Some thoughts at a difficult time

Part of the reason that Rhian and I started this blog is that we were thwarted in our next walking holiday. In the greater scheme of things this is a trivial loss, the path will still be there waiting for us when all of this is over and heaven knows, people are dealing with far worse.

But these are hard times and one of the hardest things is that we don't know what will happen next. We want an answer, we want to know that we are on the right track and no one can give that assurance at the moment, just their best guess.

Last year, on out last day of walking we went from Aberdyfi to Machynlleth . It was a long walk on a hot day and the last part was a slow drag up through a forest, for miles. Because of the trees it was dark and there wasn't a breath of air, nothing to relieve the heat. We walked on and on. All that we had were each other and some directions in a guide book. We didn't know for sure that we were on the right path and we were terrified that we had missed the turning. But we trusted in each other and reached the top and came down the other side, and oh, what a view we had. The world opened out and we could see for miles. We could see where we would be walking next.

Tired and more than a little emotional we walked down the other side of the hill, chatted to other people and came to the bridge over the river at while point Rhian's son, Sam, was driving across the bridge. The coincidence was unbelievable but it happened, and after all that long hard slog hugs were shared and love exchanged.

And that's how this is now for us. We are in the forest, scared and unsure but the crest of the hill is on the other side. Once we get there we will find the love that we crave, with the people we value most. All we need to do is to keep on going.

xxx