(This post was done on behalf of ROBERT PHELPS -show him some love by commenting on it to him!)
My walk of Life by Robert Phelps February 2nd, 2016 will always have a special place in my memories. This was the day I completed my quest, my journey that I had planned almost ten years before as I stood in the minus 15 degree winter weather, huddling around a fire that wasn’t quite warm enough. I asked “Have you walked around the lake?” to Milos, my wife Margarita’s 1st cousin whom she grew up with. His answer of “what for?” His answer surprised me, had I been a young boy in this beautiful area I would have explored every inch, permission or not! From that point on I had it in the back of my mind to trek the Lake. Fast forward to November 23, 2011. I awoke on my Birthday with hope that perhaps I have decided on the best possible present-to myself! I decided to quit a habit of over 35 years, a ball and chain that has held me back both mentally and physically with such a force that I could only have dreamed of escaping. As the day went on, I counted the hours without a smoke, 10 o’clock, 12, 6. Somehow, I managed to finish the day without a cig. The next and following days became a bit harder, but somehow. I managed to finish with cigarettes for good! After 5 years cig free I decided to merge my celebration with the quest to walk around the lake. To be truthful I had no idea how far it was when I decided, I just knew it had to be done. I figured and hoped that my lungs and legs could carry me the distance to complete my quest. I started my journey at 0845, a rucksack on my back, containing a bottle of water,2 cans of white spray paint and 13 crème bananas. I decided to travel counter clockwise around the lake, figuring that if I could make it around to the shops of Anovi, the village as you enter Mavrovo area, at least I could buy food or something if needed. It turns out the walk was a lot longer than I could have anticipated. When I was just before the half-way point. I walked down to the lake through the deep snow to reach the pebbly shoreline to complete my other idea. I was exactly across from our villa on the beach. I found several rocks, big and small, placing them in a heart shape on the rugged shoreline. I then used the spray paint to make them all white to be easily seen. This heart was my love for my wife, for her to see from our villa. It was a secret that involved Viktor, her other 1st cousin, who helped me with the spray paint. I am sure that Victor and Milos thought I was a bit strange for these actions. As I walked my mind wandered, I intentionally focused on all the years wasted smoking, all the money spent. Each cig butt on the side of the road would remind me of how many thousands have I put on the roads, and the roads were many, stretching from one end of our country to another. Also. expanding to Europe, Asia and the far East. To think, I have probably littered in more countries than most people have even seen! What a sad realization! The remoteness of this beautiful area was highlighted by the fact that only 2 vehicles drove by me on the other side of the lake. One was full of workmen, he slowed right down and started talking Macedonian to me in a brisk manner. I said Ne razbiram, which means “I don’t speak the lingo”, he smiled and waved his hand in the air with a half circle, then drove off. He could have been offering me a lift, or perhaps wanted my wallet, I do not know. The most interesting phenomenon to me was that in 5 separate areas there were some type of geothermal venting coming from the lake (unfrozen). It felt like a hair dryer was blowing up from the lake in an area about twenty feet across. As it was Feb 2 and the temperature was around 10-12 C. this warmth not only amazed me, it made me too hot! I was already hot from my pace so I did not need any further warming up. With each area that I discovered there was an invisible yet completely defined border at each end. I experimented a bit by marking the snow with my foot on each side, then after a couple of minutes checking the spot, they maintained the area exactly, unwavering and distinct. I have never seen anything like this before. At about the Three quarters mark I was back on the main road that leads back into Mavrovo. My feet were burning and I was feeling my age, twice I pulled out my mobile to text my wife to come pick me up, twice I put it away. On the left side of the road where I was walking a small meadow opened. In the meadow. there were a few cows grazing on the grass where the snow had receded. When the biggest cow saw me, he immediately walked up to the side of the road, as if to check me out. He not only came closer but decided to walk adjacent with me. With his bell around his neck softly ringing he came closer to me, keeping pace! Then, he started walking into me, pushing me into the street! I tried to push him away with no luck, he weighed 4 times as much as me! After about 50 feet of him trying to keep me on the road I finally yelled loud and slapped him hard, he then slowly strode back to his mates. I guess he was just being friendly? When I had finally finished my journey, it took 6 hours and 15 minutes to complete the circle, which I realised was about 25 miles, my feet were burning and my body sore. It took 2 days to recover and get back to normal. I am happy now to say that I did it, at the ripe young age of 52! I think it is important for all of us to celebrate our accomplishments, big and small, in any way possible, especially the ones that bring us health and happiness.
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