On a nature walk with children - it this a surprise?

Hug, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Rapids in river Vantaa, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

River Vantaa, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Stony, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Today we went for a walk along the river Vantaa at the Pitkäkoski rapids. While there, a middle-aged woman stopped by us and commented: "It is so great to see children out in the nature walking and playing." I was a bit at a loss of words, saying something like "Well, it is very nice." For us there is nothing strange about this, we go out for a walk daily. But I guess it is not so for everyone.

Thinking about this, I remembered a bit similar comment from a walk to the triple lakes. There was a place for making an open fire, and a bit older couple was there before us. When we had eaten our provision, the lady asked me: "How does your youngest have enough strength to walk all the way here?" I answered that it is not problem, she has energy enough for this and more. And so it is - provided that there is enough new things on the way to explore, she can walk for hours.

But is this not so with all children? At least I remember that we were walking, running, riding the bike all the time out there in the nature. But perhaps it is different nowadays - you need to have hobbies, not just go out for a walk in the nature. And the parents acts as chauffeurs to their children, taking them from one place of doing stuff to another place of doing stuff. That seems somehow artificial to me.

Returning to photograhy, these are photos from today, from our walk along the river Vantaa which acts as a border between the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa.