I'm sorry to say that tonight I will collect my last two toads. Surprisingly, for some reason they are two of the closest to my current address, and yet they are still the last to be spotted (not really sure how that happened!)
In total I have walked (and admittedly driven for Toads 39 & 40) about 50 miles, visiting and collecting photographs of the toads. At almost every one there has been a group of people, all very excited about the them and I believe that they really have achieved some community spirit. Most of the groups are families with kids having their photographs taken with the toads, although I have seen couples, both young and old, out exploring , on bikes or walking with their dogs, and even strange single people (like myself) who appear with camera in hand (and often a map) and try to compose the best picture possible before heading on to the next one. I readily admit that I mainly fell into the last category. The whole concept started out as something of a joke. I had taken some of my first photographs and shown them to my 4 year old niece. She loved Punkphibian and wanted to see more so I agreed to see how many of them I could find and take pictures of them.
In the end I became more excited about tracking down the toads than she did. It became a really nice way of spending an evening. I take my camera with me to work, and once I got back to Hull station would set out to find the next days allotted spots. It was almost a military exercise, with journeys on the train spent with a map sat in front of me, trying to work out how if I turned left at this junction I could then come up on two toads relatively easily and then backtrack to get a third, and if it would be possible to collect six or seven in the evening!
This culminated in yesterday's crop of photographs. I was on my usual train to Manchester when on approaching Leeds we discovered that there had been an incident further up the track. Not being able to get any further, I decided that with remote access for my computer and the ability to work from anywhere, I would head back to Hull. Having been dropped off at the station, and with the weather being so glorious (something of a change) I decided that I could probably spare 45 minutes (which I of course made up over lunch and by working late) and wandered round Hull city centre, collecting those that I had not found before. With the sun shining it was a really nice way to spend some time, when I could let my mind relax and stop thinking about my relationship (or recent lack of one), The Girl (who I admit I still think about an awful lot, but who I understand has moved on with someone new), and work.
Some were quite difficult to find, including the first which is located within "the Deep" an aquarium, or to be precise an submarium, nestled on the banks of the Humber (very sneaky I thought putting it inside a building!), but as the sun continued to shine (even more remarkably) I walked along the banks of the Humber towards the marina, where the last few were situated. Standing looking out over the river, and at the marina filled with tall masts I realised how beautiful Hull can be (yes I know that we have some rough areas and places of municipal greyness, although we also have huge areas of green parks many of them really peaceful and the local Council does do a really good job of keeping flowers planted around the city throughout the year!) and how much I loved the place. It hit home how much my proposed move to Manchester is really going to change things (I know that I can always get in my car or jump on a train and be back but it's not quite the same!)
Unfortunately not everyone has taken to the toads as well as others and there has been vandalism (Punkphibian has had his Mohawk ripped off, and Kasey toad has had something like a fist or foot put through the side of it [ I really can't understand why people would do such a thing…..whilst I accept that they are not everyone's cup of tea, they are still attempting to brighten up what can at times quite a dull, grey city]), but all the comments that I have heard whilst walking around is that people really love the toads.
If you are in Hull or can get there, I would really recommend taking an hour or so to walk the trail. I wouldn't suggest trying to see them all in one walk (impressive if you can do it considering 39 is in Melton and 40 is in Beverley) but a walk around those toads in the city centre take you through some really interesting and beautiful areas, including Queen's Gardens, the riverside, marina and the 'Old Town'.
I hope that you enjoy the toads as much as I have. The only problem is that with the conlcusion of my 'OCD' like search for toads now looming I am quite concerned at to how I fill my evenings? The x-box and television has nothing to compare with the tranquillity and peace that being out walking (with friends, family or on your own) with the sun setting around you! I would welcome any suggestions of walks that I could take (ideally in the area!) :)
PS - please no suggestions of a long one of f a short pier!
PPS - I will put the last photographs up this evening!
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