A Beautiful Path
Almost a year to the day since I began a series of surgeries on my foot, here I am, walking some of the beautiful miles along the Cornish coast. Windswept yes, smiling definitely!
Walking is my other ‘practice’ off the mat. I love the repetitive one step in front of the other, opening a channel of flowing thoughts, processing narratives of past, present and thoughts about the future; it’s something I no longer take for granted as I once did. Relatively minor tho the surgeries were, they woke me up to how much I appreciate, love and need lengthy walks.
The scenery and terrain of the South West Coastal Pathway demands, more than anything, that you stay present. Every moment ascending, descending, dodging perilous bits here and there, is exhilarating. As if literally climbing above the mental clutter, I felt light and silly joy.
It feels addictive. The minute Paul and I removed our shoes, we were impatient to go back out. There’s a sense of sister and brotherhood for the walkers squeezing past as we perched on ledges to make room, greet and wish them luck on the next climb and receive the same in return.
Taking in all the different blues of the sea and its changing moods, the curious rock formations at the base of sheer drops and playing the dance of raincoat on, raincoat off, I felt a world away from hum drum and worry. Just a pathway, but we were in step with generations of walkers who have followed these paths back to centuries ago when they were used to patrol for smugglers.
With a few days based on the most blustery campsite imaginable, we made a minute dent in the length of the 630 mile path but it doesn’t feel like that. Worries that I could actually walk 10 mile stretches with the new, somewhat squiffy, version of my foot have gone. Once gently coaxed around the curve of the boot, it did just fine. So this part of the SWCP will remain a special one.
Chatty parts, quiet reflective parts, we stared out to sea in awe and smiled a lot. We conversed with the wildlife, paused to read signs and inscriptions and got so used to the expansive, winding path, eyes on where we’d come from and where the path appeared and disappeared from view ahead, that dropping back into the next village or town felt almost abrupt.
Energy waning, we excited ourselves with the prospect of the next ice cream kiosk (such a refreshing variety of vegan flavours but all ultimately lacking or closed!). Polperro and Looe aren’t short of hospitable places though and we rewarded ourselves with local treats and were met with such friendly interactions with locals as we tucked our fabulous feet under the table and reflected on the miles over a pint with a view.
Getting out and walking is, for me, a mindful necessity and this post is a kind of ‘thank you’ to Paul and to all of you who put a smile on my face with your visits, jigsaws and hop-along jokes when I was told to stay put with my foot above my heart!
I’m not sure where the next destination along the SWCP will be, but now I’ve sampled it, I quite fancy beginning at the beginning.
Nathalie x
