Tuesday 20 April 2021

It's Superglue, Don't You Know?

Hello Friends!

Thank you to all of you in our lovely online community who made the time for me, who read and then to share your kind and generous words and thoughts of support after my last post, especially to the many of you who unexpectedly contacted me privately.  It seems I voiced the fears and concerns shared by so many of us, and remember we are not alone. Together we can get through this. To those of you who said this helped, then it has made my effort very worth the while. 

I must add a caveat.  If you think you need professional help, seek it. Ask. Phone someone, anyone, talk it out, or call your GP or the Samaritans.  Don't suffer in silence.

I am continuing to rebuild my strength for walking, but am starting to wonder if I will ever make it out on to my beloved coast path again, for it is so hard on my knees and back. I am not complaining, I am, for once in my life, being sensible and looking after myself.  It's not so much the up and down, but the rocky rough patches, the loose stones, and the uneven stretches that give me cause for concern. Distracted by a view, a flower, or a bird, it's oh! so easy to turn your ankle, or slip on a stone you didn't see. As we get older, simple injuries seem to be easier to come by, and take oh! so much longer to heal.  I know that the paths are very different from the last time I traversed them. Bits have fallen off into the sea, and general errosion from countless pairs of feet pounding along has taken it's toll on some sections.  A bit like me!  Time will tell.  I promise I will not do anything rash and will proceed cautiously. 

The stretch of path where this was taken no longer exists.  It has slid into the sea for eternity to be but a memory.

It's been over five years since I did any serious coast path hiking.  I did get out on a short stretch in 2019, which I documented here, and paid the price, for the very next day I woke up with a bad back, angry and aggravated from the uneaven and stony ground I'd traversed.  The pain lasted a week. Why, in one spot the access had become so erroded I found no visible track and I had to slither down on my bottom! Most undignified, and I hope no one saw me.  This is why I say the path will be different from what I remember it was.

I found myself typing a version of this, the other day:

I love where I live, and where I live is the glue that holds me together.

or, as my lovely Twitter friend Kim replied to it when I shared my words with some photos on Twitter, "that's what I call super glue!" and it's the title of this blog, so Thank You, Kim! 

I have been looking through old photos, there's so many happy memories of days out and about, and until such time as I can get properly out and about again, here are a few of my favourites.

Gorse in full bloom

Gorse looking along the Coast Path

Coast Path view

A lovely day for a hike or a sail along the bay

A bucolic landscape

A welcome spot to rest a while

An early sea fog begins to settle along distant islandss

A golden glow as the sun sets to the west

Across the fields

Meadow, sea, and sky

One of my favourite seats to take a spell

and the view from that seat {fantastic vantage point}

Thrift with barbed wire

The setting sun at close of day

And here are a few taken this week.  The weather, although chilly, is dry and gloriously sunny.  I can live with that, especially as I'm not a fan of the heat anyway.  I'm not going far, still doing baby steps, but going further each time I feel I can add some more in.  I met a lovely couple, we stopped for a socially distanced chat, they told me where they were heading.  They've a long day on the coast path hiking in front of them, about nine miles.  Should take about five hours if they don't stop, but it all really depends on how much time you spend taking in the majesty and splendor of the views.  Oh, to do that again.







Until next time
Stay Safe, Stay Well

10 comments:

  1. Indeed, the beauty around us here in Wales has for us too been the glue holding us together this past year. I would love to walk some of the coast path but we're now too far inland really - 2 hours from good seaside at Borth and Pembs even further of course. If the coast path walk you did upset your back so much, perhaps it is out of kilter? I have regularly (perhaps every 18 mths or so) had to attend my Chiro when my hip comes out of true which impacts on back, knee, ankle etc. If you want a good Chiro, Peter Jarvis in Carmarthen is brilliant. He has practice offices in Blaenporth, Cardigan too and Pembroke. It would be lovely to read you were able to walk some of the coast path without pain afterwards.

    I need to try and get fitter to do some of the fabulous walks along the hills here, but have only had my slow daily walk with my husband in the park this past couple of weeks as our daughter was poorly after her Covid jab.

    It's been a while since we had a good walk where you live (my birthday, probably 5 or 6 years back now). Looking forward to seeing more photos. Enjoy your walks - this weather is just perfect for walking.

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    1. Thank you, Bovey Belle. Yes, I do need to see my chiropractor, in Fishguard, but without a car right now I am stuck. I do have arthritis too. Lockdown has impacted on fitness for so many of us. I'm sorry your daughter had a bad reaction. Yes, the weather is perfect for walking, and also for gardening. Sadly, I can't do both together. I hope you get out to walk those beautiful hills soon.

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  2. Wonderful photos Deb, you live in such a beautiful place. I can imagine how much you long to walk those paths again, but get strong first! This past time has been a nightmare for many of us, and we can only hope and pray that life will get back to normal sooner or later. Hugs, Valerie

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    1. Thank you, Valerie. Yesterday I had a few socially distanced chats with people along the way, and while it felt good to do so, that over riding thought of social distancing is omni present. Hugs!

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  3. You are one lucky gal to have such views so close to your cottage, dear Deb! I'm so glad to hear you are taking baby steps returning to your walks. As I am getting older (God willing) I am cutting back on daily activities that used to be a breeze for me. My pride is bruised by this realization, but necessary. I always LOVE seeing your beautiful photos of your lovely coastline. Take care, my friend. xoxo

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    1. Thank you, my friend. No, old age doesn't come alone, does it? We must keep pushing ourselves indeed! Have a lovely week xoxo

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  4. Another beautiful and moving post and the photos are lovely. I am so glad you have ventured out and taken the first steps towards getting fit and being able to take longer walks. You live in such a beautiful part of the country.

    I can sympathise re: uneven and stoney paths especially if on a slope. These days with my wonky knees I feel so unsteady and even started to wonder if I needed a stick!

    Take care my friend.

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    1. Thank you, my friend, yes, I've been thinking about a stick too. One solution is a pair of hiking poles. That way we wouldn't look like old crocks as all and sundry use them. Why, we could even pretend to be speed walkers. My cousin carried a folding stick, saying if she felt herself falling she could unfold it. We tried to explain by the time she'd unfolded it she'd be on the ground, but she wouldn't have any of it.
      Stay safe and stay well.

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  5. No wonder you love where you live -- it is beautiful. Each photo is a magical world and it -- and your words -- take me there. Yes, we take the steps we can take, baby or big -- and find our way, day by day and step by step. I hope you'll get to hike your coastal path, at least be at this beautiful spot. Things take time. It sounds like you have a good handle on things, though, and that makes a world of difference.

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    1. Thank you, Jeanie. The improving weather helps no end too. At the moment though, it's garden, garden, garden!

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