First day back to Durham after the holidays…A moment’s silence please, for level pavements and flat roads.Ok, the hills are manageable; yes they tire us out, and yes they hurt our feet. But I tell you what hurts them more….the cobbles!! (cue scary lightning sound effect)
I’ve just about had it with walking up through town and having to fight with every other desperate traveller for space on those thin stretches of even paving. It’s like walking a tightrope.
Granted, if I’m occupying the even slabs on that walk up to market square from town, or on Elvet Bridge, and a fellow student is walking towards me, occupying the same smooth ground, it’ll literally become a game of chicken. We both know there’s only room for one person and so one of us is going to have to cave and change their course. Somebody has to give up their place on the smooth even slabs and endure cobble hell.
BUT when there’s an elderly person coming your way, with a walking stick or buggy, you’ve no choice, you can’t battle it out to see who’s more determined for their feet to be unscathed…you have to step down and face foot purgatory.
“It’s not that bad” “Why is it such a big deal?” “They’re just cobbles” “It’s not going to kill you”If you’ve ever said any of that to someone complaining about the streets in Durham then I congratulate you on being a pavement saint. But if like me, you’re sick of hobbling around on those uneven excuses for streets, then please, feel free to rant along.
I mean, if I have even the slightest heel on my shoe, I’m obviously going to lose my footing at least once and having uneven ground to contend with means I’m twice as likely to get blistered feet, which is already a pretty likely possibility seeing as EVERYTHING IN
DURHAM IS UPHILL. And, what’s worse, if you were one of the unfortunate few, like myself, to be born with the curse of two left feet, it gives you even more of a reason to embarrass yourself as yes, you will be tripping over a hell of a lot more, and awkwardly scouring your surroundings to check who saw and scale your humiliation from 1-10.
Yes, they are just cobbles. But do not underestimate them, because that’s when they catch you out.
Be safe Durhamers, keep fighting for that thin slither of flat, even, glorious pavement.