Growing older is of course a universal experience in spite of efforts to delay the process, but as an oldie, there is an oddly rewarding aspect to old age. The crumbly, wrinkly health aspect may not be rewarding, but the gradual escape from a world of worthless chatter and pointless activity does have its rewards.
Lugging loads of gear to the beach for example, I’d count that as pointless activity.
The other day found us walking behind an oldish chap lugging a load of paraphernalia to the beach. Two folding chairs in green bags, one slung on each shoulder, a bulging bag in one hand and a rolled up parasol in the other.
Modern times I suppose, people do take an amazing amount of gear to the beach.
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As oldies we use our small camper/day van. Find a nice spot with a view, open the large side door then sit in comfort with a cup of tea and admire said view. If we leave the van I carry a phone (for emergencies), a debit card and a £20 note. Add the van key and that's more than enough extra weight!
We took the granddaughter to a 'Fantasy Farm' event the other day and I noted a few trollies containing 'young child stuff' being pulled around by parents or possibly carers.
I felt smug until I realised that I had taken a bottle of water and some wipes... when did we start believing that we needed to create a safe environment in the 'outdoors'?
Beaches vs Picnics - do you like sand in your sandwiches or prefer wasps?
Mind you, I do love walking ankle deep in the briny along a pebble beach. Very heaven.
Woodsy - I like the sound of that, and if it rains you can sit in the van and brew up.
DJ - we see a number of those trollies being pulled to and from the beach, it seems to be a growing trend.
dearieme - Mrs H and I are keen on walking ankle deep in the briny, but we haven't indulged this year. We're not keen on pebbles though, it has to be sand.
You mean he didn't get his wife to carry any of it?
For once, I beg to disagree; folding chairs and a beach umbrella sound like necessary equipment to deal with the toll advancing years have taken on my knees and tolerance for sun.
Woodsy’s camper van is effectively a mobile beach hut, which sounds like a very attractive prospect (good point of yours about the rain, during which someone must always utter the traditional “Just a clearing-up shower!”)
Bucko - she seemed to be carrying enough personal weight already, plus her handbag of course.
Macheath - yoga can be quite good for knees, doesn't cure anything but can restrain the stiffness to some extent. We've gone the other way with beaches, we handle the advancing years by not sitting on the beach at all. At low tide we'll sometimes go for an ankle-deep paddle to the far end where all we have to carry are our sandals.
Our knees would probably be okay for sitting on the beach, but if we aren't paddling, we avoid knee and sun problems altogether by taking our Kindles to a shady park bench.
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