That’s the best thing about walking, the journey itself. It doesn’t matter much whether you get where you’re going or not. You’ll get there anyway. Every good hike brings you eventually back home. – Edward Abbey
The above has been said a million different ways but the message is always clear. The meaning is a mantra for me and explaining that to other people has always been a challenge for me. I think that’s why I usually shoot alone. I have no idea how to explain to those around me why I took a left or a right or stopped for 45 minutes at a patch of moss a 100 yards into 5 km hike. The finished photograph is the only way I can make them understand but that comes long after the question.
As an example I have hiked the Cape Split trail 6 or 7 times in the last couple of summers. I’ve made it to to end twice. The rest of the time I’ve run out of time or daylight. Never have I been disappointed in that. In fact, the best outing I ever had in that area was a hike where I didn’t even get half way.
The photograph above is a great example of this. The goal was to get to Brier Island to spend the long weekend shooting and whale watching. Along the way I passed a sign on Long Island for Balancing Rock. I knew about this vaguely but sort of considered it a tourist trap. On a whim I made a left and pulled into the trail parking lot. Detour #1. The hike to the destination, Balancing Rock, is only about 20 minutes or so but 10 minutes into the hike I got distracted by a path to the right. Detour #2. Five minutes of walking led me to this photograph and an hour and a half of shooting tree branches and clover. I did finally make it to Balancing Rock and ultimately Brier Island but that hour and a half was one of the highlights of the weekend.
For the record, the end of the trail and Balancing Rock were really nice and I came away with great images from there as well. More info here.