To experience a micro-adventure you really do not have to go on the scariest roller coaster. Alistair Humphreys, who describes himself as an adventurer, motivational speaker and author writes about what he calls micro-adventures.

Humphreys describes a micro-adventure as being an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding.

He says that as the world’s population becomes increasingly urbanised, busy, and stuck in front of a screen, micro adventures offer a realistic escape to wilderness, simplicity and the great outdoors, without the need to ski to the South Pole or go live in a cabin in Patagonia.

An obvious appeal of micro adventures is that they make adventure accessible to people who may have very little outdoor experience. Friends and readers of While Waiting for Godot know that my mystery tours with Akari might also be described as a micro-adventure. During a semester break from University, I decided to have a month of wandering around the region. On one mystery tour, we went looking for abandoned places in our region. On another expedition, we visited Moliagul, the place where the Welcome Stranger was pulled out of the ground and Australian history was changed.

Amongst other inspirational bits and pieces, Humphreys provides a calendar of micro-adventures. Check out the web and you will find that followers of the people leading some of these adventures have photographic versions of this calendar. Momentum Planners also provide a planner for creative freelancers.

Personally, I do not think you need to go to a micro-adventuring coach. The key is that you focus on getting out of the house, away from urban living and on making memories. Friends have loved the mystery tours I have taken them on in lieu of a store-bought present. We still laugh about some of the jaunts we have had.

THE Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash; till he had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes of whitewash all over his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms. Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing. It was small wonder, then, that he suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said, “Bother!” and “O blow!” and also “Hang spring-cleaning!” and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat. Something up above was calling him imperiously, and he made for the steep little tunnel which answered in his case to the gravelled carriage-drive owned by animals whose residences are nearer to the sun and air. So he scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged, and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, “Up we go! Up we go!” till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow. (From Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame)

So, if you are up to it, take a lead from Froddo Baggins, Jack Kerouac and Mole and set out on an adventure. You might begin by:

♥ repurposing a calendar and filling it up with imagery of places to go.

♥ getting yourself a travel diary and then using it to record being a tourist in your local region.

♥ posting a photo a day/week/month of an adventure you have had on Instagram or Facebook.

♥ taking a lead from me and create a blog like While Waiting for Godot where you record your adventures.

♥ exploring the 2006 Advent Calendar, Journey of a Heart Advent Calendar, which has mercifully been stored by the Way Back Machine. Clamber through a portal into a fantasy world, travel with donkeys and gypsies and generally escape from urban living.

Ellen Uma Bard lets the Wind Take Her to all sorts of new adventures. She provides a list of 99 Ways to Bring Play into Your Life.

I am looking forward to hearing your plans! As for me! I am thinking maybe I might just escape from country life and go Roof Top Camping in Melbourne.