Walking the line to happiness

September 23 2010 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Cumbria, #England, #Everton Wright, #EvewrightStudio, #Lake District, #Ola Fagbohun, #public art, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews), #Silecroft Beach, #Travel Beyond the UK, #UK, #Walking Drawings

"Don't mess up, have to concentrate on my place in the line."

This is my mantra, but it's not easy to follow.

As I walk, the wind, using my flimsy coloured poncho, is trying to suffocate me. Doh! My left arm is in the hole for my head. I try to redress myself but the wind is too strong, I give up, but not before creating a hole in the centre.

The walker behind me notices, "Don't worry," he says pointing to his poncho, "I've got so many, I'm surprised the wind hasn't blown it away."

Despite my thick black boots and two layers of black socks, the sea soaks my toes, I consider walking barefoot, but chicken out. I notice others are braver. I later learn they had no choice, as the sea ruined their shoes.

The lines, drawn in the sand, are intersecting, the walker in front of me is about to follow the wrong line, quickly, I yank her back grabbing a fistful of black jumper and coloured poncho. Laughter!

There are no more lines, now we all huddle.

People who five minutes ago were strangers are now tightly hugging each other. Everton untangles himself, and raises his arm, counting down from ten, we eagerly await the signal to scatter.

"Ten!" Like rats exposed to daylight, we scatter. We run fast, some to the sea edge, others, like me to the distant parts of this large sand drawing. I run fast, I have no idea where I am going, I don't care. I run, stop, fling my arms wide and twirl and twirl, without realising it I am screaming and laughing with the sea, sand and sky.

I am acting like a child, but I don't care. Today is my birthday, so I will scream if I want to.

I am not alone, around me others are doing the same. The sense of freedom, from adult worries, the exhilaration of interacting with sand, sea and a diverse group of people, and the joy of being part of something so creative, all made for a perfect birthday present.

Today I am happy.

When I registered to take part, the only thing I was sure of was that this would be an interesting experience. But I was wrong, it was much more than interesting.

This Walking Drawing project gave me a priceless birthday experience one that I will cherish, I feel privileged to have been a part of it.

Thank you to everyone, who made this Walking Drawing possible, especially all of my wind blown and sea soaked fellow walkers.