I decided on Monday night that, regardless of the weather next morning, I would resume my walks in the Castle Grounds. So I was a little less than enthused when the day broke wet and windy although, to be fair, at 4℃ at least the temperature had increased. So, waterproofs duly donned, I set off with the aim of being back at The Woodlands for my coffee just after opening time (10am in the winter).
I set off with my face into the wind and rain and chose a route into the trees and eschewed the coastal path. After a few hundred yards along a path into the woods I stopped to blow my nose and turned my back to the direction of travel for a few seconds whilst I did so. When I turned back there were two people about 20 yards in front of me. I was rather puzzled because there were no paths joining in that 20 or so yards and they hadn't been there before I turned round. I just wondered and carried on at the same pace as they were walking.
They appeared identically dressed. They both had dull peacock blue hooded jackets with the hoods up. The person on the left as I looked at them was slightly shorter. They were not holding hands so far as I can recall.
We walked on and then I looked down for perhaps 10 or 20 paces as the rain was in my face. When I looked up again they had disappeared. They were not on the main path. They would have reached two other paths off to the left and right. I had a clear sight down both for far further than they could possibly have run in that time, never mind walked. There was nowhere else for them to have hidden.
Some things in life may just never be explained.
On the topic of unexplained things like Pixies here are the pictures of the book The Adventures of Pip as suggested by Rachel in a comment on my last post in case they jog any memories.
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| 1948/9 Edition |
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| 1968 Edition |
Interesting
ReplyDeleteI believe there are times when concentration disrupts the sense of time. Where did they go maybe one of those moments. :)
That's a thought, Maywyn, although with my notoriously atrocious powers of concentration some people might have difficulty with that theory.
DeleteThey may have been aliens from some distant galaxy - tracking you with a view to "collecting" you and taking you back to Planet Zog to be displayed in the "Creatures from Other Planets" Theme Park.
ReplyDeleteA pretty poor specimen I'd make, YP, which, of course, could be why they gave up. One of the things that people have asked me is whether I'd seen them before. The answer is in the negative. Given that it's not the tourist season and that most of us walkers in the woods in the winter are acquainted if only to say 'hello'they may well be aliens - from The Mainland!
DeleteThank you for putting up the Pip book covers. They would have held my attention without even opening the book. I regret I do not recognise them so conclude I have never come across the Adventures of Pip before. As for the mystery of the appearing and disappearing walkers I cannot help except when similar things have happened to me, and they have, I have put it down to a lapse in concentration and it spooks me that I allowed it to happen.
ReplyDeleteRachel, you mention a lapse in concentration. The only things that were in my mind were the horrible walking weather and the Radio 3 Essential Classics. However short of the supernatural I can't offer a better explanation.
DeleteGood introduction for a promo for the book.
ReplyDeleteRed, a friend who writes short stories has already started one based on this incident.
DeleteMaybe you were in the company of angels? though I would have thought angels would make themselves useful
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Kylie, it would seem more like the work of Scottish Brownies or, given my previous post, perhaps English Pixies. Both would have had to have scaled themselves up - or scaled me down.Brownies and Pixies are largely benevolent too.
DeleteCan't see any of those wearing hooded jackets. More likely to be trolls in disguise.
DeleteVery strange! I wonder whether they'll turn up again if you walk the same path another time.
ReplyDeleteMeike, I've walked that path many, many times and never seen them before. Who know, though? These things are sent to puzzle us.
DeleteI hav experienced similar phenomena but not at that time of day.
ReplyDeleteYes, Adrian, it was a bit early and the Stornoway 'morning gatherers' who are a pleasant few don't usually leave the cover of the main gate to the grounds.
DeleteHow strange! Perhaps I should have some of what you were having! :)
ReplyDeleteI know there is appropriate music to play here while reading this post!!
There is a welcome strong wind blowing here at present cooling things down - no rain, but I'd love some. If it rains I might even be tempted to go hobbling around out there in it...steering clear people clad in peacock blue hoodies...or if I run into any, I'll give them short shift and tell them to scoot!
Yesterday and the day before we experienced horrendous heat...it was stifling...and so very humid...so debilitating.
Take care, Graham....and don't talk to hooded strangers! Remember what your mother told you! :)
Lee, you have started me on a long line of thought now: things my mother told me. Perhaps there are some posts to be had from that idea.
DeleteHmm. I have nothing to offer by way of explanation of the hooded strangers. But the books...I wasn’t allowed Enid Blyton as a child, although I did get hold,of one Famous Five book, and loved it. I absolutely loathe Noddy. There’s something very sinister about him.
ReplyDeleteFrances I had a very poor imagination so I saw nothing in the Noddy books except a lovely red and yellow car. Apart from the fact that he had a pointed red hat with a round bell at the end I couldn't even tell you what Noddy looks like.
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