Wednesday 7 May 2008

Wansdyke 28 miles



This one took me through some deep country. I didn't notice it at the time but looking back the Wansdyke was fantastic. It is an ancient fortification which was built by the Saxon kings to protect the northern borders of Wessex. At points you can see 10-20 miles on both sides. It is high up on the Marlborough downs which are a peculiar ridge of high ground in Wiltshire. I stopped to eat something next to some derelict barns and noticed that I could hear insects buzzing. That's when I realized that the nearest roads were out of earshot and out of sight. Southern England doesn't have many areas that are this quiet. At the end of the run, I discovered that one of my toes had peeled down to the flesh.



The next day I met some really interesting people who help to treat people in addiction using Tai Chi and martial arts, even some of the hard stuff like Tae Kwondo. It was such an excellent feeling to meet people who share my outdoors philosophy of physical therapy. life seems to be throwing these like-minded individuals my way at the moment, and a plan is now afoot for a group of recovering people to make a pilgrimage by bike or foot from one major city to another, off road, using only the ancient trails.

2 comments:

joao100medo said...

Mate...what can i say...you really love running...i get the trecking,the landscape,the wilderness and the go back to basics...but doing it in fast motion...well!Great pictures...relaxing blog...look forward to see some more

Ali said...

Mauricio...we can do this in slow motion too if that appeals more to your Portuguese ways.