The Salt Path
by Raynor Winn
Raynor and Moth Winn, on losing their home in a legal dispute, become homeless and walk the South West Coastal Path whilst the husband, Moth, is diagnosed as terminally ill.
There was general agreement, dismay and in one case, anger with the opening chapters with regard to how the couple came to be in such a sorry state.
However, beyond the opening the story of the walk was generally appreciated, and the issues it raised gave the Club cause for some good discussion.
Image: Raynor and Moth Winn on the Coastal Path, Guardian Newspapers Ltd.
The book was not liked by everyone, and the prose digressed into “lecture mode” at times, e.g. statistics on homelessness, which detracted from the quality of the writing.
Also the book was presented as “there seemed to be no option but to do the walk” but the group felt that there must have been some pre-meditation involved.
Everyone empathised with the physical struggle, unfit and unwell people walking the ups and downs of a coastal path, with a backpack, cold, wet and dirty, and with insufficient food, and little money, is a tough call.
Their fitness noticeably increased as they stuck to the job in hand.
And in spite of the adversity, there is plenty of humour, and there are many random acts of kindness.
There are a number of themes in the book including injustice, homelessness, how to live on next to no money, life on the edge of society.
There were many interactions with a variety of characters, from dog walkers to sheep shearers, from generous people to those who “passed by on the other side”.
The Australians were good fun.
Ray and Moth spent so long out of doors that they became tuned in to the nature of the wildlife around them, including the evening quietness of the thieving seagulls.
The development of character and attitude was subtle but present right throughout, and both Raynor and Moth showed great fortitude in just carrying on walking, but at a deeper level they learned a great deal about themselves and about society.
Their relationship showed amazing strength in the face of severe adversity, and they came to see the coastal path as their home.
Book CLub rating: 4.1 out of 5.
PC, 6th April, 2019.
Further reading:
Click on:
'Nature was my safe place':
Raynor Winn on homelessness and setting off on a 630 mile walk.
Folk song: Mary Ellen Carter / Overcoming adversity.
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