Romany Hints for Hikers

By Gipsy Petulengro

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473358744

Book preview

TRIPS

I

GENERAL HINTS

THOUSANDS of people to-day who formerly spent their holidays abroad or in some town or sea-side resort in England have taken to hiking and so are seeing the beauties of their own countryside for the first time.

Many people see the beauty spots in this wonderful country only from the windows of express trains, cars or motor-coaches. The views pass in a flash, and there is no time to ask where the place is or what its various objects can be. The scene has gone, and another takes its place. This speed may suit some folk, but there are thousands who prefer to know as much as possible about interesting objects and to linger at specially inviting spots. As a rule this cannot be done when travelling by train or coach or even in a car; one is apt to become so engrossed in watching the driver ‘doing his stuff’—dodging other cars, dogs and pedestrians—that one misses the most interesting views and the historic buildings and churches in the towns and villages through which one passes.

The hiker can stop and stay just as long as he pleases; ask questions about any particular spot, and gain a lot of interesting information which he would probably have missed if he had not travelled on foot.

A few years ago any one walking long distances by choice—excepting the professional tramp—would have been considered insane. Nowadays it is quite common to pass fifty to sixty hikers on the same route, getting the best out of life, seeing things that the others miss; and usually both males and females look the picture of health.

It is particularly for those who have never taken up hiking that I am writing these Romany hints, though I am sure there are hundreds of seasoned hikers too who will find some useful information in them. I call the book ‘Romany Hints for Hikers’, but I include chapters on camping and caravaning, for I feel that many hikers will eventually turn to camping, and from camping to caravaning, and these hints will then be useful.

A person who intends taking up that splendid manly sport of hiking, whether for week-ends only or for long holidays, should learn what is needed for his comfort and how to travel as lightly as possible, getting the maximum of comfort from the minimum of weight.

One great mistake that the average amateur ‘tramp’ makes is to carry a lot of things which are not too useful and to forget those which are necessary. He also spends money on paraphernalia which he sees advertised in catalogues, forgetting that these extras will weigh him down. And so, instead of enjoying his walks, he turns himself into a heavyweight porter. Hence he is soon discouraged and joins the ranks of the disillusioned.

Before anything else the beginner should consider the comfort of the fellows upon whom he relies to carry him along the road—the feet.

Do not be tempted to rush out and buy a nice-looking pair of brogues with which to start your hike. That is all wrong. A new pair of boots or shoes have not that easy bend; the leather at the backs is stiff and hard. Trying to walk with the skin off your heels is one of the most unpleasant things I can imagine. Wear old shoes. There is nothing more comfortable than a worn pair of shoes that have been re-soled with good thick leather and studded with nails. You may be tempted to buy shoes with crêpe rubber soles. My advice is to leave such shoes entirely alone so far as hiking is concerned. On a wet day, on a muddy road, they turn hiking into skating. You can buy a shoe soled with a hard black rubber. This hard rubber is good, and shoes heeled with it are excellent. Many people imagine that light shoes are best for walking. That idea, too, is wrong. The thicker the soles and the heavier the shoes, the better. Nothing is more uncomfortable to a hiker than feeling the little stones on the road pressing through the thin soles of light shoes.

Although many hikers prefer shoes, personally I choose boots to walk in. They give a better support for weak ankles, keep out the wet, and are a protection against thorn-pricks when travelling in lanes where brambles trail on the ground. But I can leave this for the hikers themselves to decide. If shoes are preferred to boots, and