Yesterday evening, after blogging, I was looking again at the Melrose area walking map and I noticed that I could arrive at Dryburgh Abbey by way of the Border Abbeys Way instead of St. Cuthbert’s Way. That route was several kilometers shorter, and skirted around behind the Eildon North Hill instead of climbing up and over the saddle. Hmmm, I thought, I could go that way. Easier, and no one would be the wiser! I was sorely tempted with the idea, both last night and again momentarily this morning, but I also knew that if I went that way it would likely be the first compromise of many.
There is a wonderful young English woman online named Abbie Barnes who has become a bit of an inspiration to me. She is a long-distance walker and a lover of nature and wild places, and she uses her walking as a way to help herself deal with some mental health issues of anxiety and depression. She has a beautiful smile and a great manner (and accent!) and she is so personable and easy to watch. She creates videos of her walks, and provides advice on how to to gain health benefits from walking and being in nature.
She is an inspiration to me because of her earnestness, generous spirit, and basic goodness, but also because she can walk well over 20 miles daily, and she camps too! Now, I know that the 20 plus miles a day is beyond my knees and feet, and I’m quite happy with my comfortable bed and breakfasts (though I feel I could camp). But, if Abbie can do what she does, then I can darn well start as I mean to go on and do the entire Way as planned, even if feeling challenged. Abbies’ words of wisdom that really resonated with me are, “It takes a brave heart and a courageous soul to commit to the unknown. Now all you have to do is decide that you want it more than you’re afraid of it.”
I highly recommend watching the first two minutes of her video “Learning to Thrive, 100 Miles Along the West Highland Way” to hear that quote and to get a great introduction to who she is and what she is about – even if you’re not all that interested in walking!
Now, on the subject of young and inspiring long-distance walkers, yesterday I spoke for a while with a handsome young Dutch man who I met on the way down from the Eildons. He couldn’t have been more than 21 or 22, was tall and very slim with long legs and a loping walk – super friendly and with a great smile. He is doing a 470 mile walk, the Scottish National Trail (not all in one go!). On this holiday he is going from Kirk Yetholm in the Borders to Loch Ness (he has already done the West Highland Way section). The Scottish National Trail terminates at Cape Wrath, an isolated, wild, and truly stunning place (take a look on google images!). The young man carries his camping gear, like Abbie, and he was just so positive and enthusiastic. I can imagine how proud and ecstatic he will feel at the culmination of his journey when he stands at the edge of Cape Wrath, overlooking the wild North Atlantic. It was such a pleasure, and an inspiration, to meet him.
