I like to have covered as much of the "lie of the land" around my location as is accessible and reasonably possible, and I do so by any means: walking, running, cycling, driving, swimming, consulting printed or electronic maps. Note carefully that for me the "world" consists places and things as well as people. I find people so hard to explore: like flies they move away before one has a chance to get a good look at them.
Some places have become special to me doubtless because of associations - but I wonder if some places are absolutely special? One of my special places is the cliff walk running west from Lea Abbey. The first and only time I walked this, back in college days, the experience was so strong that I can only describe it as ecstastic and euphoric. I wonder if these feelings would repeat if I retraced my steps?
