About dreams to escape and the pain of obligations: the temptation of microadventures

Hiking and running

Author: Steffi

Everyone’s got them: everyday obligations and a routine – your everyday life sorted in a way that makes you feel comfortable.

For me that means, getting up, studying for my part-time degree, going to work, working, going home, studying again, TV, sleeping. Sometimes I’m able to squeeze in food, a shower and 9 to 10 coffees :-). That’s been my routine for the last 4 years. BUT: the end is near, graduation is just weeks away and then I’ll have my life back. You wouldn’t believe how much I’m looking forward to be a free bird again! Well, let’s say I’m moving from a bird cage to an aviary. But eventually working hours will be reduced from 60 to 40. And I’ve got big plans. Eh, well, more micro plans.

Microadventures are pretty big this year, it seems. They are the perfect thing to do, if you can’t go backpacking or on a long distance hike for 6 months but have to ‘stick around’. Microadentures are small things that break up your routine. That could be reading a book in the evening or going for a walk instead of watching TV. Walking, running or cycling home instead of taking the bus. Imagine your workplace is 20 kilometers from your home and you would walk home (that’s about 4-5 hours – unless you live in the Himalayas where there is a bit more elevation). I call that very different from a daily routine.

I want to try wild camping. Sneaking into the park nearby, stay there over night and go to work as usual the next morning. Or going for a hike in the middle of the week, after work. Even staying over night somewhere and going to work from wherever the train took me. It’s summer. School’s out soon. That should be possible…

Are you a routine person? What would be your microadventure?





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17 Responses to About dreams to escape and the pain of obligations: the temptation of microadventures

  1. mike hodgkins says:

    Love your writing. Age 71 still like an adventure, overnight on Kinder Scout, in my survival bag is my preferred local piece of excitement.

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  2. Steffi says:

    This is such a great idea! My balcony is small – i need to measure if i ‘fit in’ :). If i do i need to remember a few extra layers. I guess Australia’s weather is a bit milder that UK’s :).

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  3. Something as simple as taking the sleeping bag out onto the balcony on a summer night with some breeze (to blow away mosquitoes) in a suburban area while everyone is sweltering in their bedrooms – this always seems like a micro adventure because I can’t be sure a burglar won’t try climbing up onto the balcony. But I let that fear go, look at the stars, and enjoy a night of fresh air.

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  4. RoarLoud says:

    My regular microadventures- beaches, bike rides, hikes, geocaching and the occasional hotel stay… check out my blog from Wednesday! http://roarloud.net/2015/05/13/go-on-a-micro-adventure/
    Roar!

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  5. Ellie says:

    Good luck with the microadventure Steffi! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear about it. It’s great fun, but even better when you do it between work days! People will ask if you watched that TV show and then you’ll rememeber you were busy sleeping on a hill somewhere instead.

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  6. dodgysurfer says:

    Now that sounds like a fantastic trip! Looking forward to seeing it.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Steffi says:

    Haha! That’s a great idea!
    I will, definitely. The next big one will be in the alps a few weeks. No camping, though!
    Thanks for your advice.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. dodgysurfer says:

    Well you can always get him to carry the tent! Have fun whatever you do and be sure to update us with your adventures!

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  9. Steffi says:

    I’m not too worried about going somewhere alone. I’ve been hiking for years, I’ve been on hikes on my own – although I always prefer company, it’s more about getting the gear together. Thanks for the link to the tent reviews. I found this one as well and checked 1 person tents. (Not sure I’ll get my boyfriend to camp with me. Or I’ll go on my own when he’s busy.) I’ll check out the reviews. I think it’s a good starting point. Thanks a lot!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. dodgysurfer says:

    http://www.brightonexplorers.org/activities/
    I was a member many years ago but I have several friends who are and one, a recent joiner with little experience is enjoying herself on trips with no worries about being ‘on her own’ since the club is very good for this and provides the security of travelling in a group with many others

    Liked by 1 person

  11. curt edge says:

    Love the post. Just do it. Let the wind take you as a leaf upon the breeze. To me there is nothing better than being in the wild away from noise, and light. Miles away from the closest road. The peace and quiet, a small camp fire, my wife, and a harmonica. Keep following your feet, and may your trail always lead to wonder and amazement.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. dodgysurfer says:

    I’ve just noticed your last post was about Surrey. If you are nearby you could try Brighton Explorers Club. They are a friendly group with a large membership and arrange a lot of trips all over, plenty of them walking and camping, or staying in bunk barns. You could do a lot worse than join in and try a safe group trip to learn. As for tents, umpteen choices there! Look up reviews by Trail magazine. I love my old Vaude tent because it is so easy to erect as it has the poles on the outside of the fly sheet. The whole thing can be laid out in one with the inner and outer fixed together, four corners pegged out, and once you’ve put the poles in goes up in a few minutes and the inside stays dry even if it’s raining.
    If you always camp with a pal you can get a two or preferably three person tent (the manufacturers always spec as if you were sardines in a tin) and split the parts between two rucksacks.

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  13. Steffi says:

    Sounds great!! The spontaneous things are the most exciting ones.
    Unfortunately, I’m completely unexperienced in camping, except one or two vacations as a teenager. The first hurdle is the tent. I don’t have one. And it should be light to be carried on a longer hike… :/

    Liked by 1 person

  14. dodgysurfer says:

    Enjoyed reading. Get your tent and go! I’m thinking I need to get in the camper and have a few days on the Isle of Wight. Went there unplanned last year – I just decided to up and go one day, headed west with Dorset in mind and saw the signs to the ferry on the way. Turned left, got to the port, booked a ticket and phoned a campsite. Arrived late and awoke to find a view over the fields to the sea. Must do that again soon!

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  15. Steffi says:

    Oh wow. This sounds exciting. I can see why. This would have been a long way for you walking around all these bays. Small boats or big boats?
    God, i wanna do wild camping!!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Hi Steffi, We have a micro adventure this weekend
    We need to get from Pagham to Gosport
    Will involve several boats and some wild camping!

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