A later start this morning. Because I was lucky enough to be part of a family dinner last night, I had left resupply to this morning.
Today was half road and half beach walking , with three water crossings.
The beach hiking took me back to 90 mile. It is just as lovely although not as daunting as those first few days with regards to distance. It was still tough going on soft sand.
In some ways, hard slog aside, it is also a little monotonous trudging along the beach and a bit challenging for my brain.
Because I don’t have to concentrate on anything in particular (left foot, right foot) my thoughts wandered all over the place.
More than anything today, I realised how utterly privileged I am to be doing this, to have the time, resources and support. And to be brutally honest, having the luxury of time to sort out my head. There have been times in my life when I could have just gone under. Like many of us, there have been challenges to face.
This hike is an opportunity for me to think about my life and I know how that sounds, believe me! What a bloody indulgence when other people are truly doing it tough. Poor me, right?
This trail IS tough in places. And yep, it it can also be tedious and tiring. I’m alone for most of it. And I’m ok with that. True God I am. I’m rarely lonely but I think hanging out with such a nice family last night has triggered some feelings of being homesick and missing my own family.
Interesting hey, that like always, I bolted as soon as I got a chance, only to find that it’s thoughts of home that now occupy me.
When the day to day white noise and busyness stops, what’s left is, well, what’s left. The bits that make us who we are, stripped back with nothing to hide behind.
This has been a big challenge for me, to rip the bandaid off and shed some of my learned behaviour that doubles as a safety net and remember what makes me tick and what is important to me.
Some people think it takes courage to undertake this hike. I think it requires more courage to spend time in my own head.
It was a long day today, although not a technical hike. I’m glad the wind was down. It would have been a bit miserable to have sand and grit whipping though the air on the exposed beach.
I had lots of time for my thoughts to come and go.
The last water crossing of the day had to be done at low tide. I missed it and decided to wait it out.
All G.
I had nowhere in particular to be and all day to get there.
Speaking of courage... I have none when it comes to chickens. I was sitting on the ground, making lunch, minding my own business and I look up... what the? I’m in the middle of nowhere and here’s this beady eyed bird. I was on my feet in a flash. I’m not scared of much in the bush, but I am terrified of chickens. Always have been. They are evil, want to stalk you and then peck you to death. If there had been a tree nearby, I would have been writing this from its branches.
Pretty view from the top of the beach.
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