Who's cairn now?

Day Three: Standedge to Hebden Bridge 17 miles

The day started out with a farewell to our hiking companions from Hannover, Axel and Bettina Boltz.  Try as we might to get them to play hooky from work and continue on with us for the next 240+ miles, they left us right after breakfast with wishes of sunny days and easy trails ahead.  We miss you guys already!!

Best thing about today: it was the least rainy day we’ve had.  When all you’ve experienced is midst, rain and wind – less precipitation is good (really good).   As far as routes go, it was pretty tame overall.  We started and stayed on fairly level terrain.  Of course that last hill down into Hebden Bridge was a knee cruncher (just ask Marty).  No big route highlights today, which caused me to think about the many cairns we pass along the way.

I love the idea of cairns as they are constructed by walkers for walkers.  Never meant to direct the route, rather they are confirmation by friendly compatriots who passed before us.  The walking community is pretty cool – easy to greet, garrulous in chatter, curious and glad to share tips or route advice.  So how much does community figure into why some people choose take on long distance walks or trekking?  Marty says he’s here for the community – for the opportunity for the three of us to walk together again in Europe (we’ve walked together before on the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, and across munros in the Scottish Highlands).  It’s fascinating the depth of friendship that grows out of trekking together.  The topics of our conversations are far-ranging – from the mundane to the outrageous and from the politics to family (and how DO we always end up back at politics no matter what?).

We agree that we seem to know one another better in many cases than we do people we see most everyday (although we see one another only every year or two).  You see, at the end of the day, there’s nothing casual about long-distance trekking pals.  Although we spread out along the path each day, we make sure never to lose sight of one another – and when we walk together we pass the time talking.  Recent topics of conversation: the need for civil discourse, Donna Summers, the musical Hamilton, The X-Files, dogs (a recurring theme), religion (yes, normally taboo, but not when walking together for 8-10 hours day), Diane Fossey and Diane Von Furstenburg (I kid you not), GPSs, rain gear, boots and blisters – you get the idea. Like the cairn, trail talk is confirming and never directive.  It’s almost a reason in itself to take on the long-distance walk.  It’s finding one’s tribe.  And of course . . . some people walk for the solitude 😉😎.   Just not us, not now anyway.

Wearing all my cold weather gear to stay warm on Stoodley Pike (mittens in pockets).

Lodging in Hebden Bridge: Riverview B&B ***** (the first five star of the trip).  The proprietress met us upon arrival, gave us a dinner recommendation and made our reservation then served a delicious early breakfast.  And of course, the three of us fell in love with her 10-month old Border-Poo (Half Border Collie, half poodle), Eddi!