A
I’m a talker. I am keen on debating, gossiping and teasing when I have people to talk to. Under lockdown, however, I’ve only had my partner, Peter.
We not only lived, worked and travelled together, we mostly socialized together, too. Under the first UK lockdown, our already closeness began to feel uncomfortable. While talking to Peter, I could see his attention drift.
For the first time in our 10 years together, we needed to be alone. I tried to manufacture this by going on walks on my own, but a short walk wasn’t doing the job. I had hiked in remote spaces all over the world but always in a pair or group — for safety reasons. I considered my options and hit upon an idea: the semi-solo hike.
Could we do a circular hike but walk in different directions? This would give us the space and peace of a solo hike — done by a person alone. It felt like a promising way out, and he agreed to give it a try.
We started with a four-mile loop (环路) from Reeth. At the start, we parted ways. At first, I was aware of how close we were, which lessened the appeal. As I gained ground, however, I found myself very much alone. I set my own pace, and I decided to take my time.
I sat on a rock and breathed out. That moment — with the weak sun through the clouds and the breeze blowing — felt extraordinary to me. I was born and raised in London and had never imagined leaving until I met an outdoorsman. Now, my former life as a city girl felt crazy. In remembering what I had gained, I felt the tension leave me. There, in the chilly air, I no longer needed to talk. The semi-solo hike gave us a shared experience with added room to breathe.
I didn’t see Peter on the way but reunited back where we started, both pleased.
The semi-solo hike is admittedly silly in theory, but for me it has been a lifeline. It has given me the gift of time alone and, in a year of constant closeness, the joy of reuniting.
1. What motivated the author to adopt the semi-solo hike?
A. Peter’s disinterest in her words.
B. Her habit of venturing into the wild.
C. The lack of privacy under lockdown.
D. Her desire to engage in outdoor exercise.
2. How does the semi-solo hike work?
A. Their routes coincide sometimes during the hike.
B. They depart in a separate way to different destinations.
C. They hike in each other’s company throughout the journey.
D. They start and return to the same place by a different route.
3. Which of the following can describe the author’s feelings when she sat on a rock?
A. Fearless and refreshed. B. Free and relaxed.
C. Tense and depressed. D. Upset and embarrassed.
4. What message does the author convey with this text?
A. An appropriate distance creates beauty.
B. There are more solutions than difficulties.
C. Access to nature is better than social circles.
D. Hiking helps improve interpersonal relationships.
