A gorgeous bright sunny bank holiday Monday is just what everyone wishes for. Me too, but with bright sunny weather comes other issues For me.
Taking my son out to a great little play park in the Forest of Bere, this means that I can also free run my guide dog in the woodlands, she loves finding sticks and jumping in the streams and puddles.
Today as we got a lift up to the forest, it appeared that most families had had the same idea, there was nowhere to park, so a thankfully we were just getting dropped off. But being a veteran of these woods I knew that this would be ok.
Walk just 10 minutes past the park and adventure playground and your have tranquility.
maybe the odd group of older children making a camp, oor the odd dedicated dog walker, but none of the families enjoying their picnics while the Kids play in the parks.
But although I know this area very well, but with the puppy out comes the long cane. In an off road track this isn’t ideal, but its better than nothing.
As I said earlier, bright sunny cloudless day’s are a struggle. For me this comes in stopping me from using my remaining sight, relying purely on light and dark and shadows and sounds.
Vicky free runs wearing a play collar, this collar has a bell on it the makes a noise every time she moves (fantastic when she disappears off into the woodland)
My son is a little chatterbox and loves to sing woodland songs, so with strategically dressed bright clothes that contrasts when he runs into the woodland too to find twigs & bugs. So I know where he is too.
But on brighter days my concentration to keep safer safe and be aware that I’m not smothering him in Cotton wool is exhausting. Mix this with panics over shadows of the trees That are created by the sun above suddenly appearing out of no-where and its quite a tricky walk in comparison to doing it on a cloudy day.
I still enjoy it, but when we get home the dog isn’t the only one who is exhausted.
Would you be able to navigate around rough terrain if your vision was clouded so you could only see the light against dark or shadow?
I would love to experiment with a few friends, wrapping scarves around their face just to let the light in, but no view….
even if you read this, but don’t go that far, I hope this post has helped you understand seeing my way!
