My First Guided Walk

Firstly – If you visit Durham Cathedral , as I do, frequently, you have to be prepared to have a “moment”.  I was sitting there, minding my own business below the big round window, in terms of brain function - coasting along empty-headed,  when all of a sudden, the lass, who’d been sitting in front of me, innocently and unexpectedly, sank to her knees and began a long and silent prayer about something Very Important, whatever it was.

A choir began to assemble in the Bit In The Middle.

After a while – a long while, she re-assumed her seat and nudged the chap sitting next to her. He shrugged, sort of, puzzled a bit, maybe embarrassed; possibly, certainly resigned.

Back she sank to her knees and began again. Same thing.

Meanwhile, the Cathedral choir prepared. The choirmaster  gave instructions. they had a little practise – a few short snatches of heavenly stuff… if there were rafters to be reached here, they would have been reached; briefly anyway.

The lass prayed and sank low behind the pews. Something Important, without Doubt.

As she re-established herself on the bench, the choir launched into something amazing and soaring and unexpected. A gift, perhaps. A moment, certainly.

And here’s me with a bag full of new trousers and nothing much more in my head.

So anyway, we did the first walk in my new role as DVCRS walk leader. My steward was  Sheila King. And I had a punter. Just the one. He said he might come back for later walks.

We had a nice walk, though, in cold sunshine – Crook East – regular readers will know the route already. The rubbish has been tidied up.

That’s two results.

Thanks to Sheila for the stewarding. I’ll probably put some posters up, but, clearly, the only way is Up.