Its Thursday evening, time to get ready to join my walking group. I need to leave work earlier than usual to make the walk start time. I look outside - its raining - hmmmm - to walk or not to walk. Should I email our group to see if anyone else is going. NO - come on, I say to myself - get out there and get going. I leave work, get home, get changed and head off to the meeting point.
When I arrive a couple of the other walkers are talking about not going as its cold and wet. Luckily Lynette arrives and spurs us all on. Off we head to brave the elements.
We meet near Cornwall Park in Auckland at the club rooms. Tonights walk takes us up One Tree Hill and around the park. I enjoy watching the lambs at this time of the year, running and jumping around, calling out for their mothers when they think they are lost. The spring flowers are out at the moment, their beauty and perfume allowed us a moment of delight as we walked past them.
It was quite chilly at the top of the hill, but was worth braving the cold as the view from the top is spectacular. The leader of our walking group cracks quite a fast walking pace, so we were all warmed by the time we got to the top. Now we are warm we can have a quick stop to enjoy the views before we head back down.
As we walk along, we chat and catch up on what each other has been doing for the last week. The mood of the walkers by now is very upbeat. By the time we head back to home base, the rain has cleared and everyone is feeling fresh and envigorated.
The moral of the story is no matter what the weather or your mood, get out and enjoy the great outdoors. You will never be disappointed.
It is always the getting there that is the hardest especially after work but I always find it well worth the effort. Now this year all I have to do is take the first step.....