New Year reflections

Meditating on the past year's walking, I am in pensive mood like the essayist Charles Lamb.

Photo by Tony Quinn

As midnight chimes peal in the New Year and point to mortality, he was defiant. “I am in love with this green earth, the face of town and country; the unspeakable rural solitudes and the security streets. I am content to stand at my current age... Sun and sky, breeze, solitary walks and summer holidays, the greenness of fields, the cheerful glass and candle light, do these things go out with life?”How were your walks in the past year? Did you relish the green earth, rural repose, solitary and group hikes under both sunny and rainy skies? I certainly did so. As chronicled in these columns, my excursions included: suburban strolls, rural rambles, Wicklow walks, mountain climbs, Donegal danders, historic treks, Scottish saunters, Scandinavian strolls and Norwegian hikes. Like Lamb in 1821, I survive a jolly candidate for the coming year and drink another glass of wine to wish all walkers a happy New Hiking Year. My gratitude to Ann for exploring and discovering diverse walks with me. Thanks to Village for the opportunity to share with you, the readers, our enthusiasm for walking.