Derricks Return Post

I have spent many hours over the past few weeks wondering about the post I would write on the blog on my return. I know folk will want to know about the mountains, lakes, fauna, flora, the challenge, weather, food, health etc. etc. There is one question I have never been asked “what about the people?”
I must start this post with the people: From the first penny that was donated to our cause (supporting Cancer Research Wales) to my return to Caerwent my faith in humanity has been restored. When you look at what lays ahead when you have many mountains to climb we tend to think “how?” What I found was that there are so many people in this world who are not evil, selfish and greedy, but friendly, willing, helpful with kindness & generosity beyond belief. Whatever the mountain you have to climb in life your challenge will never be faced alone. Stewart would say to me “you always look at your mug as being half empty” I now know he was right, my mug is now half full! When we were in the “High Pyrenees” or “Pyrenees Proper” we would wake up being surrounded by high mountains, thinking how on earth do we get out? There are routes, its finding them and working hard to battle your way across the terrain, through the elements and over the summit or col. Endure and your objective will be met. “If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to finish”. We have a thousand people to thank, from the folk that put a penny in one of our pots to the folk that donated a few hundred, from the friendly chat on the mountain side to the encouragement and advice. Family, friends and strangers alike!