Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on my right. This was my habitual training route. The path
eventually opens out onto the wide sandy arc of Minnis
Bay, my favourite stretch. Normally the bay is deserted at
this time of year and I would be alone with the dog-walkers
and worm-diggers; but today my heart sank. The beach was
as crowded as an August weekend with families making the
most of the unexpected dose of sunshine. Inwardly bracing
myself, I continued along the concrete promenade past the
barbeques and sunbathers.
I knew that a woman dragging two car tyres behind her was
likely to cause some curiosity but the tyres caught up discarded
pebbles which grated loudly against the concrete pathway and
dramatically announced my arrival. It was embarrassing to
inflict my jarring racket on innocent beach-goers and to be
attracting such marked attention to myself. I noticed two
elderly ladies walking towards me. One was already open-
mouthed in astonishment at the sight approaching her. At first
I kept my eyes fixed to the ground but it was impossible to
ignore her as I passed. She stared at me, stammering in her
inability to formulate a question that encompassed everything
she wanted to know all at once. Before she managed to find a
place to start, her companion pulled her away.
'I know exactly who you are,' said the companion, with a
wink. 'And all about what you are preparing to do. Good luck.'
There had been an article about my preparation in the
local paper the previous week and as I moved off I could
hear the lady launching into an explanation to her still
flabbergasted friend.
It felt strange to have people know about the expedition -
as if a big personal secret had been accidentally let out of the
bag. It happened again a few days later. I signed for a parcel
Search WWH ::
Custom Search