Just imagine losing your home and business, all in a week. To make things worse, within days your partner is told he’s terminally ill and you’re virtually penniless. That is the start of The Salt Path, a fascinating journey of two ‘novice’ backpackers on the South West long distance footpath.
So many things to love about this book. The honesty and poignancy of their struggles and reflections of how life had dealt a cruel hand to Ray and her partner Moth. I loved the comical interactions with other people along the way and the stories they’d tell to explain their situation, together with the reactions of folk when they really explained their homeless destitution.
Along the footpath, wrapping around the south west through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, it provides such vivid descriptions descriptions so you really feel you’re there with them through all the highs and lows. You hear of the times when people are mean and selfish alongside real generosity from complete strangers. You hear those beautiful descriptions of the rugged coastal path and all it’s glory through the seasons and the gales blowing against their little tent.
You can certainly imagine the perils of wild camping and the need to maintain a sense of secrecy for fear of being moved on in the night. You can also imagine the challenge of being a vagrant in trying to eat well enough to keep going, especially when you’re down to the last 50p, or less.
Happily they made it, all 630 miles. They also found something to cling on to at the end through a couple of doors opening at the right time. Moth went back to university and they could undoubtedly live relatively well on his student loan. Another chance encounter led to renting some accommodation at the end of their trail, just at the right time and in the right place.
Throughout the pages, it’s a reminder of how fragile life can be at times. How things can unexpectedly suddenly turn against you and without any chance of turning the clock back. And yet there is something there which even in the darkest, most hopeless times, that keeps them going, somehow.
Life does seem delicate at times and yet that’s why we have to lead our lives well, to always seek to do the right thing, whatever that might be.
Footnote – In true Doug tradition, the book hasn’t been treated very well having got rather wet in the boot of the car one day. It’s up for grabs if anyone wants it – it’s a good read – just let me know via the contact screen and I’ll happily post it to you.