Our afternoon walks have a different feel

Flossie and I have recently added a second walk to our routine, in the afternoon. 

It’s more for me than Flossie. She’s perfectly content with our long morning walk and would happily snooze for the rest of the day. But I don’t want to sit at my desk all afternoon so now we venture out for more fresh air and a leg-stretch.

Flossie’s up for it, of course. 

Now the days are shorter, we aim to go while it’s still light. Neither of us enjoys stumbling around in the dark. You never know what’s lurking underfoot, especially with all those sneaky autumn leaves hiding who-knows-what underneath.

Our afternoon walks aren’t long – just enough to shake off the post-lunch slump (for me) and ensure Flossie gets a few more sniffs of the world before settling in for the evening.

But we’ve found they have a different sort of etiquette, or so it seems to me. They feel quite different to walks earlier in the day.

Mornings are all about bright “good mornings” and friendly chats. Everyone seems fresh-faced and ready for the day, eager to exchange news or comment on the weather.

Saying “good afternoon” feels oddly formal, almost pompous. I’ve tried a simple “hello” but it doesn’t feel as natural as a morning greeting. 

There are some familiar faces who we chat to, of course, but generally, people seem a bit jaded and distracted. Maybe they’re focused on getting things done before the light fades, so my cheerful greetings are often met with polite, fleeting, smiles. Sometimes, there’s even a glimmer of puzzlement.

It could be that we’re still new to the afternoon-walking scene. It took a while for us to get to know the regular morning crowd.

But Flossie has a talent for making herself known to complete strangers. I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before we’re waving and exchanging weather banter with the afternoon people.

As published in the Bath Chronicle, 28 November 2024