I Did It!...and It Was Worth It
Last week, one of our YSAs Caroline, invited me to take a 10-mile walk through the cotswalds.
The Cotswolds is a rural area of south central England covering parts of 6 counties, notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Its rolling hills and grassland harbour, thatched medieval villages, churches and stately homes built of distinctive local yellow limestone. The 102-mile Cotswold Way walking trail follows the Cotswold Edge escarpment from Bath in the south to Chipping Campden in the north.
For an idea of what these sites offer, look at the official site: cotswolds.com
I told her that I would love to do that, except that 4 miles is the max that I have walked in some time, and I wasn't at all sure if I could manage 10 miles. She responded with "How about I take you on an Oxford walk and we'll see how you do."
Today was it. I have been so tired all week, and so I was elated when awakened this morning after a good night's sleep - feeling great. I put on my serious walking shoes and bundled up (it was 36 degrees out there), and went out to meet her at 10 a.m.
The sun was bright as could be with not a cloud in the sky. Shadows were sharply defined against the blazing light bouncing off the buildings. It was cold, and I was glad I had bundled up, but Caroline thought I might be a bit overdressed.
Away we went, along the canal bank for a mile or so, past small barges and boats - homes to people. The houseboats of every color were bobbing lazily on the water, moored to the shores. Trees bent gracefully into the water, tall grass grew down the canal bank into the water.
Joggers passed, bicyclists sailed along the trail, and dog owners trotted by either followed or preceded by dogs of every shape and size. It was so idyllic that I could hardly put one foot in front of another for want of looking. I didn't take enough pictures!
Eventually we crossed a couple of old bridges that were guarded by gates on both sides. I am unsure what they were keeping off the bridge since unlatching them was simple enough for a three-year-old. We walked through an area where the pathway got markedly muddy. We walked on the grass, on the trail, in the mud and around puddles frozen and melted.
Soon it opened out on PortsMeadow, a large grassy (and muddy) meadow given to the people of Oxford by King Henry the VIII (I believe that is what my young companion told me). It is a large grassy area prone to flooding, but so very beautiful. We slogged through several places, but it was worth it. We stepped inside of the remains of Godstow Abbey, a 12th century nunnery.
It may sound cliche, but the weight of history hangs heavily everywhere around here, and that place truly was a gem. Only the walls remained. We stood inside what once was the chapel....the stone walls rose starkly into the sky, with open air where the windows once were. Magnificent.
We went from there to The Trout Inn in Wolvercote, a very small village of about 800 to 1000 people. We had a hot chocolate and relaxed. We had gone 3 miles.
My feet and ankles were protesting, but I felt that I could make it home, which I did. For the rest of the afternoon, I alternately iced and warmed them. I took Tylenol. And I feel much better this evening. But I mostly feel such triumph!!!! I'm so happy I did that, so happy for the beauties I saw, and so happy for the tremendous conversations with Caroline, who is studying archeology. She is a wealth of information. I adore her.
Late in the afternoon, two of our YSA young women dropped by and we had a wonderful visit. They are our newest members, Leticia and Veer. They are both so dear.
So I now have about 12 days to prepare for the 10-mile walk. I'll see how I feel in the morning. I'm not sure I can make 10 miles. But perhaps I could walk in three miles and then turn around and come back the three miles. It is a 10-mile loop. Just thinking and pondering this.
Overall though, this day was wonderful - from beginning to the end.
The Cotswolds is a rural area of south central England covering parts of 6 counties, notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Its rolling hills and grassland harbour, thatched medieval villages, churches and stately homes built of distinctive local yellow limestone. The 102-mile Cotswold Way walking trail follows the Cotswold Edge escarpment from Bath in the south to Chipping Campden in the north.
For an idea of what these sites offer, look at the official site: cotswolds.com
I told her that I would love to do that, except that 4 miles is the max that I have walked in some time, and I wasn't at all sure if I could manage 10 miles. She responded with "How about I take you on an Oxford walk and we'll see how you do."
Today was it. I have been so tired all week, and so I was elated when awakened this morning after a good night's sleep - feeling great. I put on my serious walking shoes and bundled up (it was 36 degrees out there), and went out to meet her at 10 a.m.
The sun was bright as could be with not a cloud in the sky. Shadows were sharply defined against the blazing light bouncing off the buildings. It was cold, and I was glad I had bundled up, but Caroline thought I might be a bit overdressed.
Away we went, along the canal bank for a mile or so, past small barges and boats - homes to people. The houseboats of every color were bobbing lazily on the water, moored to the shores. Trees bent gracefully into the water, tall grass grew down the canal bank into the water.
Joggers passed, bicyclists sailed along the trail, and dog owners trotted by either followed or preceded by dogs of every shape and size. It was so idyllic that I could hardly put one foot in front of another for want of looking. I didn't take enough pictures!
Eventually we crossed a couple of old bridges that were guarded by gates on both sides. I am unsure what they were keeping off the bridge since unlatching them was simple enough for a three-year-old. We walked through an area where the pathway got markedly muddy. We walked on the grass, on the trail, in the mud and around puddles frozen and melted.
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| Early February and these little flowers are venturing forth. |
Soon it opened out on PortsMeadow, a large grassy (and muddy) meadow given to the people of Oxford by King Henry the VIII (I believe that is what my young companion told me). It is a large grassy area prone to flooding, but so very beautiful. We slogged through several places, but it was worth it. We stepped inside of the remains of Godstow Abbey, a 12th century nunnery.
It may sound cliche, but the weight of history hangs heavily everywhere around here, and that place truly was a gem. Only the walls remained. We stood inside what once was the chapel....the stone walls rose starkly into the sky, with open air where the windows once were. Magnificent.
We went from there to The Trout Inn in Wolvercote, a very small village of about 800 to 1000 people. We had a hot chocolate and relaxed. We had gone 3 miles.
My feet and ankles were protesting, but I felt that I could make it home, which I did. For the rest of the afternoon, I alternately iced and warmed them. I took Tylenol. And I feel much better this evening. But I mostly feel such triumph!!!! I'm so happy I did that, so happy for the beauties I saw, and so happy for the tremendous conversations with Caroline, who is studying archeology. She is a wealth of information. I adore her.
Late in the afternoon, two of our YSA young women dropped by and we had a wonderful visit. They are our newest members, Leticia and Veer. They are both so dear.
So I now have about 12 days to prepare for the 10-mile walk. I'll see how I feel in the morning. I'm not sure I can make 10 miles. But perhaps I could walk in three miles and then turn around and come back the three miles. It is a 10-mile loop. Just thinking and pondering this.
Overall though, this day was wonderful - from beginning to the end.
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