Monday, 16 March 2009

Carrying poles to Houghton

My friend Paula lent me some Leki walking poles a few months ago. She's a keen walker, going up hills and stuff. She was lovely and encouraging but even Paula was a bit hesistant when I asked if poles were a good idea. She finds them best when coming down steep slopes or on very rocky terrain.

I thanked her for the kind loan but even as I came away I wondered whether I'd really plod the streets looking like a skier in search of snow. Wearing rucksack and hat attracts enough jibes and my pride can only take so much. So the poles have sat unused.

Today I strapped them to the back of my pack and strode off to Houghton to return them. By now it's a familiar training route.

Paula wasn't in. I sensed she wasn't in, not in the 'popped out for an hour' kind of way but more along the lines of 'gone away for a week'. I checked the letterbox to see if I could post the Lekis but it had one of those collecting box contraptions, which would only have accomodated the first few inches. I didn't want to spike her vicarage like some wounded bull after the attentions of a matador. Leaving them outside to the mercy of the elements didn't seem sensible either, so I carried them back home. Hmmpf.

These particular poles may therefore the least useful walking aids I've ever carried. Their only contribution to my training is as ballast.

Never mind. Paula will soon be putting them to much better use on the South West Coast Path, which is a real rollercoaster.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Simon. Do Leki walking poles run on batteries or do you have to plug them in?

    ReplyDelete

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