Psychogeographical distance walks?

[rydra_wong]

It occurred to me that the walks I do which I think of as psychogeographical or symbolic in some way often seem to turn into endurance tests.

There's an experimental element: can I map the distance between point A and point B with my body? What happens to my physical and mental state when I walk for this many hours?

Yes, this was sparked by my decision today to walk one of my favourite long walks, from where I live in Bayswater down through an almost unbroken line of parks to Westminster Bridge, then along the river to the Tate Modern. Where, after a late lunch and a happy potter round the Yayoi Kusama exhibit, I thought, as I had suspected in some corner of my brain that I might: My feet ache. The light's going. Let's see if I can walk home.

It was fascinating and extremely satisfying. And somewhat painful.

So, anyone else conducting distance rituals?

(Mercifully for me, I have no interest in hundred-mile walking. Yet.)

Comments

[nanila]

I like doing this with targeted walks. I did the London Loop while carrying a tripod-mounted SLR camera. Sometimes I would plan to do a section (8-12 miles), get to the end of it (tired, covered in mud and out of tea) and decide to do the next section anyway. Most recently I did this while hunting the 209 Fabergé eggs currently sitting in various places around London. I had meant to spend a leisurely day looking for them. Instead I charged around everywhere for several hours and didn't stop for lunch. So far I've found eighty. I intend to do another round of mad egg hunting this Sunday.