The hike talk-partner

For the last few weeks I've been hiking after work - Sometimes even during work hours if I'm honest. I know, it sounds like I'm slacking off but to be honest it's made me more productive as I'm often more focused when at work knowing I want to get home a little early and start hiking - I've really come to rely on the time I spend hiking each day.

I'm lucky to live opposite a recreation park which has so many trails I could walk for hours and hours without taking the same path twice. It's a hills-face area so there's not a lot of flat parts, just inclines and declines which makes it perfect for hiking for fitness and mountain-biking which is also what the area is used for. It means keeping my wits about me but generally the bikers and hikers don't have any collisions. There's not many hikers, I've rarely seen another person hiking, just me I guess.

That's a section of trail above, a seldom-used bike track. I like it because it's a little more dense and whilst mostly dry as is to be expected at the end of summer it's more shaded and picturesque I guess. It also runs between two high hills so is cooler and a little quieter which suits me fine.

I hike for a couple reasons being exercise and to clear my mind. I'm one of those perpetual thinkers and rarely shut down completely so hiking, the act of placing one foot in front of the other and moving forward, tends to bring some balance and quiets my mind a little which is welcomed. That's not to say my mind isn't active when I hike though, it most often is - I'm rarely not thinking something over; It's a curse sometimes.

I like to shut off, to retreat from people and detach from my day-to-day life a lot; I need to really. But I also find value in engaging with people too, specific people, and I've come to rely upon one in particular on an almost daily basis. We speak as I hike, even on the steep sections, and I always find so much value and enjoyment from those chats that they sometimes go for ninety minutes or more; My entire hike.

There's something about sharing the load, about opening up to someone who'll not judge or criticise, condemn or complain - They just listen and respond, an easy by-play of conversation about important things and nothing at all. There's laughter, a deep respect for each other, and comfort.

A few days ago daylight saving finished here and the clocks went backward by an hour. It's a little problematic as the days will get darker earlier, the natural order of things as winter comes along. This means my walk is somewhat derailed from a lack of light perspective and the time-commitments of my confidant and hike talk-partner. It's sad.

Of course, the light I can deal with as torches...Well, I have many just about every style of torch known to mankind. Prepared as always. But the hike talk-partner situation isn't as easily dealt with and I'm still getting used to the change. I'm sure we'll work something out because it's such a righteous thing I think we'll both not feel good if we don't, but isn't it funny how we sometimes come to rely on people so much, even me, a non-peopley guy!

I've walked a couple times now without my hike talk-partner and I'll be honest I miss her - She has this way of soothing me, of helping me find a place within that feels comfortable; Sometimes I wonder if it's a place within me, or it's more of a place within us scenario because I can't seem to find it without her - Missing her on our hikes seems to be somewhat of a hobby these days. We'll work it out though, and absence makes the heart grow fonder right? A stupid saying really though, because absence isn't better then presence right? How can it be when one values the other so greatly?

How do you guys find peace and a detachment from the complications of life? Do you walk, bike ride, do a hobby, escape alone or find someone to talk things out with? Do you even find the time for yourself in the first place? If the answer is no to this last , you should probably get on it. Either way, drop a comment and let me know what's up!