Gertsamtkunstwerk

Walk behind Dymchurch

Another go at Government Sanctioned exercise. We took to the fields. Romantically, I would say 'behind our house' but that's not really true. We walked behind the Parish Church, across the railway line and followed the well-signed footpath until the footpath signs magically disappeared, so we wandered aimlessly rounda field and retraced our footsteps.

I was disappointed because I was sure the footpath linked up with another well-signed footpath on Eastbridge Road - and it does - but I made the mistake of crossing the shiny footbridge rather than doing a sharp left that wasn't actually signed!

Still it was a nice walk. Out in the fresh air on a gloriously sunny spring day, with my dear partner who is still so much of a townie he hasn't entirely grasped the concept of striding out across the fields. We saw sheep, didn't fall over or into any of the numerous watercourses, and didn't poison ourselves on any of the many plants growing on the edges of the fields.

If we had managed to do the circle, it would have been nice to pop into a coffee shop, or, given that we retraced our footsteps back to the Parish Church, it would have been nice to have popped into the pub opposite for a well earned pint.

But, of course, this is 2020, so neither the coffee shop nor the pub were open. So we trudged home, and, to be fair, we do have food and beverages indoors.

 

I didn't take the photograph below for its aesthetic quality but to illustrate my annoyance.

If you look closely, on the left hand post is a standard yellow arrow to signify a footpath, in this case installed by Kent County Council. You will, of course, notice the fence across it, which makes the path quite difficult to negotiate for someone who is 5'2" and with mild mobility issues.

But is that sufficient?

No, just add to this, there is actual barbed wire, and I actually thought I was going to catch my trailing leg, and would have done so if I wasn't already two weeks into my intensive rapid get fit programme. 

Littlestone Lockdown

A few days ago I did my Government Enforced Compulsory Bike Ride*. A nice gentle pedal along the seawall from Dymchurch to Littlestone, looking out at the Strait of Dover. I don't know if there is a term for the cycling equivalent of strolling, but, if so, that's what I was doing.

On my return journey I walked the short distance between the road colloquially known as 'The Avenue' and the Littlestone Water Tower. Littlestone was developed as a resort for the Gentry in the late 19th century but land disputes and, I suppose eventually, the First World War meant it was never fully developed. So, it's a bit of a hidden treasure and I have no idea of how it would look if it had undergone major commercial development. Instead there's an interesting collection of individualistic houses and flats.

 

Incidentally, if you live along here and wonder why I didn't photograph your house, it's because

1. there was something eg a vehicle blocking the s
   hot;
2. I took a photo but it was all wrong 
3. I don't actually like your house, but you shouldn't care, because you're in a great location and you've probably got it looking lovely inside! Insert big friendly smiley here!

   

 

And just for good measure, I thought I'd include the 'Pointless Bench of Littlestone". All the other benches face the sea, unsurprisingly. But as you can see, the sea wall is high in relation to the ground, so "Hey, let's put its back to the sea, so at least people can sit down and stare at the light traffic and other people's homes!"

There are also pointless benches at St Mary's Bay and Winchelsea Beach.

Of course it's not Compulsory or Enforced, but anyone who can really needs to get out regularly. For those of us not working or following our normal occupation, we're doing a lot less moving around. And the daylight, sunlight, change of scene, fresh air, ability to see the horizon (hopefully) are good for both our mental health/wellbeing** and physical health.

** I like to distinguish between 'mental health' and 'sense of wellbeing'. Many people struggle with mental illness, chronically or intermittently, but the rest of us shouldn't take our relative good mental health for granted...as we know when we monitor our mood ups-and-downs, our energy levels, our motivation, our 'get up and go'. I don't really mean the big and often exploitative 'Wellbeing' industry peddling often snake oil and woo, or at best, monetising things we should and can do for free.