On the second day of the walk, I was struggling in the Carneddau and it became apparent I lacked the physical fitness to cope with walking with a heavy rucksack. The plan was to walk into this fitness as I’ve done before, but it wasn’t going to happen. It has been at least four years since my last serious long-distance walk and my fitness levels have dropped over lockdown periods.
I also had concerns about injuries I’ve been carrying and working to fix. On the third day, I slipped on wet rocks and thought my shoulder and back problems had resurfaced so I pulled out and took a few days off.
My head got caught in a spiral of negativity and it started to become a battle that I wasn’t ready for. After reflecting on things I decided to spend a few days in the Rhinogs and then travel to the west of the Brecons and spend a few days there before coming home.
Originally I wanted to write about my experiences at the end of each day but found it wasn’t happening. It was only after a few days off that things came back to me and I could write something. But walking and writing at the end of the day was something I hadn’t managed and doubted I would do. I do have enough information to try and write a few long-form pieces, with the idea to try and submit them to relevant outdoor websites. So all is not lost.
I was disappointed but expectations met reality and for now, I move on with a more realistic approach to these sorts of trips.
I got home and started to work on my fitness and strength to try and resolve these long-term injuries. Ironically I ended up pulling a muscle in my back while out on a granny run. This muscle was what I was concerned with (and had felt on the edge about) so it was probably good timing for it to happen.
As it stands, I’m taking some time off to spend with Sally on our new allotment, resolve fitness issues and work on a few outdoor events. I’m also keeping one eye on the job market and considering going back into freelance IT work.
Here is a roundup of things.
My Writing
Diggin In - I wrote this a few weeks before going away. It perhaps foreshadows things as I struggled on a one-night wild camp.
Nest - Short little piece about a bird nest and it led me to wonder how these structures are created.
(all links are now removed)
Other Interesting Links
Psychedelics - How mushrooms are being used to help depression.
The Banality of Genius - I watched the 8 hour Beatle documentary a few months back (took a few sittings) but it was a great look at their creative process and the relationship they had as a band. This long piece discusses the process.
No Mow May - It’s our second year of no mow May, although we tend to not mow for most of the summer. It was nice to read about other people’s experiences. I last had a garden to tend around 7 years ago. I was quite strict about mowing and having a nice clean tidy lawn. But this time around the chaos reigns and I love seeing the insects buzzing around.
Books I’ve Read & Enjoyed
Second Summer of Love: How Dance Music Took Over The World | Alon Shulman - I really struggled with this book. I was hoping for a good read into how dance music started and grew but the writing style was too casual, almost lazy. I knew a lot of the back story and it felt more like a magazine interview than a substantial look back on the music and times. I actually didn’t enjoy this and ended up not finishing it.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. Get outside, explore and stay safe. Till next time.
Paul