We're Alive!

Living as nomads creates the most marvellous memories – but the best fun-times are free, unplanned, and make you feel alive!

Along the canals near Buzet Sur Baise in SW France cherry trees hang heavy with plump fruit. So many adorn the cycle paths that even the birds can’t keep up, and thousands of cherries fall to the ground to rot.

With our buddy, Lorna from MV Sunflower, we set off one Sunday morning armed with bags and boat hooks – blinkered on the task ahead.

‘Just around the corner,’ was the next best tree, which meant many kilometres later, but the sun was out, we had no appointment to keep, and the tree had to meet certain criteria:

• Climbable
  
• Big, large, ripe bunches of cherries
  
• Not in someone’s garden
  

Image courtesy of worradmu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At the first favourite tree, we dithered and stuffed about. It was hard to climb the straight, branchless bottom of the trunk. Noel soon lost patience and cycled off to find ‘a better tree’. Meanwhile, Lorna leant against the tree and said, ‘right you, climb on my shoulders and get up there!’

She’s a tough chick, Lorna, and didn’t groan too much under my chunky boots, weight, and lack of elegance in using her as a ladder!

Up I went, higher and higher, the bucket was filling quickly, meanwhile, Lorna picked up what I dropped and snagged lots more via the boat hook.

Image courtesy of Prawny at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I found myself grinning through the experience, at forty-four I didn’t expect I’d be lifting my heavier body into the welcoming branches of a tall tree, and I’d forgotten what fun it is; you can’t think of the world or your worries, you have to concentrate on what each hand and foot is doing. You’re slightly removed from the world with your own unique view, and you are hunting and gathering – back to basics!

After what felt like hours, I climbed down again, using my human ladder (thank you Lorna), and cycled off to find Noel. My head was full of images of finding him at the bottom of a tree with a broken leg, but I was still grinning after having so much fun.

Several kilometres later, as I was just about to turn back, I spied his bike; several ‘coooo eeeees’ later and finally I received a reply, from thirty feet up in the air.

Noel had found his ideal tree and was merrily playing monkey with a full bucket of cherries and a big grin.

Noel's tree climbing ability has improved - Palmerston Island

‘Thank you,’ Noel said to his tree as he carefully climbed down. ‘That was brilliant, so quiet and peaceful within the arms of nature.’ I smiled back at him, such simple moments are to be treasured.

Noel and I morphed back to our childhood; up in the arms of the tree you could almost hear the children’s squeals of summer fun that we both had in our youth.

That was a few months ago, we are still all eating sweet cherry jam and tart chutney (better known as sauce as it is a little runny) – but it's all so incredibly yummy.

We still reminisce about that day – it was unique, special and fun – and totally free; a moment in time when we remembered to feel alive.

Now, I am tapping my foot waiting for the apples, but I must dash, I’ve just spied some black-berries!

What simple, fun, free things have you done on your travels?