Thursday 4th February. 5 Miles. Longridge.
Halfway up the steep Birk’s Brow lane I stopped for a breath; there was little to see in the murk, my mind had switched off a mile back, I was not even sure why I was there. Had I come to my Covid lockdown impasse? Had the repetition and boredom caught up with me? Was there a way out from this pandemic? I was taken aback by this negativity that had suddenly descended upon me. Was my hope fading? I had imagined I’d been coping well with all the setbacks and heartaches of the last year but was this the reckoning I had to face? Too many questions for which I couldn’t find an answer. I moved on in a cloud of my own making.
Birk’s Brow.
I have mentioned in several posts the poems written on old slates that have appeared around Longridge during these troubled times. Uplifting themes and thoughts for us all to share. I often wondered who was the artist of these calligraphic verses. Well around the corner a lady pulled up in her car and proceeded to pick up the cracked slate there. “Do you know ?… are you the person ?…” I’d stumbled on the originator of all these slate poems. She had started with one and then been encouraged to do more with friends recommending poems. I was overjoyed to speak to the lady.
My day was saved, and I walked on through Longridge with a spring in my step.
*****
Chance encounters are only one example of the several benefits of walking. Everybody has a story to tell. and it is worth encouraging conversation thus digging out those stories and also perhaps valuable local information about your onward journey (those last two words always remind me of leaving your aeroplane on arrival – the announcement always says something about good wishes for your “onward journey.) Let’s hope all our onward journeys become more fulfilling some time soon. At least we may have some better weather to look forward to.
Pre walk mood 3/10.
Post walk mood 7/10
[That is not a psychiatric verified scale]
A quirk of fate that you managed to meet the mystery writer of the slate poems, i’m glad it put you in a happier frame of mind 🙂
The origin of those slates had been bothering me for months. The lady deserves a medal.
I think I’ve reached that point too and am sorely tempted to drive out for change of scene, if only a couple of miles. Glad you solved the mystery of the poet, and that you retained her anonymity with a tantalising back-shot.
Her anonymity is safe with me.
Yes I succumbed to a short drive today, very local and the walk was longer than the drive.
Not my best side!! 😂
Thought it best to keep you anonymous.
Surprised you found my blog.
Thanks! Forwarded by a neighbour’s son , in South Wales, who follows your blog!
Wheels within wheels.