A Personal Note:
Finally, after a rather busy period, we are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a fifth book, shortly. It's titled "Vengeance is Mine ... and mine, too." Updates and details to follow soon.
Making hay while the sun shines...strongly.
Nearing the peak on the Extreme Devil's trail, we get some support in the form of wobbly, natural handrails.
The more we witness in our world, the more we appreciate a side of humanity that makes life worthwhile. Recently, we’ve written a number of pieces praising the kindness we have experienced and observed in many parts of the world. As an aside, I’m currently reading a book from the Nazi era which as always, questions humanity. It also reminds me of a woman we met a while ago who in good faith submitted that ‘all people are basically good’. I did not even think of offering to sell her the Brooklyn Bridge—it would have been too easy. I notice I have strayed off the path again.
In 2018, we were traveling in our car in Slovakia, heading back to Strba, a village below the High Tatras. We enjoyed Slovakia so much that we in fact returned in the latter part of 2019. Anyway, we noticed a young couple hitch-hiking. The male stood at the left part of the ‘Y’ junction while the woman remained on the other side. It was either a smart strategy, an ambush or they’d had a fight. We always stop for hikers wherever we are in the world. (We have a different attitude to picking up rough looking males on the side of the road, though.) The couple were heading to the station in Strba, our village.
“We don’t remember seeing a station in the town,” we remarked.
The guy, probably just under thirty, stated he’d seen it advertised on the internet. Who were we to argue, especially over things we know little about and particularly directions? Sure enough, we found no station.
“We did notice a train line and station at Strebske Pleso some thirty minutes above the town,” we mentioned. After a brief discussion, we told them to remain in the car as we headed back to the lake and delivered them to that station. End of part 1 which we did not really want to mention but unfortunately, is an essential element to the whole story.
Fast forward to autumn 2019. After departing from Poland, Slovakia again, and arriving in Bulgaria, we went hiking near the town of Borino. We undertook the Extreme Devil’s Bridge hike. Before we hit the trail, we decided to drink cups of tea at a small kiosk near the parking lot—a little unusual, both drinking before commencement and that there was a place offering various ‘treats’. We set off after talking with the manager, a large, young man who spoke German and Bulgarian but just a smattering of English.
The directions for the trail seemed clear and in fact, we completed the whole hike although the latter trail did not take us back to the starting point, where we had parked the car. Rather, it was heading toward the town, some 5 miles distant from the trailhead. We still don’t know what occurred causing us to apparently miss a turnoff but it’s not the first or last time. Fortunately, Jenni was amenable to cutting through farmland, down a small mountain and across some dongas, allowing us to get to the main road which left a further 3 miles to the trailhead. It's not enjoyable walking along a road, especially after experiencing attractive forests and other natural beauty and at the end of a long hike. By that time, we were a fraction frustrated and tired from a fairly trying day. We walked a little over a mile and I felt weary, and Jen, although not saying much, looked worn. More than 12 miles in the mountains can be tough.
I then thought something I probably shouldn’t have. I looked around and wondered about all the people we had given rides to over the years. I don’t think that’s a pure thought. A flash passed through my head, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice should that German couple from Slovakia drive past.’ Within thirty seconds, perhaps even less, a car did pass and the driver slammed on brakes and reversed. We looked up and I wondered. Could it be?
It certainly wasn’t the German couple as there was a single, large, young man in the driver’s seat. He beckoned us to enter the car. He was the manager of the kiosk.
We probably don’t have to mention anything further. However, it gets even better. When he dropped us at the car, I tried to hand him some money which he refused. As one knows, when someone is performing an act of kindness, compensating the person tends to negate part of the wonderful deed. Nevertheless, we did find a way around it which left all elated. More importantly, we were once again touched by the kindness, the goodness of another human being—a complete stranger. What's so beautiful about these incidents is that, inter alia, many of these people are probably not wealthy, will never see us again and are entitled to receive a gift from a grateful recipient of their kindness. However, they are not typical. Their honor, their decency and of course kindness, are far more important to them than pecuniary reward. Their reward is in the giving. Thank you, Horge.
Most satisfying position and view.
Always have to go down to climb back up...?
I wonder if Jen would prefer to be sitting with the womenfolk or they would prefer to be on the slopes.
He's feeling a lot more tired than he projects as we return to Trigrad after 12 miles on the trail. Even to a 'teetotaler', the beer 'nearly' looks good.
On Golden Grass...a sequel to 'On Golden Pond'.
Subtle flow of water through the gap.
Village of Gela from on high.
I'll take the low road...
and you take the high road...and it appears we're in the wrong country, Jock. "How did you get down so fast, Jock...I mean, Jen?" I think the 'ferrata have gone to our heads' rather than where they should be, at our feet.
The village of Trigrad comes into view, late afternoon, as we enter the final stretch.
You have to go down, to go up, to go down.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
I don't know that I'd feel safe on that woodwork; hence, I'm not on it. Hmm! pretty girl.
Safer footing down a steep slope at Mechi Chal before the snow
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