Wednesday 23 March 2011

Maps are a girls best friend

According to my 13 year old daughter I'm not cool anymore, but at least I'm cooler than her Dad! One of the reasons I'm not cool is my obsessions with maps and hiking. I read maps like other folk read books. They're informative, beautiful works of art that get you from A to B. The ordnance Survey Landranger Series is particular sexy. Crammed with delightful features, it enables you to navigate around the British landscape confidently knowing where there's a country pub to quench your thirst, a viewpoint to satisfy, a picnic spot to rest in, a public convenience for convenience, however for me, its the public rights of way that excite the most.   Oh, the places I've discovered because of my maps. Little isolated coves, dry hidden valleys, dead end lanes to exquisite secret places, spooky ruins hidden from all roads, inland islands, daring tracks down unreasonably steep hills, and I'm still discovering. Maps are my 'comfort blanket', I feel naked without one in my bag. I read them in bed.  Right I'll stop there. I'm aware most people don't share my obsessions. However if you do ..... !