I have not been able to walk this far for a long time now, but after the stents that were inserted in my lower abdomen, I can now walk again.
The high foothills of the mountain were a challenge, but I was determined to give it a go.
It's all a mind matter isn't it? We are free to say yes, I can or no I can't. The first leads to positivity and the latter leads to failure.
I saw this quote and it was my affirmation.
“I have just three things to teach:
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
You return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
You accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
You reconcile all beings in the world.”
Lao Tzu
This was the view of a hill opposite the hill that we were on. I say we, as my wife walked every step with me and I know that she was keeping an eye on me, but her excuse was in the case of snakes :)
This orchard is at the left of the picture above.
This was the start of our hike, around the dam and up the hill.
We were headed towards the lower slopes of the mountain.
One day I will walk that entire track, but today my test run was only 1 kilometer.
As we went higher some lovely sights appeared such as this bean formed big anthill.
Yep, the ants work all of the time and I don't know where they were taking that stone. Maybe they are building a stone castle for their queen inside that big mound of clay.
Burnt out Protea bushes could be seen all over the area, as we had a huge fire here a while ago.
Once these were colorful proteas, but now only the scorched shells remain.
Some of you have seen the photos that I posted in the past, about the Cape Sugarbirds on the colorful beauty of the protea flowers.
Views a plenty and this was at the top of the hill where the mountain range appeared in the background.
A pair of waxbill birds were dining on the long grass stalks. I love their red masks.
We had reached the turn around spot and this was the scene near the end on our way back down.
Amazing to watch this moorhen dancing on the water leaves.
So yeah, I completed the walk with minimal pain, and this means that the blood flow to my legs was restored.
I deliberately selected rough terrain to do the hike, as I knew that it would test my legs to the limit and I am happy to say that things can from now on only get better where my walking is concerned.
But I am not out of the woods yet as my iron levels are still critical and we have had many setbacks by the doctors attempts to locate the source of my internal bleeding. No, I am not complaining now, as we will in the new week hear if they have found a way for me to go for a nuclear red-cell scan to locate the source of the bleeding.
I am sorry to lay my condition out here, and I need no help, but I only wanted to show the context of my achievement with this walk. So regardless of everything, we are happy with this part of my progress.
I hope that you enjoyed the photos and the walk.
And That's All Friends.
Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.
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