To PaCMan is to Pedestrian and Cycle Manitou. Perhaps no one in our community does just that—walking that is—more than Craig Burbank. A prior local, Craig returned to Manitou in 2017 after having lived here previously for 8 years, drawn to the close proximity of trails.
Now retired, Craig chose to live carless back in 1993. Why? Craig decided it was an economical decision more than anything. Not to mention, he has always been a minimalist, often putting off buying new technology until it is tried and true. Craig asserts the independence offers him more freedom to move about. Freedom to do what he wants, to take shortcuts, and perhaps linger just long enough to admire the blue sky and landscape around him.
Focused the last three years on ultra-walking, Craig has become an expert at logging and calculating the most efficient routes to faraway places such as Pikes Peak, Woodland Park and beyond. Closer to home, Craig regularly visits grocery stores and Costco on foot and frequently uses mass transit to complete the final leg or many times, hikes several pounds worth of groceries home.
Craig admits walking errands does take some planning and extra time to complete. However, he asserts that the health benefits include improved immunity, sweating unwanted toxins, feeling fit at 66, and having a healthy way to cope with the difficulties of getting through a pandemic. He also feels good about the benefits of living greener and reducing one’s carbon footprint.
Craig encourages others to give walking as transportation a try. His advice? Start out small, be prepared for weather changes, and anticipate what drivers may do cautioning to look both ways before crossing at intersections and to walk against traffic. He realizes not everyone feels comfortable walking around vehicular traffic. However, asserts that done often enough, one can gain confidence over time. Craig challenges himself to never stop learning and challenges you to do the same, by trying something new. If you happen to see Craig during one of your outings or perhaps getting a bite to eat at one of his favorite cafes, such as The Mate Factor or The Loop where you can find his favorite salsa, please give him a friendly shout-out or hello!