Yesterday’s ramble took me on an 8.5-mile journey, guided by the memory of Judith. Alongside Richard (my friend, Judith’s husband) and a group of Judith’s friends, we strolled off from Barbury Castle and the Ridgeway, while looking at nature’s wonders.
I had run a 5K parkrun in the morning and done leg day at the gym the night before, so this was perfect to stretch my legs. A day later, it’s all a bit tense so I’m off to yoga class today 🙂
I really enjoyed the walk.
Shortly after leaving the Ridgeway path, I heard a murmurration of starlings behind the hill, then some red kites soared above the path, a bit further.
Despite the biting cold, our brisk pace kept us warm, a fitting tribute to Judith, who sadly left us three years ago in December 2020. Judith had shared countless adventures with children on Duke of Edinburgh programs and her friends yesterday told me many lovely stories of her time with them.
The camaraderie with Judith’s friends added more warmth to the chilly walk. However, our hike wasn’t without its challenges. Crossing paths with a hunting group required a bit of patience (and a lot of my tolerance as I’m not very understanding of hunting generally), as they fired across the public road at pheasants. Further along, Finn, the energetic black Labrador who walked along with us, found himself in a field with horses, but together, we navigated the situation with teamwork.
Approaching Rockley, an unusual sight awaited – a field retaining water from recent rains, a rare occurrence in these clay fields.
The last few miles we walked through sunset around 16:30 and then it became much darker. With my ’emergency’ small torch in hand, I navigated the path, and as the temperature dropped, we reached the car park.
The celebration began with mince pies, blueberry muffins, and Christmas biscuits treats from East Germany that Alan brought. The festive spirit thrived, accompanied by (now daily cold) hot chocolate from my flask, while others enjoyed mulled wine (I don’t drink alcohol at the moment). The night views of Swindon were lovely, a fitting conclusion to a great walk.
As I reflect on this day, I am grateful for the invitation from Richard. Judith’s memory lives on through each step, and I look forward to honoring her with many more hikes. She remains a source of inspiration, alongside the wonderful Jen who’s also one of my hiking inspiration, shaping my journey one hike at a time.
I’ll write a bit more about my plans for this year’s walk in another post.
The next big hike will be in March, fundraising for the Prospect Hospice in Judith’s honour. You can read more here and donate if you can. https://www.justgiving.com/page/aurelie-icelandtrek2024
Until next time, happy rambling 💚