Wandering

Hey guys,

I just got home after a very long wander. For those who don't know I like very much to go wandering, especially in a new place. A wander is exactly as it sounds, an aimless walk with no real plans or intentions. I usually wander to explore, it's a way of getting my bearings and understanding the place I live in. I like to feel the endless possibilities and see just exactly where the path ends. Usually I pick a direction or a vague place I would like to see and I head toward it. Usually I change my mind halfway through, but I always end up in a cool place.

Previously I wandered to the city center where I took one road out until my feet were sore and I could trek no further. Another time I went into a new part of the city and found the path along the river which I took all the way back to my home. One of my more recent excursions was when I went north until I reached the sea and followed a bus route until it ended. At first I just explored the city, until it wasn't enough for me anymore and I felt the compulsion to branch out further.

Today I needed another wander. It was a beautiful day so I decided to stretch my legs and enjoy the sunshine. First I had to turn in an assignment so I walked about a mile round trip to campus for that. I didn't want to shop or go indoors so I stuck to the parks and green areas. I went through the meadows, intending to go to Grassmarket, changed my mind and ended up in Holyrood Park where Arthur's Seat and the Salsbury Crags are. I meant to explore these paths a little to scope them out for my family, they're coming to visit soon and I want to show them cool places.

I found a cute little duck pond completely full of birds. The swans were particularly elegant and beautiful. One path that might be good for the family is a little hill topped with some ruins that overlooks the city, I think they'll like that. Once I was on a certain road I had to see where it ended, and once I got pretty far down I realized I can go and see the North Sea.

By the time I got to the water it was late afternoon coming up on sunset. I sat and contemplated for a while just gazing into the depths. I finally got up and started heading back by a new path I found on my phone (GPS is the best thing about having a smartphone). I found out I was no longer technically in Edinburgh, but in Duddingston. I walked up a great old cobbled road that looked like it came straight out of the 1800s and past some beautiful old houses and a golf course. I then walked along the other side of the big park on the path by Arthur's seat, made my way across the meadows and back home. All in all, it was a 10 mile trek, the longest I've ever walked in one day.

And the day ain't over yet...