Hiking Highs & Lows

This week I had some time off work and in amongst all the lovely plans I was able to include a day just for me & naturally I was aiming to use that time for a longer walk, or a Happy Hike.

I had a vague aim of where I wanted to go but I deliberately kept my plan loose as I was aware that the park was still boggy and therefore there was a chance that the country pathways would be impassable. I decided to head towards the countryside route but just be prepared to turn around if it was too muddy. I was also unsure how far I would get as the weather was not as pleasant as originally forecast but as I tend to dress as if I’m heading out on an arctic expedition that was less of an issue. In fact I was soon reminded of why it’s a good idea to carry a bigger bag then you think you’ll need as inevitably I was soon too hot and had to discard a layer.

When I reached the access point I was pleased to discover that while the path was a little muddy, it was still passable so off I went. This was both a physical and a mental high point as this section is one of the steeper parts of my walk but it was also an emotional high as I was excited to be back here again after a longer than usual absence. I realised this was the first time this year that I’d been able to walk this route as my previous time off had coincided with several storms as well as recovering from a cold. While I had braced myself for the possibility of turning back, I was delighted to be able to charge ahead.

Of course as it had been a while the steep slope took more puffing than usual so I was pleased to reach a bench and pause for some water. Then off I went and discovered that even the vaguest of plans can fall apart. I had naively assumed that now I was on the track everything else would go along as expected however on reaching the top of the brow I saw the farmers hard at work installing new fences. I’m sure I could have asked them if I could scooch round but equally I was just ambling about and there was really no need for me to get in their way so I wandered off in a different direction.

I found a path that I thought would lead me back to my original route, it was a little muddy and slippy but luckily it wasn’t the field full of cows so all seemed to be ok. This was when I reached a low point, again both physically & mentally as at the bottom of the path was a gate with a no access sign. This meant either turning around and going back up the muddy path or trying to cross a very boggy field full of grumpy looking cows. So I decided to retrace my steps & at this point I started to wonder why I was trudging around the countryside on a day off when I could have been curled up in my armchair reading more of the Chronicles of St Mary’s.

I decided to pause for a moment to take a few deep breaths, I turned around and took in the view, listened to the bird chirrups and thought you silly woman what are you moaning about? So what if this isn’t the path you expected to take today, it’s still a lovely view and there is even a hint of sunshine and it certainly beats working! Off I went back up the hill and then off on a different path where I discovered a memorial and said hello to some lovely doggos.

I was thinking I ought to start heading homewards when I found the actual path that would lead to my originally planned endpoint so I decided this was a sign and that I needed to follow it. As if on cue the sun burst out and the wind calmed down. I was back on a high and remembered why I had been excited about walking here again. While it is always jolly to say a cheery hello to fellow walkers, I do love these moments when it feels like I am the only person in the world & that the sun is shining just on me, the sheep and the birds. This patch of countryside was mine and mine alone.

As I kept strolling the surroundings became more familiar and I was soon in the village that I had been aiming for, at this point I could have turned around but I decided to press on a little further to get to Wilf’s bench. I have no idea who Wilf was but I am often grateful to him as his memorial bench is in an ideal spot. Sometimes, like today, it is my end point but sometimes it’s a resting point for a longer walk. Either way I always take advantage of it as it’s a lovely viewing point and as it’s under the trees it also provides shelter from the elements. I was especially pleased to make it to his bench today, given the muliple moments of uncerainly I’d experienced during the journey.

Now it was time to head back and it seemed I had started moving just in time as the winds were picking up again. It was a cold headwind on the walk home and I’ll confess there were even moments when I was telling the wind to jeff off and leave me alone. I think it was at this point that I decided I would need to make a detour and pick up a tasty snack for when I got home as I needed something to spur me on! Although even as I was cursing the wind, I had no regrets, as I knew the day’s hiking highs would eclipse the lows.

That’s how I stroll.