Summer is drawing to a close, especially here in more northerly latitudes. Autumn colours are starting to make their debut this year. The nights are drawing in and warm sunshine is an ever increasingly valuable commodity. Synthetic base-layers in my wardrobe are being replaced with last year's merino and my thoughts are already turning towards planning ski trips and wondering if there is a place in my gear for a bit of Paramo....
So with all this talk of Autumn, why the feeling of Spring in the air? Well, Spring is a time for fresh starts and re-growth. After a personally tumultuous summer I now have new things to look forward to. A recent steady diet of Guinness, Lucky Strikes and apathy is giving way to a fresh start, new opportunities and a desire to get out into the mountains again.
I tried easing myself back out into the mountains with a Sunday afternoon ridge walk with a Norwegian friend who didn't let up on the pace and handed my ass to me in a sling. The recent relentless rain left the hillsides literally flowing underfoot. The troll-inhabited fairytale forests surrounding the ridge were awash with green. My senses were being assaulted. The steep ascent and blustery wind blew many a recently affixed cobweb away. The endorphins washed away the apathy and ideas for new adventures were turning over in my mind.
Here's to Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer*
(* delete as applicable)
10 comments:
Good to hear that you got out last Sunday, and that things lighten up. I already got a few good ideas for walks here, which hopefully will motivate you!
btw, I find Guiness really only tastes good in Ireland. Everywhere else its just not the same.
The bailer's at work out the back. That a sure sign Autumn's just around the corner.
The seasons are right on the cusp of change. It's a good time to throw off old baggage and pick up a new, lighter load.
beautifully written and inspiring :)
i'm dumping my bacon cobs and those 'one more beers' in exchange for autumnal adventures-ok, so maybe there's room for beer too ;)
Whilst not quite autumn colours here yet there is certainly a feeling of autumn in the air with the cooler mornings. I too have not done much hiking and am hoping for a day walk this weekend in preparation for the trips along the west coast of Denmark.
Hendrik - looking forward to making our trip into a reality. As for Guinness, I have never been to Ireland so can only imagine how good the black stuff is over there, it's pretty damn tasty to me anywhere!
Big Kev - looking forward to less sweat, less mozzies, less midgies and more mountains.
Kate - thank you. If it came down to it do you lose the bacon cob or the 'one more beer'? Tough choices.
Roger - the autumnal colours are just being hinted at but the change in season is palpable. Looking forward to reading about your trip.
here's to autumn, winter and spring. Quite frankly summer is overrated :)
Dave - yeah, who wants to go out in nice weather? Where is the fun in that?!
um....well I guess its just that summer never turns out to be that great anyway!
Besides which, crisp, frosty mornings and deep blue skies are just around the corner.....
Dave - the summer here has been appalling. It's short enough at this latitude but when the 'warm & sunny' days are restricted to a couple of weeks at the beginning, it seems like like a long winter.
Mmmmmmm! Bright, crispy, frosty mornings! Now you're talking!
bring it on!
:)
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