A few weeks ago, I ended up meeting a friend who lives locally at 3.30 am for a midnight stroll. I was up as I had been out with friends and knew that there was no way I would be falling asleep anytime soon so when I received a message saying that said friend would be going for a walk, I jumped at the opportunity.
I was intrigued as to why he wanted to go for a walk at 3 in the morning… what was keeping him awake? Weirdo! To some extent I even felt that this was my quirky thing and that he was stealing my thunder… obviously, I’m aware that if I enjoy midnight strolls through the city I’m also probably not the only one.
I’ve organised walks in dark woods for people who have never done so to experience nightfall in unfamiliar situations, but I’d never been for a walk with someone who actually enjoyed walking at night. So I set off on an adventure towards Primrose Hill, unsure how the experience of walking with company differes to walking on one’s lonesome…
… the conclusion….
The walk itself lasted several hours and I swiftly fell asleep around 7am once safely indoors, so the walk was successful in that respect. However, I realised how little one pays attention to one’s surroundings when accompanied on a walk. I was walking without really thinking where I was going. I wasn’t paying attention to all the details, the architecture, the sounds, flora or fauna. Was I safe? Was there someone behind me? Safety in numbers, didn’t allow for feelings of discomfort often associated with night time strolls. There was no fear of the unknown in this situation. I knew where I was going, who I was going with and that I was safe knowing that I had company. There was no room for Burke’s theory of subliminal fears triggured by darkness and the inability to see one’s surroundings.
In the few weeks since, I have found myself repeatedly thinking about Primrose hill at night… so much so that I decided I would have to return on my own. Which I did. Yesterday evening. With a tripod, sketchbook and materials. Its clearly been a while since I did this as I wasn’t wearing enough layers. Consequently, I took some photographs that I’m rather pleased with but gave up after one drawing of the cityscape… My toes were numb and my hands felt like blocks of ice despite the fact that I was wearing gloves.
That, and there were too many people around.
How is one supposed to think about feelings of discomfort and night time when there are runners huffing and puffing left right and center? I feel that another trip is needed, this time in the early hours of the morning to avoid congestion on the paths.
