Audrey Randall loves to walk. Sidewalks, trails through the bush; you name it, she’s walked it.
“The things we’ve seen are rather neat, you know,” Randall said. “We’ve done some of the [hikes] on the channel area, and there’s been time that’s like, ‘oh, look at the whales!’”
One of the things Randall loves most about walking is the connection with nature, both the flora and the fauna.
“You don’t think about [seeing] so many colours out in the bush,” Randall said. “Here, there’s so much green around, too, that I think it’s so much more calming.”
Many times, Randall would have to readjust her walking route around Kitimat to avoid bears.
“There used to be a lot more bears. And then you’d see the bear and go, okay, well you’re over there so I’m going over here.”
Despite the bears, Randall said she loves how walkable Kitimat is and the social environment it creates.
“I don’t think our sidewalks are ever empty…you can go morning, noon, or night, it doesn’t matter. People are out and walking,” Randall said. “And you get used to some of your regulars. Either the dog’s familiar or the person is!”
And Randall doesn’t just stick to walking in Kitimat. She’s walked in Scotland, England, France, and Belgium just to name a few places.
“To walk on Roman roads and bridges and places that they were…and castles, I mean, they are very very fascinating.”
Randall backpacked and stayed in bed and breakfasts everywhere she went, usually travelling with a friend or two. They’d explore all the hidden gems of the different towns they visited and always try new or local things, no matter how silly they may have seemed.
“We would try everything,” Randall said. “I always thought, nobody’s going to know I’m making a fool of myself, it doesn’t matter. So just sort of like, why not?”
Along with walking, Randall and her travel partners often took the bus, as it was an easy way to travel from town to town, country to country, and see all the sights along the way. Randall also wasn’t afraid of talking to locals to ask for directions or bus schedules when they were lost — which, she said, they often were.
“I never felt scared going out at all by myself or anything,” Randall said. “People would help you if you asked or looked like you were in need.”
Randall said the locals were always lovely and helpful, and she learned a lot by just asking questions and saying yes to experiences. One of her most memorable experiences was at a restaurant in Bali, where they had to learn how to properly order at a restaurant.
“We travelled to various places and that, and seen lots of neat things, and had some different experiences. Like we went out for a dinner one time and we’re right on the ocean so obviously a lot of seafood. But you go in and they have prawns and stuff and you just said how many you wanted and then they weighed it by grams and that’s what you paid for and they just plucked it out,” Randall said. “And then this other time they had fish in these big containers, and the guy says, ‘Well, what fish do you want?’ And I said, ‘Oh, I’ll take that one,’ and pointed at one. So they just scooped it out and that’s what I was served.”
Randall said some of her best memories came from these random local experiences, whether it was trying the local food, visiting the art galleries and museums, or learning more about the history of the location.
And being able to walk the different towns and trails and sites made it even more enjoyable for Randall, as she got to take her time and fully immerse herself in the local flora, fauna, and history.
Now, in Kitimat, Randall still walks everywhere and often just walks for the sake of walking, not with any particular destination.
“I always walked a lot, anyway. It’s just something that gives me pleasure,” Randall said. “Hiking was sort of a purpose, but not really. It is such a pleasure, and of course, social.”
But whether it’s England, Scotland, Bali, or Kitimat, Randall said she’s never been disappointed by the experiences she’s had while walking. She’s glad she’s still in good-enough health to do so, and plans to keep walking and expanding upon her experiences going forward.
“It’s amazing what you can see and do just walking around.”
clare.rayment@northernsentinel.com
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