Cough Walk

I set off in the afternoon sunshine for short walk. It turned out to my least enjoyable walk of 2021.

I chose what is normally a quiet route and found it to be busier than usual. I was OK with that until I came to a narrow part of the pathway where a young man plowed on rather than waiting to one side so that we didn’t pass by each other on the narrow part of the pathway.

He was half wearing a face mask, I turned my head away so as not to breath on him as he passed by. As he reached me he coughed in my face and I was surrounded by what looked like smoke from a cigarette. That would be disgusting at the best of times, but especially now.

If it was just unfortunate timing, there was no apology.

I didn’t really enjoy the rest of my circular walk back home.

10 Comments CherryPie on Jan 18th 2021

10 Responses to “An Unpleasant Incident”

  1. Smokers breathing up your nose is disgusting at the best of times, agreed :(
    But the young man you passed was even less sensitive than most young men.

    • CherryPie says:

      This really wasn’t about the smoking it was about keeping a respectable distance with regards to Covid-19.

      There was no need for him to step on the path, he could see me coming from the wide open space from where he approached.

      If I was in his place I would have waited (as do many others) until walkers and cyclist have cleared that narrow part of the pathway.

      As to the coughing in my face. I am not sure if it was an unfortunate accident or a deliberate act on his part!

  2. lisl says:

    Sorry to read this, Cherie. I must admit on most walks I find one or two people who are completely unaware of social distancing, but have never had such an episode as this. My worst was two joggers so fixated on themselves that they drove me out into a main road

    • CherryPie says:

      I have had problems with joggers and cyclists on my walks (mostly during the first lockdown).

      I won’t be walking this particular pathway again for a while.

  3. So sorry to hear of your horrible experience. Most unpleasant. So many people seem to have no idea of social distancing.

    • CherryPie says:

      The social distancing issue became more prevalent after the first lockdown was eased and masks were required.

      As I was wearing a mask I couldn’t give them my ‘Paddington Bear’ stare which would have resulted in them retreating to a respectable distance :-)

  4. This is public offence.
    Do you still remember his face?
    You should report this incident to local authorities.

    • CherryPie says:

      It was an offence. I am fairly sure that his actions were, stupid youngster (funny prank), malicious or at the best disrespectful.

      But I can’t really report it because his face was half covered as he approached the path. I only remember his eyes and nose as he turned onto the pathway.

      A sensible person would not of stepped onto the path and waited for me and the person walking behind me to exit the pathway before they stepped onto it.

      As mentioned in my post, I walked past him, I turned my face away so that I was not breathing on him.

  5. ....peter:) says:

    i love your path through the woods Cherie… it is an invitation to walk into the screen ao see what id around the corner….peter:)