Miriam Lancewood - Wild at Heart

It took another five months, but eventually Peter recovered sufficiently to begin to think about living in the mountains again. In February 2020 we started preparing. We gave our household belongings back to the second-hand shop. We found our old gear, repaired our tools and equipment, and bought enough ammunition to last for a year.

In March, as we were about to head away, the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread across the world with frightening speed. The country was locked down and the land became quiet. I had the feeling the end of the age of abundance was in sight, and new times were coming.

With Peters kidneys not yet fully recovered, the need for self-isolation became urgent. He did not want to risk catching the virus, so we completed last chores, bought food supplies for six months. And we left.

Where we are now is a mystery.

We left the town and roads behind, and followed a small goat track that led into the high mountains. We found our way to the rocky tops where the wind blew fiercely. In the mist and rain we climbed over the pass and descended on the other side into a hidden valley. We pushed through the tpare until we reached the mountain beeches with a carpet of moss underneath. We followed the creek down until we reached an old tree that was bathed in the afternoon sun. We pitched the tent near the stream, gathered some branches, lit a fire and rested. We found ourselves in a very quiet place.

The beautiful and imposing Neuschwanstein Castle in the Ammergau Alps, Germany.WIKIMEDIA

Setting off into the Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria.MARILYNE FOUQUART

Camping under the oaks in autumn, Bulgaria.MARILYNE FOUQUART

For every meal we light a fire, and everything we own smells of smoke.MARILYNE FOUQUART

Marilyne and Zdravko, Bulgaria.

Rada on the banks of the Yantra River, North Bulgaria.GALYA

Winter in the Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria.F. FLOK

Walking the Lycian Way along the coast of Turkeyour first night with Yasemin and a few hours before the storm hit.YASEMIN

Walking the Lycian Way through a canyon with drooping Turkish pines on New Years Day.YASEMIN

Our cottage in Bulgaria, altitude 1200 metres.

A local beekeeper on a horse explains that his hives have been destroyed by a bear, Bulgaria.

Godley River in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, where we climbed high mountain ranges without a trail.TAMAR VALKENIER

Female expedition with Tamar in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.SAMIAN EN MARGE DU MONDE

Catching a hare for dinner in the Wilberforce River, New Zealand.TAMAR VALKENIER

Sunrise viewed from our house in Mrahau, New Zealand.JF ROBERT

I had no intention of writing a second book, until my publisher suggested it. Her kindness and positivity has helped me enormously. So, once again, thanks to Jenny Hellen this book is in your hands.

I also want to thank the whole team at Allen & Unwin: particularly Abba Renshaw who dealt with media and Maggie Thompson who put in much effort to get the books into foreign territories. Special thanks to Jane Parkin for her editing expertise. She carved the text of this book into a smooth story.

Id like to thank Peter for his encouragement to keep on writing, my sister Sofie, my parents, Jean Franois Robert, Dr Phil Carter for critical proofreading, and Marilyne Fouquart for her generous contribution of the pictures from Bulgaria.

I am very grateful to all the doctors, nurses and social workers who cared for Peter, and me too. One touch, one loving word kept my heart soft.

I am immensely grateful to our good friend Nick Maverick, who looked after Peter while I was on the expedition with Tamar. He encouraged me to go to the wild mountains to find the essence of all wisdom.

I would like to thank Ben Fogle, and the team of New Lives in the Wild for making a beautiful documentary about us in Bulgaria 2019, as well as Floortje Dessing who made another touching episode for Terug naar het einde van de wereld 2020.

And thank you for reading the book.

Kia kaha, Kia mia, Kia manawanui.

Be strong, be brave, be steadfast.

www.miriamlancewood.com

We bade farewell to the snow-capped mountains and forested valleys, the clear rivers and pristine lakes, the icy glaciers and rugged coasts. We watched the embers of our fire fade, drank for the last time the pure water from a clear river. We whistled goodbye to the t and the bellbird, rolled up our tent, shouldered our packs and walked to the airport. We were ready to explore a new frontier: Europe.