Time to test one aspect of the concept of slow travelling: your immediate environment may offer as great hiking possibilities as the most famous tourist destinations.
In August, on a Saturday morning at 7 a.m., I slip on a pair of decent outdoor shoes, and into my backpack a bottle of fresh water, some money, a charged phone as well as my house keys. The weather forecast is promising partly cloudy skies and temperatures between +17-24 degrees Celsius, so I put into the backpack also a pair of shorts, in case the trousers are too warm to wear. There is still space in my backpack if I have to put my light outdoor jacket there when the weather gets warmer.
My plan is to walk around Lake Tuusulanjärvi, located just south of my hometown. On its eastern side, there are a few artists' home museums, the western side being more rural. The length of the walk, slightly over 20 km, does not worry me, as I am quite used to walking. In fact, I always feel joy when the anticipation of a long walk is tickling the soles of my feet.
The grace of the morning is accompanying me when I cross the densely built-up area - where I admire sleepy roses in the front gardens, listen to birds waking up, and see heavy branches swaying over hedges - towards the western side of the lake. Already before the landscape becomes more rural, I see a plump city fox with its furry tail cross the street in front of me.
When the road under my steadily stepping feet starts to cut through a more rural landscape, I pay attention to a handsome pine tree rising in the middle of yellow grain field, a tiny ladybug crossing the footpath, horses garazing in a misty field, and sparrows chirping in hedges. I have driven along this road by car a couple of times before, but I have lost so much beauty.
The route turns left past the southern end of the lake, heading north towards my hometown. As I have been hiking well over two hours - admiring the landscape, as well as the red clovers lying on the edges of the footpath has taken its time - I cannot resist the first hotel of the two on the way back, hotel Gustavelund, and its breakfast. It is always a good idea to have some money with oneself, whatever the length of the walk.
The rest of the walk goes smoothly, as I have been refreshed by an omelette, mini-croissants and coffee; I have also changed my pants to shorts in the restroom, as they are more suitable in the warming weather. There is traffic noise on this side of the lake but the amazing cloud formations in the blue skies, the occasional glimpses of the lake on the left side, as well as the gently rolling fields overcome of the traffic noise.
As I am writing this, several weeks have already passed since my little walk. Remembering it still arouses feelings of joy in me: how the scenery opened up in front of me, how the rhythm of walking fitted in the lanscape, how the details of nature came to me. The greatest joy was the feeling of freedom, as I knew that I could be in this state for hours to come. I have become an even stronger supporter of slow travelling.
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