Observations on Theology, Culture and the Hosier family

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

AS I WALKED OUT ONE MIDSUMMERS EVENING, Pt II


I like walking at night time and every so often decide to go for a longer walk in the dark. A couple of years ago I did an overnighter around the Isle of Purbeck and this Sunday evening went for the repeat; although this time around I went in the opposite direction, starting from Sandbanks and then to Kimmeridge, via Corfe Castle, and then on the coast path to Swanage.

I recognize that many others consider it a little eccentric for me to go wandering around the countryside at night, but I do enjoy it. In our crowded island it is the only time to experience real solitude – after stepping off the ferry at Studland at 11pm I didn’t see another living soul until I reached Swanage at 7.30am. I like the wildlife – I saw a badger, and deer, and heard a nightjar. I like the smells of a summer night – the wild garlic, and elderflower and general greenness of sap and flower. I like to see the moon set (which it did at about 1am) and the sun rise (at about 5am) and hear the first lark sing (3.40am). And it makes my dogs very happy!

You should try it sometime.

3 comments:

newsong40 said...

Living the rock and roll lifestyle, eh?!

Seriously, sounds a great way to reconnect with yourself, God and the world.

James Haslam said...

Sounds awesome. I spend too many nights at work as it is so I don't think an all-nighter hike would go down too well with the wife. One day though!

skinnylew said...

Having done the London to Brighton Night ride on Sunday I can appreciate the joys of being out at night in the relative peace and quiet(traffic wise), watching the moon set and sun rise, and the coolness of night compared to the stifling heat of walking in the day.