Walk avoidance - well, it is raining!

Ok, so the last two posts have covered two of the things on my '50' list - exercise and vegetatianism - so I thought I'd make it three in a row: walking to school. The goal is to walk to and from school at least once a week. Why? A number of reasons: basic fitness, it's a two mile walk, with a pretty hefty hill in the middle. The fresh air concept - particularly if the route goes over the downs rather than along the road, the downs are beautiful, and if it isn't raining, it's a really lovely walk. Finances, less driving is less petrol used, which is definitely a good thing, from both a money and planet saving perspective.

In an ideal world, I'd like to avoid driving as much as possible - the green lobbyist in me isn't happy about driving 2 mile distances twice a day. The once a week thing is a start, with a view to making it more often where possible.

The problems with walking are that it takes half an hour, and I struggle with early mornings - the 20 minutes earlier that I have to leave to walk are actually worth 3 hrs of time at any other point in the day. It isn't an easy walk, and not one which I would like to attempt carrying anything very much. Also, when raining, the pretty route is slippy, and muddy, and may prove impossible. I tend to arrive at school all hot and sticky, and need to have a shower, which is fine, but does mean I can't afford to leave home late, and that I have to have a change of clothes at school already.

Experience tells me that no matter how good my intentions, if the car is outside the house in the morning, I won't walk, so generally, I'm driving into school on a Monday morning, and leaving the car at school - which means I have to walk in on Tuesday. In theory, if I get organised on a Sunday, I can work out whether I actually need the car any evening (for eg, I usually go to Kaye's in Sutton on a Wednesday) and I can then take clothes/basis for lunches into school for the days I intend to walk. If I go to Sutton a Wednesday I have choices - either I walk in on Thursday, leaving the car at home (not very likely)or I drive in and leave the car again on Thursday. Either way, I need to have the car on Friday evening to bring everything home again (there is also the matter of a week's worth of running gear)

So far, this has actually been going really well. I enjoy the walk when it's over the Downs, hate it on the roads. I need to get into the habit of getting up earlier, and make sure the right things come home with me each evening! What I have discovered, surprisingly, is that walking in is easier than walking home - the steepness of the hill really hurts my knees - so if I can get a lift down the hill, I'm happy to accept!

Anyway, back to the story behind today's headline. It was raining. My back hurt. I was late leaving home. I went the road way, not just becausse of the rain, but because - if I'm honest - I hoped I might get a lift! Several members of staff drove past me ('I didn't see you - sorry')and right at the very bottom of the hill, a lady was just coming out of her house, and offered me a lift. Her name is Joan, she's a retired PE teacher, and she is definitely on my hero list!

The view on the Downs which makes the walk worthwhile.