23rd June Back

 Berducedo to Grandes de Salime. 23km

Having already earned myself the reputation as 'the one from Nottingham who did Hospitales backwards', perhaps it's no surprise today that on a very twisty switch back walk my thoughts have been around the concept of 'back"

Today's later start at just after 7am, a consequence of a hard day for everyone yesterday, meant the sun has risen a little bit more by the time we left Berducedo. Normally the focus is head down and concentrated on moving forward towards the top of the first climb, the initial coffee stop or even destination for the day, but pausing to look back revealed valley after valley filled in a sea of mist and cloud, with the hazy sun bouncing off its surface creating the impression that the surrounding hill tops were islands floating on an ethereal sea. Just beautiful.

Continuing on a switch back path, that dropped over 3,000 feet to the Salime reservoir , my thoughts and memories drifted back to the past and to people I have known who have walked with me at various parts of my life. And those who still do in spirit if not in body. I thought of family, friends, teachers, colleagues, loves, congregation members and the effect that they have had on me, and how I would not be who I am today if I had not known them. 

The turns of the track caused me to reminisce on the turing points in my life, when 'my" plans didn't quite seem to work out. Or at least not at the time. Different routes, crossroads and splitting points appear throughout life, and not always ones of our choosing. Being sacked from a voluntary job in Kolkata after almost 2 years, whilst providing a good talking point on my CV, was not the road I would ever have chosen. 

But if it had not happened then I would not have retrained as a physio, taught in Bangladesh, met Akkel and his family and accidently bumped into Ian and developed a friendship that resulted in a call into the ministry. Sometimes the road we do not wish to travel is the path we actually need to walk.

I also enjoyed an aural trip back, back in time via the collection of songs on what was at one time state of the art iPod shuffle but which in this digital age is definitely state of the art. Walking another day of fabulous trails high above the Salime reservour, descending then reascending valleys and through forests of pine, the sounds of days gone by recorded by Talk Talk, Dire Strairs, Seal, Kate Bush, Oasis and others certainly put a bounce in my step.

Hey I even enjoyed a virtual trip 'back home' as I encountered a couple from Wigan walking the trail, an opportunity for a good old natter about the capital of the  Promised Land.