Tranquil Transcendence

I have started almost every blog expressing how excited I was about it so that has left me speechless this time. This time I had more reasons to be excited, so umm, don’t know the word to express it (perhaps my editor can help me here…). I’d rather just share the reasons I was more excited and thrilled. And the word I get is ‘Overwhelmed’. Imagine you had a small dream- a small wish to reach out to likeminded people in an unknown land. You reach to the edge of your comfort zone and let your passion chart out a road for you to meet the new in a different terrain- and then woosh that wish gets granted.

Yes, when I started Himalayas Within- I wanted to reach out to my kind of tribe- and imagine we already had the first soul to join us on the trail. So here it goes- Serene Gets Transcended. Apart from some of my friends, a lady reached out on our Instagram page and joined us.. Splendid!! My goal of bringing like-minded people from around South of England took a step forward. Gosh! I still feel the goosebumps… and I once again trust in the magic of new beginnings.

This hike was particularly chosen because of the terrain and location. It mainly comprised of flat terrain to walk but had a little climb. It started at the Silent Pool and the Sherbourne Pond, gradually climbing to the St. Martha’s Church and then downhill through farms to the end. A roughly 10 km hike with moderate difficulty level.

We gathered at the Silent Pool which isn’t as spectacular as they say (or rather might give some an eerie feel due to the silence and stillness) but the history behind it is fascinating. It is the only major spring source in 10.5 miles region, located at the foot of North Downs, a ridge of chalk hills. The Silent Pool is considered sacred by some based on a tale that says King John abducted a woodcutter’s daughter on his horse who was forced into deep waters and who drowned. It is believed that she still visits the pool at mid-night (you get now, why I said eerie!).

We took the steps up on the left to begin our trail which had a beautiful Albury vineyard on its left. The terrain was amidst the woods with a wide enough path to walk. Soon, the flat walk turned into a gradual climb which was a surprise element for everyone. The girls’ gang was very enthusiastic, and we had some wonderful conservations going – some one-on-one, some in group.

But together we most enjoyed being in the woods, on this hike, doing something different than usual weekends, and breathing the air – fresh with abundant oxygen. Ahh! The pleasures of living close to nature.

My leadership responsibilities kicked in as the trail took us deeper and deeper, but we could still hear the vehicles slightly. I was more conscious about following the trail and not losing it this time as I felt responsible. One of the girls had a dream previous night that we were lost in the woods for days and that she was conservatively sharing her crisps, so they would last us long!! Well not a chance of that happening in Surrey, nevertheless, I didn’t want us to get lost, panicking everyone and averting them entirely from join me again.

Soon, we hit the A25 which we had to cross over, and we came across the Newlands Corner Visitor Centre which was a highlight of the trail – to find refreshments and washrooms on a hike. Delighted, we took a quick refresher break and continued our journey on the North Downs Way (Purple markers). Shortly after, we reached a quiet lane which as per the guidelines we had to cross over and take a flight of few steps on the other side, to get into woods again. We met 2 gentlemen who seemed to be lost and upon talking to them, we found out they were doing the same trail using the same guidelines! Wow, fellow explorers!

We figured out the further path together and chatted about our common interest – hiking. We lost the guys a little further ahead on the trail and it was us again – a bunch of 5 girls. It was darker here even on a bright, sunny day due to dense trees and woods. Blissful! By now, everyone was getting a hang of the surroundings, and although tiredness was pouring in a little, we were discovering (inner and outer) peace.

Continuing on that heavenly terrain for a while, not much worried now about the trail and drenched in the feeling of tranquillity, we reached the top of the St. Martha’s Hill where St. Martha’s Church is located. A wedding was taking place in the church and we saw the bride with her bridesmaids and the priest performing some ritual outside the main entrance of the Church. We stood by the gate of Church grounds so not to disturb the ceremony. All of us said a silent prayer and wished well for the groom and bride in our hearts and also thought, what a beautiful location to transcend into a life full of unknown adventures and hiking on a life together.

From the other side of the Church ground, you can get a spectacular view of the valleys and two villages of Surrey – Chilworth and Albury. We relished the beauty and captured the views in our cameras as best as we could. As we started walking away from the Church, we came across a swing made by rope tied to a tree and a small piece of a tree branch. The child in me couldn’t resist a ride!

But the adult in me was considerate for others’ time, so I left the swing quickly and we moved on. The path took us into deep woods with a portion of sandy terrain. Wonder how sand managed to get there! I guess, we will never know. We kept following the purple marker. Suddenly, at one point, one of us came to a hard stop and claimed that we have been past this path before. Rest of us were startled as how could one know! All the paths had trees, were shady and were deep into woods. When asked, she showed us a tree trunk that had turned black (perhaps due to some disease) and said she remembered she saw this tree before. Now one couldn’t be wrong about it as the tree was quite distinguishing. So, we followed her lead, I checked the instructions again and re-interpreted it, we went back at the junction where we had taken the probable wrong turn and took the estimated correct direction forward.

Kudos to that observant lady, we soon reached the base of the hill. The trail was now going to take us through open farms after a short concrete walk. A complete change of sight. A narrow pathway, pagdandi as we say in Gujarati, led us through the farms with fence running on both sides. Dry, long grass touching our legs with their tweaks as we walked through the pagdandi, gave a welcoming feeling. There were open brown farms on both sides of us, until one point, where we were thrown out of the narrow fenced path into openness, into open farms, with no boundaries, no fences.. we felt bewildered being in the field with no restrictions – but we were mature adults so instead of running wild into fields, all the wildness that we bore was to take videos, pictures and to spread our arms wide to take in the wind. I read about the path forward on my instructions, rolled the pages and put them on a side pocket on my bag so I can freely open arms.

We walked through the open farms into another pagdandi that ran through the farm but was leading quickly into woods. The path brought us on a road, that seemed to be a less busy one, with one narrow street across it going uphill. I reached to my side pocket but couldn’t get hold of the instruction pages, so I removed my bag to check – Hola! I had lost the instructions! Some of us started checking google maps, but I soon found a purple marker on that narrow street going uphill. We hit it. Oh man, I just love these markers!!

Not sure how, but I recollect us walking amongst the farms on a pagdandi again. I think I was leading the way, and others walking in line behind me, when, suddenly, I heard some excitement behind me. I turned, only to find out that the two gentlemen we met earlier were with us again. I waved at them from distance and they waved back with my lost instruction pages in one of theirs hands! One never knows the purpose of someone crossing one’s path until that purpose is served. For the umpteenth time, I was left astounded by the puzzle of life that I love to solve.

We approached the main road, A25 and the Silent Pool Car Park was only a few meters away. Amused, cherished, content, with a feeling of accomplishment, with wildness and calmness within us, I believe we all conquered a wee bit of the Himalayas within us…

Author: Chahna D. | Edited by: Milauni T.

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