I just returned from a two-week hiking trip to England and Wales. Hiking is not a natural activity for me without golf clubs. I am the guy muttering, “I think I can, I think I can” on the trail. Yet, trekking along paths between villages travelers have crossed for thousands of years was uplifting, inspiring, invigorating, and spiritual.
What I like most about traveling is that I inevitably come back different than when the trip began. I’ll have a new experience or story or friend. My perspective will change, my view of the world expand. When I return home, I always list “Things I learned on this trip.” There were five lessons of particular note from my recent vacation.
We were walking from the store to our rental house in Duffryn Ardudwy, Wales. Ahead of us, a man in work clothes walked, followed closely by his sheep dog. Over a few blocks we came to amble with him.
Initially we asked about his herd. How many sheep did he tend? Were sheep and wool prices good right now? Where is the wool sent to be processed and how is it priced? Soon he said to us, “Clearly you are Americans. Where do you live in the States?”
“Near Seattle, Washington in the Pacific Northwest.”
He responded with a blank stare.
“Home of Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing …” I continued.
After an uncomfortable moment, trying to keep the conversation going, he asked, “Do they raise many sheep in Seattle?”
Lesson No. 1: There are happy, content folks all over the planet who couldn’t care less about free shipping, the unveiling of a new operating system or what constitutes “grande.”
Over the two weeks, we were in several castles and a walled village built in the 1220s. Some 550 years before the Revolutionary War gave birth to the United States of America, fortifications were being built in Europe, wars were being fought, lavish dinner parties were being held, and intermarrying between clans to consolidate power was common.
Lesson No. 2: The United States is a baby country. (Some say, perhaps going through its terrible twos.)
I played Royal St. David’s Golf Club, a gorgeous, wonderful links course in the shadow of Harlech Castle. I lost my phone on the second hole. Fortunately, the group behind found it. After the round I lost my wallet, only to find it way back in a pocket of the rented golf bag. I was exasperated and said to the pro, “Jeez, it seems like the only thing I haven’t lost today is my virginity!” To which he winked and responded, “If it’s important to you, I will see what I can do. We pride ourselves as being a very friendly club.”
Lesson No. 3: There are people with wonderful senses of humor everywhere.
We took a ride on a 150-year-old steam engine across Snowdonia National Park. From Porthmadog to Caernafron and back, with stops at Bellgelert, Rhyd Ddu, Snowdon Ranger, Plas y Nant, Waunfawr and Bontewydd. Two-and-a-half hours each way, with an hour stop in Caenafron to see the castle where HRH Charles became Prince of Wales in 1969.
Riding the train is almost a primal experience. You relax because you can’t speed the train up or slow it down. You enjoy the scenery because there is not much else to do. And, for some reason, you wave at people. Along the way everyone waved to us. Hikers. Campers. Bikers. Walkers. A woman hanging laundry in the Welsh breeze. Two different people even waved their dogs paws at us. We waved back, almost involuntarily. Each time. To everyone.
Lesson No. 4: A train ride is a wonderful, relaxing way to see beautiful scenery. And be reminded how friendly most folks are.
Llandudno, Wales was designed in the mid-1800s to be a tourist town. The train would bring Londoners to the Welsh north coast and the town would treat them well. The horseshoe-bay beach has hotel after hotel after hotel, restricted by rules that won’t allow conversion to condos or timeshares.
School was in session and many of the summer touristy activities were closed. It was time for the older folks to venture to Llandudno. And they did in droves. We watched elderly couples move slowly with their canes, often leaning together for support. Stairs to a hotel lobby seemed like climbing Mount Rainier to many. A walk on the promenade lasted about 50 yards. Yet the people were smiling and enjoying the beach and fresh air immensely. No, they weren’t young anymore. Yes, they were quite happy to be adventuring in Llandudno.
Lesson No. 5: None of us can defy or outsmart time or gravity. Travel while you can. At the end of any trip, anywhere, you will come home a different person, brimming with lessons learned.
Copyright Jeff Tolman 2015. All rights reserved.
