I love walking. At home I walk for a couple of hours every day with my very gorgeous little collie dog.
Walking (according to all the government websites to entice the great British public into doing more exercise) is a free form of fitness that can benefit us all?????
Unfortunately these days if people want to do serious walking, it is no more affordable than any other sport for the majority of the great British public.
OK, so we can all have a little trek around the local park wearing no more than a pair of cheap trainers................... But what if people want to do more.
Today I walked for 12 miles in the Lake District. I am fortunate enough to be able to afford all the proper gear - walking boots, walking trousers, anorak, waterproof trousers, 'thin with all the warmth' walking top, gloves, rucksack, etc, etc, etc.
I buy most of my walking stuff at 'Mountain Warehouse' in the sale. Even so, I estimate that the clothes/equipment I was wearing today cost £350.
..................I don't wear 'proper walking socks' (mine cost £1.50 at Peacocks), I haven't got a proper waterproof bag to go inside my rucksack if it rains (I'll just use two Tesco carrier bags), I haven't got a zig bottle for water (a plastic one will do), & if I'm taking a sandwich for lunch I just wrap it up in a bit of cling film and throw it in my rucksack - I don't need to spend £10 on a sandwich box so that it doesn't get squashed.................................
............................I could go on..................... and on..................... and on.......................
Walking is no longer 'affordable'?!
One cannot just trek up a mountain wearing a pair of trainers, jeans & an anorak.
This whole 'walking thing' is making me rather mad.
Today I had a little bit of a mooch around Keswick.
Keswick is (in my opinion) an up market walking hub. It's full of shops selling 'walking stuff'.
I honestly do not consider myself to be 'poor' but to go into a 'walking shop' for a little browse about, see a nice pair of trousers, and then look at the price tag.................. £300????? Just what does a pair of £300 trousers have that is so spectacular?????
My walking trousers cost me £40 (half price) & I thought that was expensive - They're comfortable, if it rains they dry quickly, they've got lots of pockets - what more does anyone want?????
£300 for a pair of walking trousers??? That's hardly 'affordable walking' for all???
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........................................
.............................I feel another rant coming on!!!!!
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