Manuel V The Mountain…
The man braced himself at the foot of the mountain.
The wind, blowing hard through the overhead cables made an ominous sound, a chilling soundtrack.
It unnerved him some but shaking it off he pulled his jacket tighter and fixed his hat.
He would conquer the mountain this day. No more would he be defeated.
The man had dreamed of reaching it's summit. He imagined what it would be like to make it to the top - the rush of adrenaline, the satisfaction of success, a feeling so lacking in his mundane, pedestrian life.
Oh yes, he knew this would be the day.
He swore he would die trying.
His girlfriend rolled her eyes and muttered something about it being Belfast and not the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
She didn't understand, how could she? This was one man's struggle against an old foe, not the ancient mountain you understand, these were bigger foes than that. Insecurities would be toppled this day.
The man was determined.
One foot followed another.
Left
Right
Left
Right
Up
Up
Up
The gradient got steeper, it was as if the mountain was fighting back. The wind it's ally, the rain it's weapon.
But still the man, determined, sure, steadfastly refused to be beaten.
His footwork became slower, less confident.
The wind rattling the gates and fences sounded like mocking laughter to the man. He sneered in return.
Onwards
Upwards
No defeat
thought the man.
He could see the summit now, he could taste the victory in his mouth as sure as he could feel the pain in his legs.
His legs, like dead weights, screamed, silently.
Close now
Just a few hundred yards
The man felt good, no....he felt alive....alive for the first time. He felt the spirit of Bonnington and Sherpa Tenzing, of Stelfox and of the Ancients that first tamed these mountains.
He knew nothing could stop him now, not mother gia, nor the howling wind nor the sneers of his "friends".
This would be his finest moment, he had conquered a mountain...he had set his mind to it and overcame all the adversity and self doubt.
This was it, the summit...nobody could take this away from him.
The man took one final step forward, he was ready to unleash a roar, a roar at his enemies, a roar at the world, a primal, guttural roar - a release.
He filled his lungs and stopped, he lifted his drooping head to the heavens, to the grey clouds and was just about to release all the years of angst and pain when he heard a voice..
A child's voice to be precise...
"Look Daddy, there's more people here", squealed the tiny child.
"Very good love, put down the skipping rope and come get a sandwich", replied her father.
Skipping rope? Small children? What was this fresh hell? The man, who had conquered the mountain, was broken for there in front of him was a perfectly lovely family of four having a delightful picnic. The children weren't wearing new and appropriate footwear for such conditions. The boy was eating Monster Munch crisps and the dad was talking on his mobile phone. This was devastating to the man. He thought he had conquered a mountain, he had prepared and he visualised this moment in his dreams. There was no delightful family of four eating corn flavoured snacks and fucking skipping on a fucking skipping rope in his dreams. There was nothing but him and the heavens. He wanted to roar and shake his fist at the gods. He didn't want to make smalltalk about the wonderful fucking view.
The man didn't speak on the way down. His girlfriend was thankful for the wind, it stifled her laughter.
The man got home, sulked and played FIFA 10 until his thumb got sore.
Dear reader, I was that man.
Never try people, never even try because there will always be a child with a skipping rope to trip you up.
Heh...
Belfast, you will kneel before Manuel...
"it's fun to stay at the..."
nice day for a sulk...
extreme picnicking...
moody...
I’ve walked up this a load of times…wish I was there now! Meteor Shower happening tonight.
wouldn’t that just be amazeballs up there tonight….sigh
Yep…if only you weren’t afraid of the dark
it’s not the dark I’m afraid of…..it’s the mountain….heh
That’s a nice view at the top of the mountain (not mound of earth), and I’ll assume there was lovely tea in the Thermos.
there was lovely tea but the wind so so strong I ended up wearing most of it….nice
I’ve heard stories about that mountain…but I live fairly close to it so I love it ^^
spill with the stories….actually don’t….don’t ruin my special place with stories of bodies or ghosts etc….
OK then, I’ll keep ‘em to myself. But the mountain doesn’t scare me anyhoo.
One day I won’t be scared…one day
You sort of both Peaked and Piqued.
For the next two weeks I shall mostly be eating and drinking my way through a town in Valencia (non Kerry)
Jammy git, have a good time old chap
Yes Manuel, you may want to see a therapist too…but for now be strong, buddy.
With my amazing abilities, though, I might be able to spot you in a restaurant
I wanna annoy the HELL out of you…but naww, that’s mean x]
Be careful what you ask for… The annoying soon become the annoyed
Too true…Karma is my way of life.
Well, I live by it. Meh. My motto, or whatever you wanna call it. Way of life sounds more important.
Arf!
Oh you hush up…it’s past midnight and WTF IS THAT A SPIDERBASTARD? HOLY CRAP THAT’S A BIGGUN!
Karma working quick tonight… Well it is Friday the 13th…wooooo
Don’t really believe in superstitions…
…someone in my house saw him today underneath the sofa…*Shudder*
kill it! kill it in it’s face….and then get it’s 500 children…
i once attempted to climb camelback mountain in phoenix, arizona. steeling myself, i got going. clambering over piles of rocks where the trail was supposed to be, i felt rugged and strong, sweating my virtual nutsack off, feeling as though i were climbing kilamanjaro. or black mountain.
at least until i was passed on the climb by a grandmother that had to be at least 100 pounds overweight…
they shouldn’t be allowed out….embarrassing us like that…
Great pics.
Yay for your determination.
I’ve had more than a few meltdowns when the husband drags me on some death march. The Blackhills Great Panic of 1998 stands out. 10 mile trek and I had to poop in the woods like an animal. Ghastly.
oh my….i do fear this issue quite a bit
The Legend we know as Manuel climbed a Mountain & came down a Legend !
It is a far far better thing you have done than I can say, I am starting to ramble now ( See what I did there ? )
Ps, Thank you for the honour bestowed on me as your Official resident Poet!
so. no pressure but i do expect two to three works a week…ha
Ahh I enjoyed this very much
Well done Manuel! I couldn’t walk up it myself without the aid of a sherpa
it really is good times…
“His legs, like dead weights, screamed, silently” – poetic manuel… i’m impressed
shucks, thanks…
You’d best come to my backyard for a proper .
*** NEVER open MJ links at work ***
i was worried too but it’s fine….honest
Manuel,my dear chap what’s with this speaking in the third person all about? My dear fellow these things are simply not done,I would go as far to say,that you’re not playing with a straight bat!
Manuel will speak about himself in whatever tense I find amusing or easy at the time….including mixing it up…..heh
well done manuel…;)
cheers!
I still see you as a fearless adventurer ……… well no not really.
you bloody should…
@Cousin: This link is safe…for a change. Although the name of the trail sounds dirty.
he’s so easily frightened….!