Growing up in a suburban neighborhood, I often enjoyed walking after dark on summer nights. Sidewalks, streetlights, and cool night air made it an enjoyable way to have fresh air, exercise, and quiet reflection. I’ve always tended to be more active in the night hours anyhow.
Now I find myself living in a more rural, woodlandy place, on a winding country road. I miss my midnight rambling - and I could really use the exercise. There are no streetlights here, nor sidewalks. A stroll around the ‘block’ is about a four mile hike. Is there any way I can recapture the pleasure of night walks? I’ve taken a flashlight down to the mailbox at night and it’s dark as sin out there, except for that one wavery yellow blotch that only makes the rest of everything seem blacker. In the daytime it’s too damned hot and bright; not a pleasant walk but wearisome labor.
Is there a sensible way to walk at night that wouldn’t make random neighbors think I looked like I was up to something nefarious?
Sure you can. First of all, go out and sit down for about 15-20 minutes with no light at all. There is a great effect called dark adaptation where suddenly, after a while, it seems as though somebody had uped the light level. You’ll be amazed at how much you can see. Another way to get ready for this is to get a set of red goggles and wear them for about an hour before you go out.
If the sky is clear, just the starlight will make it possible to see rather well, as all amateur astronomers know.
Another thing to do is get a headlight from any sports store. Backbackers and mountain climbers use these all the time. The new LED ones are quite bright and the battery lasts for a long time.
If you use the light, however, your eyes will never adapt to the dark, which is too bad in a way, as that’s very cool when you realize how much you can see in what is not really total darkness.
You can walk all you want in most places without any eyebrows being raised (a dog settles the matter firmly in people’s minds BTW). I grew up in a rural area and now live on a street that is semi-suburban but colonial in origin with no lights or sidewalks. You main concern is for your own safety. People constantly walk up and down our street for fun but I will not let my wife take either of our small daughters walking on it at night without me present. Cars fly by and there is often nowhere to go and you can’t always see two coming in opposite directions. I have almost hit early morning joggers myself. A reflective jogging vest doesn’t cost much and you will definitely be seen plus people will know you are walking for fun and exercise. I recommend at least bringing a good strong flashlight too because some drivers are drunk, elderly, or generally oblivious but even they will notice a flashlight waved straight at them.
I think I wanted a dog just so people would know why I was out wandering around the streets and woods, not only in the day, but at night. Or so they’d just ignore me. I enjoy an evening walk myself, and the dog doesn’t seem to mind. Easier to skywatch, too.
I live in a hilly semi-rural area where there are no sidewalks and it gets fairly dark. I have an old aluminum broom handle that I put several rings of orange reflective tape around that I use as a walking stick. I also carry a flashlight. However, I walk in the dark until I hear a car approaching. If it is flat land and I have space to get off the road, I just make sure that my walking stick is in the hand that is facing the car. If I don’t have room to get off the road, I turn on the flashlight and swing it up and down. If it is hilly, I lift my walking stick up higher and swing the flashlight. It may look a little stupid, but I am not too fond of getting hit and I love taking night walks.
I’ve also gone out walking at night without a flashlight. Once it backfired though; in a dark spot I mistook a man for a deer walking towards me and I proceeded to run behind a mailbox.
I love walking at night, especially during the summer. Usually I can get by with just carrying a flashlight and only turning it on when I see a car. The suggestions about getting your eyes used to the dark are good. When I’ve lived in rural areas, I did a lot more walking than I do now, and I don’t think anyone ever thought of me as suspicious.
On the 21st, to take advantage of the loads of daylight, I walked the 9 miles home from work - it was great (but not really dark).
Both flashlights and headlights are available with red lamps (or red lens covers). While the red light isn’t as illuminating as white light, it does not significantly diminish your night vision.
I’d third Shagnasty’s recommendation. I see no problem walking around at night. I would also add that perhaps you should take a cell phone in case of emergencies, assuming you get decent service.
Thanks for the excellent suggestions! It is heartening to find that I am not (at least in this instance) a weirdo. Today’s errands include finding reflecty tape and looking at those nifty LED lights. Fortunately I am already equipped with a big white dog.
The stars out here are marvelous - you can see the milky way splashed across the sky instead of just the brightest stars or planets. On an evening last week we met a big fat porcupine crossing the road. I’d never seen one before. Fortunately, Miss Greyhound who will be my walking companion has no prey drive whatsoever.
You do realize, don’t you, that now Miss Greyhound will expect the walk to take place at the same time, every night, and will be sure to remind you, every night.
I envy you the stars. I was once an avid amateur astronomer, but gave it up when I moved from my parents’ house in the Hollywood Hills, where we could see a couple dozen bright stars adn other objects, to the West Side where I can see bright planets, if I’m lucky.
My greater fear is that Miss Greyound will be dragging along 6 feet behind me at the end of her leash. It ought to be quite apparent that she takes her naps very seriously - I don’t know how eager she’ll be to go on night time excursions. [/Puppy Hijack]
A snazzy head lamp with LEDs - including a red one - could be had at Dick’s for $15! I skulked around the yard with it tonight - it’s cool! I didn’t even step in anything foul.
Spectre, I left most of my astronomy at girl scout camp, but I can still find orion at least. Most of the roads around here are foresty corridors, and my yard is more of a small clearing than a meadow, so lots of sky is blocked out.
Half a mile down the road though, is the power line easement and some pasture. I am sure it will be a marvelous view!
I enjoy an evening walk myself, and the dog doesn’t seem to mind. Easier to skywatch, too.