We had just completed a fairly long day of 25kms, Corrie was at home looking after her unhealed elbow, sore back and painful toes, a bigger deal than she will let on. As I continued past an athletics field I saw this bent over woman (about our age) walking along using poles. From a non alarming distance I asked her if they were working for her to which she replied “sort of”.
After chatting a bit about Nordic walking she revealed to me that she had Parkinson’s. This was an entree for me to tell her my story. We began to discuss other things we do and I told her at one stage that I walk a marathon that I began for those with pd (varied distances), and I was the winner in the last 2 years.(ie those with pd). She said with no ego at all that she was the Norwegian women’s champion marathon runner for most of the 1980s.
We strolled for a way sharing stories one of which was about Nordic walking. A friend of mine Millie, I told her, was amongst many things a champion Nordic walker and she taught me the finer skills which you only see in professional nordic walkers and to name some are: to pretend your foot is a spring and bounce as you put your foot down and then up. Another is to leave your poles dragging on the ground and a third is to let your arm go fully straight as you reach out in front with one and behind with the other. Otherwise you may need to call it something else.
Both of us forgot about pd for a while as we walked and talked and enjoyed each others company. I hope she emails me one day.
I’ve heard many say ‘when you’ve seen someone with pd, you’ve seen them all.But this is not so, we are unique and this pertains also to waterfalls. In Oslo we saw some unique waterfalls on the river that sidles along the edge of the city now we are seeing others in villages but something asked us to slowdown or else we may miss some jewel, so we slowed. As we dropped the pace we saw something unusual, a floating body of shining ice with water underneath shooting out of a large pipe below.
The sun left us so we let go of our beauty to view the acrobatics of a steep river as it made its art in the air with the help of all shapes of rocks. We kept crossing the falls to and fro watching it from different angles. And I wonder what I was missing as I become more waterfall obsessed.
Another day arrives and the warmth of it enticed us on to the long snow. Wherever we looked there was snow. Our sun was still shining but the wind off the snow was making it very cold but the Nordic walkers had come to learn a special art, it’s one where you learn to breathe a bit. But for one, her collie type dog breathes differently. It was pulling her through the snow (supposed to) but also pulled her over in her enthusiasm (not supposed to).
And…..we met a dog we hadn’t seen before and with her Norwegian parents. I was intrigued, her dog was lovely so I wanted to know more about it, so I asked her what type it was. “An Australian Cobber”, came the answer. We told her we were also from that country and so were given a command performance. She jumped on me and licked what she could and then leant against Corrie looking up at her as if to say: I don’t mind cats either”.
Dear Corrie and Will, well, here are we celebrating the first dry and sunny day for 15 days in Sydney, while you battle snow covered tracks and fields coming on summer in northern climes. All sounds fascinating! Keep up the good walk. Love Tim and Di xx
Great blog Will and Corrie, I’m imagining those long days in the North while our days in Sydney get shorter and wetter. looking forward to the next post, any signs of the aurora?
Martin O
Sorry to hear your main ‘photographer’ is on ‘sick leave’ Wil! How awful for you though, Corrie – so sorry to hear that and so hope to hear you are back on both feet and 10 toes very soon!
Love the poetic picture you paint of the waterfalls Wil. So nice to have the luxury of time on your side to be able to stop and enjoy those magical moments. Not sure whether you’ll be staying in the country side at some stage of the walk but if you do one thing I would urge you not to miss is a night time walk in a pine forest, preferably full moon, which we did when staying down in the South of Sweden one January. The silence and the beauty and feeling of total isolation was breathtaking and one of my most memorable moments of life.
Biggest hugs and lots of love from us both, Carolyn. Xxxx
Hi dear Coralie and William,
Yes, waterfalls are each unique and therapeutic, each falling with attractive variability, mesmerising and soothing. So glad you’re enjoying. Hope Coralie’s issues soon resolve.💖💖
Look forward to seeing more photos of your walks, I hope Corrie feels better soon x
Lovely to follow your journey! I do hope Corrie feels better soon, must be concerning to not feel well and not be able to get out and about as much as she’s used to. Hugs to you both, embrace the “slow”.
Hi Waterfall Will, it seems you’ve had another amazing day, making friends with a fellow pd person with a history of marathon running, and a And then being in amongst the snow and meeting an Aust Cobber dog, a breed I’ve never heard of.
Do so hope Corrie’s elbow heals and the toes and back pains ease. Much love from us both, Sue and Barry
An amazing synchronistic meeting!! Blessings and good health to both of you.
Chris
What a great story of meeting the Nordic walker and the Cobber dog. The waterfalls sound beautiful Will, a very poetic description.
Love your writings, dear Will, and really sorry to read about Corlaie’s bodily issues. Wow, that’s quite a bit for one day, 25 kms. Well done!
We also loved the bit about the nordic poles, with some good hints. We are presently in Sydney with family and when we return, I will apologise to our nordic poles which are at the front door, waiting to be used, but which we haven’t used for years. We don’t see any people at Burlegh Beach using them when we go for our walks, so we will get the usual comments (“There’s no snow here, mate!”) and my usual retort (“Yes, there is – I’m told it’s just around the corner.”). PS they are at the front door, because when I mentoined them to my online men’s group, one of the men advised me to put them at the front door, so I would be much more inclined to use them. So far, it hasn’t worked but I believe your writings will. I have to say that ov er the years, I have seen very few people using the poles correctly, at least as we were instructed.
A great connection with the woman who also has pd, and I hope you stay in touch – she sounds really special. There must be such immediate understanding and empathy for each other when you meet such people, who are also having to deal with pd and yet having such a positive atttude, like yourself.
Much love from Janine and me, and also from Tulsi – a special time together.
Lots of adventures Will! Hope Corrie improves soon