Now’s the time to rediscover the outdoors

As unlikely as it might seem, some scheduled events are immune to the coronavirus pandemic.

Summer, for instance.

In Ontario this warm but wet May long weekend signals summer is here. (Sorry, Your Majesty, Victoria Day has become synonymous only with “anachronism”.)

In some ways the progress of anti-virus efforts has dovetailed nicely with the unofficial start of the summer season.

Parks and conservation area are now open for hiking and walking, if not camping. Gardeners can visit nurseries and garden. Golf and tennis clubs have been added to the active list.

There is a theme here: Outside is back in play, with social distancing and other regulations still firmly in place.

Other forms of entertainment and relaxation are not so lucky. Another theme in Peterborough and area over the past week has been the official cancellation of many of the most popular crowd-centred events.

Organizers of Musicfest concerts at Del Crary Park, Peterborough’s annual Canada Day fireworks, the massive Havelock Jamboree country music festival and the Westben classical music concert series in Campbellford all announced shutdowns.

Concertgoers won’t be surprised. The message all along has been that large numbers of people won’t be allowed to congregate until at least the fall, maybe longer.

So while many retailers will have limited openings next week, malls are still under lockdown — one more form of urban entertainment that remains off the books.

But there are things to do.

Look back at the options list we started off with and think about establishing a more regular connection with the outdoors this summer.

Strenuous exercise isn’t mandatory. Walking can be fun. Walking in parks and along trails is both fun and rewarding.

If you haven’t had much experience with it, an hour in the sunshine of an open field or shade of a wooded trail will likely turn out to surprisingly pleasant.

Extend the walk a little longer, take something to eat and call it hiking. Who knows, it might become a habit.

That’s one of the potential upsides of the coronavirus disruption a lot of people are talking about, the opportunity to be coerced into a “new normal.”

Getting outside more often, and getting more exercise as a result, is one of the friendly nudges the virus has been applying.

There are fewer cars on the street but more people. Bicycle shops are reporting record sales, especially for children’s bikes, which means parents are likely dusting of unused two-wheelers as well.

Trails run through the city and extend well beyond the city limit to the north, west and south. Get the hang of recreational cycling and it might turn out to be regular transportation around town.

The options of shopping, restaurants and bars are gone. And some of us appear to have maxed out our tolerance for screen time, which is a good thing.

Walking and hiking are options. How many canoes and kayaks are gathering dust basements and garages? The Otonabee River is a relaxing paddle and the entire Trent-Severn Waterway/Kawartha Lakes system is close by.

No need to jump in hard this weekend. Summer has unofficially started but there are months still to go.

And did we mention fall? Crisp clear days and autumn colours will be a great reason to continue a good, new habit. Maybe even a lifestyle.