Here's a view back to a summer seven years ago. To be precise, to 8 August 2004.
I've changed. To begin with, I don't have a beard anymore, and haven't work one that ragged for a while. However I was wearing the same raincoat this morning. It's old, but good for tying on a saddle as a precaution against possible precipitation.
That's Cornel in the background. He was my chief horseman for seven years, during which time we travelled many miles together. We had a lot of lunch stops like that one, quick and rudimentary consuming whatever we'd managed to pack. When there wasn't food, Cornel seemed to be able to go on nearly indefinitely sustained by one strong filter-less cigarette after another. Although I don't smoke, I used to keep a couple of packets in my saddlebags in case of need.
Cornel became a good accomplice and eventually a friend. I miss working with him. He had his faults, I had mine, and despite these (or because of the kinship that our mutually compatible weaknesses gave us) we were an effective team.
It's a long time since I've sat on a high windswept hillside below a dense bank of pine trees. I'm trying to remember where that photo was taken - I think, at a particular abandoned sheepfold just off a regular day ride trail. We dropped down there to eat lunch in a more sheltered place than the bare ridge behind. There was always shelter somewhere at hand.
Only now with the benefit of Google Satellite can I see how those trails trace out. We had no accurate maps. I found trails because Cornel showed me the ones that he knew and together we explored the others. I found overnight stops for people whilst he found stables for our horses. We were a good team. We were pioneers.
That's the Julian and Cornel I remember meeting a few months later. So glad to hear that your hip is feeling better.
Posted by: henchminion | September 05, 2011 at 12:54 AM
There is a big part of me that misses working with Cornel.
Posted by: White Horse Pilgrim | September 07, 2011 at 11:51 PM