Every Monday I walk...
Every Monday I like to walk around 20km. It’s good for my soul. It’s good for my brain. It’s good for my creativity.
I walk along the beach. I prefer winter because there’s no one there. It’s also windy and a little sea spray and saltiness is in the air. It’s magical. You feel the elements: the wind, the rain, the sun, and sea water.
Lots of my favourite writers are big walkers. They would write essays on walking. I guess there was less to do in the 1800s. Holy smoke, they would really be shocked what’s happened. I remember Thoreau complaining about the train lines next to Walden Pond. My feeling is that he would have been a chronic whiner if he only knew what people are up to nowadays.
Not sure what is so amazing about walking. It’s like your body and mind are getting a balance, your bones and limbs and everything just works out well. Thoughts are processed. Imagination happens. And it just feels so natural and you get stronger. Love it.
When I was growing up in Parkdale, I spent pretty much all summer and most winter, walking up and down the beach trails. Usually from Parkdale to Mentone, but sometimes also along the cliff tops at Beaumaris to Black Rock.
The thing I love the most is the sea. Not sure if I was a merman in a previous life, or an Irish fisherman, or a drunken poet telling bards about the sea and sea monsters. The sea and ocean has always resonated with me. Again, it is so absurd. I think about creating the world. I think I’ll put a great big tub of liquid around the world. It’ll be funny if I make it wavy. So really big waves tip boats upside down. Then, I’ll put a bunch of creatures from big Whales to tiny plankton and everything in between… It’ll be so much fun.
Hey, check out this one I made mum… It’s a sea horse - funky hey? Oh wait, what did I stand on? Let’s call that one a jelly fish!
Also the power of the sea is amazing. Just the energy of the waves. The power in it. Then there’s a relationship between the person entering the water and the sea itself. It’s just a bit risky and exciting. You never know what’s going to happen. And then little bits of sea water, fly on everyone. It’s just an amazing sensory experience. Wow.
It was crazy to think of me just walking around now. I was like 10 or 11 and walking up and down without a care in the world. I’ll relay some funny beach stories some day. Recently, I’ve noticed that lots of my writing is nostalgic. I hope this is not a sign that I need to wear a gold chain, buy a Ferrari, and get a spinning circle water bed and a mirror. Think I’ll be okay - as long as I keep walking - that’ll keep me grounded, reverential to the power of the waves and seas, and remind me that gold chains, my burgeoning rap career, and bitches don’t cause happiness.Give me the rain, sea, and rough elements of nature, and that’s where I’ll be super happy. Every Monday. Walking at the sea.
Do you have a ritual? Love to hear about it?
DB
I love the sea. It's so inspiring and powerful. And choppy! Some may call them small pleasures, I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time :-) Enjoy the walk ... and totally agree on cruise ships. So many people love cruise ships, I should write about that. Thanks for the inspiration.
So inspiring, Brendan. I too love the sea, the cool weather, and the empty paths in winter. What a joy it is walking along the water, listening to the sound of the waves, dipping my feet in, or looking at the sea from the promenade. I have lived near the sea for most of my life, on different continents, always seeking the water (I suppose it is not surprising as I am a Cancerian), always calmed and restored by it. A few years ago my husband and I went on a cruise. I hated being cooped up in that ship, and would never go on another cruise for many reasons, but I loved being on deck looking at the vast expanse of ocean all around me. I shall walk your route today...It is one delight they have not taken away from me yet.
Beautiful! I used to walk here too, my favourite area was definitely Mentone! I'd walk to Conscious Cravings at Mordialloc and get coffee and snickers slice then walk back listening to disco and funk music. Ahh lockdown was the best! Seems like a million years ago but it was last year.
I do love stories about walking in Melbourne by the bay... (what's left of it). I used to go to the Port Melbourne beach during the day... or the bit that's a little bit closer to South Melbourne but not as far as the popular bit where the kids playground is.... This was about 12 years ago mind you, it's probably busy nowadays but at that time I would go down during a weekday... if I went in the morning, nobody there... always tranquil, never ceased to amaze me... how good is walking...