You don’t always need to go far or go big to have an adventure.

My favorites are the ones that start with the first step or pedal stroke out my front door.*

Car?

NO!

Leaving it behind is satisfying.  Human power only from the first moment.

There’s plenty to do within walking and biking distance from my little Boston Condo.

I’m fortunate to live in New England. Woods, forest, mountains, beaches, ocean, lakes, rivers, thousands of trail miles.  Here, you’re not far from something worthy I promise.

There’s a wonderful parcel of conservation land between my home and work.  125 miles of trails with several hill peaks rising above the tree tops – Unobstructed 360 views of the city, Boston Harbor, and even mountains in New Hampshire on a clear day. 

The Blue Hills

I drive, park, and run / hike here often.  Usually after work.  Longer efforts on the weekends.

Blue Hills is a meditative place for me.  It’s a mood elevator and mental healer.

“It’s good to be alive!” 

I’ve said this out loud to myself many times on cold, early morning trail runs.

Never say that out loud anywhere else in my regular working life.

These trails and woods are part of my wellness plan.

I’ve driven there.

I’ve biked there.

But, could I just walk there?

7 miles away. 

Yes, this is doable.

Let’s make an overnight too.

Is this legal? 

No.

Does it soothe and reward?

Most definitely.

Then it’s worth the brief breach of the rules.

I load up the backpack with a small, one person tent and some other gear.  Eat a big lunch before I go which lets dinner be some snacks and of course, beer.

There always has to be beer.

A couple adult beverages to round off the sharp edges in my ego so the sunset can flow in.

This late afternoon walk to the Hills is loaded with novelty.  My head is up with eyes wandering everywhere.  It simultaneously feels brand new yet very familiar.

YES!  Because you’re usually encased in your car mulling over a chunk of radio news as you gasoline power yourself to work.  DUH!

I even get relief ducking into a port-a-potty serendipitously perched on the front lawn of a homeowner ambitiously adding on a room above their garage.

Just about 2 hours of urban/suburban hiking and I’m at the edge of the Blue Hills.  I step off the pavement onto dirt paths and into the embrace of the forest. 

Car noise from the roads ease away.

Even though I’ve run these exact trails before, it has new meaning with the accompanying camping gear. 

No loops. No out and backs. No car in the parking lot waiting to whisk me back to the comforts of refrigerated food, comfy couch, and TV zone out.

I’m staying here. 

Though I can’t quite remember, surely this must have been what I felt on my first little kid sleep over.

That thought brings a subtle and innocent smile. 

This is the right thing to do if early 50s me can uncover some magic of 8 year old me.

I like It 🙂

Feeling like the most privileged person in the world sitting and seeing this.

Just a small walk from my house.  Right here.

With the tent up already, I sit and continue to savor the dimming light.  No need to rush back to the car.  I’m staying and that gives the whole sunset more reward.

The lights of Boston Central take over the skyline.  It looks a world away as I gaze at its whole like a gallery painting.

Seems peaceful from this vantage. 

The detailed busyness of noise, movement, cars, people, planes – none of that emerges.

Two beers over the next hour chaperone my thoughts.  Ruminations on life past and future.  Some rearrangement of priorities. It’s good.

None of this would be happening at home.  I’d be boxed up inside on the couch following the familiar routine of eat, lay, TV.  

You know – the basics of human erosion.

Light, local music is the backdrop in the tent while I read a torn out National Geographic article about a fishing village in Greenland turned tourist destination with one magnificent hotel.  

No need to go to the Arctic Circle, plenty of serenity in my neighborhood forest preserve.

It gets chilly and I’m glad.  All sleeping bag & tent zippers pulled tight to seal in the heat.

Snug as a bug in the rug

Sleep comes easy.

5:30am

Part 2. 

My favorite nature show is on tap…

Sunrise.

The start of the day brings much different emotions than the end of it.

At sunset there’s beauty and novelty no doubt, but the day is ending like the fade to black of the last scene of a movie or the final instrumental of a song drifting to silence.

End

Over

Move on.

Sunrise is different. 

Sunrise is a grander show.  Small whispers of light growing stronger – The start of a beaming new day.

Possibility, opportunity – the glass is full again. 

Life is flush with time.

Gathering up the cook kit and camp chair, I rush over to the East side of the hill and set up front row seating for today’s extra early matinee.

COFFEE!

Oh yes, this chilly morning demands it. 8 minutes from order to hot mug in hand.

Headlamp off. The sun illuminates everything now. I’m grateful for it all. So simple. So rewarding.

The rest of this little story plays out just like you expect.

The sun continues to rise. It makes me feel really good inside. Any jaded negativity circles down the drain.

Optimism and hope are topped off in my ego.

I pack up the camping kit and begin the 2 hour trek back home.

Then when I’m about to leave the Hills out the back door, I get one last goodbye.

Yeah this post is a little Instagram-ish, but the lesson is apparent.

Sometimes the best stuff to do is right in front of you.

We like to dream about the far off and brand new. Get creative with what’s going on with your local.

It’ll reward – I promise 🙂

*Further Reading:

Below are a couple links that motivated me for this one. Good, smart stuff and worth checkin’ out…

Alistair Humphrys – bicycled around the world starting and ending from his front door in Yorkshire, England.

He also champions what he calls Micro adventures.  Short, local trips right in your area code.

Read more :https://alastairhumphreys.com/microadventures-3/

For a little more modern philosophy on going deep with what you already have –

Read This: https://www.raptitude.com/2017/12/go-deeper-not-wider/