16 Jul 2019

Investigate the backstreets

"If you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists."
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

15 Jul 2019

How many steps do we take?

Health guidelines suggest we walk 10,000 steps a day.
I have always liked walking preferring it wherever possible to public transport as this allows me to explore "off road".
My guided tours average out at just over a mile for every 90 minute walk. But how many steps is that*?
I been doing some calculations. When I am walking on my own I pace it out much faster than when leading a tour. The round trip from my front door in Holloway to my printer just beyond Highbury and Islington station is ust short of 4 miles.
At Jane-speed this journey is 4,500–5,000 steps depending on the route, getting home again in about hour. So, using the larger figure, let's say 1 mile = 1,250 steps = 15mins. This means for me to achieve 10,000 steps a day I need to walk 8 miles for 2 hrs. Minimum.
As I suspected, it's a tall order. Even for me. If you take smaller steps you will hit the target quicker and take less time to do it.
Phew!
*between 1,250 and 1,750 steps depending on your pace length and the walk route.