Walking, talking and looking for our next great story: What daily strolls have taught me

I’m a walker.

My friends know this. My family knows this. My dog (mostly) loves this. And anyone who has known me for any length of time — some readers included! — have probably taken a walk with me.

No matter the temperature, no matter the time, I like to finish every day with a walk. And yes, torrential rain is about the only thing that stops me.

I often joke that my neighbors probably think I really love talking to myself. (My wireless headphones are a must.) But really, that’s my time to clear my head, focus on hopefully just one (or two) things, catch up with a friend or family member, and get some fresh air.

I also find that you notice a lot more on foot, too.

My evening walks lately often include fox and deer sightings. My Golden retriever, Bruce, hasn't yet figured out that these grazing animals aren't just large dogs who want to play, much to his disappointment. And I'm only slightly cursing the deer that insist on trimming my tomato and pepper plants.

(Apologies to my neighbors who heard me yelling out my bedroom window a few weeks ago − I was going to be mighty angry if my ripening tomatoes were gone!)

We're lucky in Delaware that despite not being the most walkable state, we have a lot of walkable spaces. Someone recently told me part of their motivation to move here was the robust parks system both in New Castle County and throughout the state. They're not wrong.

This time of year, as the leaves start to change and the air gets a little crisper, it's the perfect time to explore Delaware on foot. Glasgow Park has a wonderful loop to walk, plus trails that take you into the woods. It's easy to forget just how close Route 40 is when you're tucked back under the forest canopy.

Lum's Pond State Park has plenty of space to spread out, take the dog and enjoy the great outdoors. Watch out for the snakes though. We've seen a few in our time there.

The trails weaving through northern New Castle County also are full of surprises. I'm constantly struck by where those paths pop out of a field or group of trees, leading bikers and pedestrians along Delcastle Golf Club and through Hockessin.

And I'd be severely remiss not to mention one of my all-time favorite places to walk in this state: Rehoboth's boardwalk. As old as I get, I don't think I'll ever tire of the salt air rushing against your face the minute you reach those wooden planks.

As a journalist, that slowing down and taking life on foot is key to really seeing what's happening around you. I covered breaking news here in The First State when I started at Delaware Online/The News Journal back in 2015 and it wasn't often on the way to news that I found my stories − it was walking around, talking to people on the street, or even the (much slower) drive back to the office when I had time to really take things in.

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Sometimes, it meant a longer-than-expected conversation about what the incessant crackle of gunfire in some of Wilmington's communities meant for getting a sound night's sleep. Other times, it meant snapping a quick photo of a flyer taped to a telephone pole with details about a civic association meeting. Occasionally, it involved a kind citizen giving a young reporter a recommendation for where to get the best milkshake ( Dairy Palace , in case you were wondering).

That's the thing about good journalism. It doesn't happen in a newsroom. It happens in the communities, with people like you, who are willing to be brave and share your stories, your concerns, your questions, and your dreams.

As the news director, I do a lot less reporting these days, but I still do a lot of walking and noticing. And for better or worse, my staff usually hears about what I've seen while out and about. Not everything is a story, but it is a part of living in our community − one we all share.

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The next time you're taking a walk and see a story worth sharing, drop us a note.

Or better yet, the next time you're out for a stroll, snap a photo and share it with me at bhorn@delawareonline.com. I'm always looking for places to find our next great story.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Walking, talking and looking for our next great story: What daily strolls have taught me