Minden to Bunde – 31km
15C
Terrain: off-road, cycle routes and road (some hills today)
Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 50 days now!
Tough one today tough. Energy low and just didn’t really feel it, I think yesterday may have used up the energy stores a little and then didn’t quite get nutrition and hydration right for the rest of the day. It makes such a huge difference to how I feel the next day, unsurprisingly I suppose. But head down and one foot in front of another.
This being said, while I was eating breakfast this morning, I read that in Northern Iraq, over 1 million people have had to leave their homes due to the advances and violence of ISIS (or Islamic State). Just awful. Those people are really suffering and while there I am moaning, I really have nothing to complain about. The reality is that this challenge isn’t meant to be easy but I still have everything I need on a daily basis and realise how incredibly fortunate I am.
On a different note, it struck me as I was leaving Minden this morning how human interactions in towns are just so very different. When I’m in the countryside (most of the time really), almost every single person I come across greets me or I greet them, always very friendly. It’s a nice feeling. As soon as I enter a town though, the anonymity is instant.
I actually remember hiking in the South Downs in the UK a few years ago with an ex-colleague (Denis Holmes) and other walkers saying ‘hello’ to us. The Londoner in me wondered what was wrong with them at first! How very sad. Aside from the impracticality of saying hello to everyone you go past in a town (especially a big one like London), I think we lose something somehow in our connection with others.
Enough of my mutterings…some pics from today.
Serious fog this morning, at some points there was very little visibility.
A stretch of very residential villages.
The forest canopy, breathe.
My face says it all really.
Another quaint town centre and some good nourishing food…and an ice cream, surprise!
Love what you are doing Viv, just caught up to date again on your blog. Have read every entry and a wonderful story and experience is clearly unfolding. Fabulous and very worthwhile cause as well. Keep it up, and keep updating us all. All the best, Nick x
Hi Nick,
Thanks for the lovely note. Still really enjoying it and looks like the sun is out again today 🙂
Viv
Face says “ooooof”.
31km on a ‘bad’ days says “flipping amazing”.
ps – a book for you
http://www.marieforleo.com/2014/09/happiness-of-pursuit/
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