking those loops fatigued me. I think that’s why traffic, and encounters with dogs felt more negative than they had, beforehand.
There is value in changing walking patterns. By changing the pattern I walk along routes that I had not walked for a while. I also noticed that the “long loops” I walked are not longer than the “short” loops I walk. It’s just that the GPS track is different.
The other difference is that I am running again. By running I am making a bigger effort over a shorter time so I can devote less time to my “daily walk”.
## And Finally
Although during the week I will walk the usual routes in solitude, on weekends I will resume group activities. The pandemic will not end, so I can be social by doing outdoor things. I have no desire to be indoors.
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