We arrived at our lodge in Pembrokeshire and we were all just dying to immerse ourselves in some nature. After being in a city for 4 weeks with no escape, it was unbelievably comforting to see some trees and water. The adventure lodge sat atop a plain that overlooked the beach about a mile down the road, and the views were breathtaking. There was a pony in the field out back and huge grassy areas to have bonfires and play soccer. I was excited to explore the nature on my own. We were in the middle of no where in a sense and I desperately craved some alone time. I love the people I've become friends with, but being surrounded by the same people day in and day out with no outlet gives me anxiety. In Wales, I was able to wander around near the lodge and the beach and just take in the quiet and the beauty of being alone. I needed only about 30 minutes, and I rejoined my group so we could get ready for bed, as we had a long day ahead of us.
The first activity we go to participate in was coasteering, and this ended up being my favorite by far. Coasteering involves gearing up in a wetsuit, a helmut and a life vest, traversing across rocks in the bitterly cold sea, swimming through caves, climbing up cliffs, and proceeding to jump of them. I used to be a swimmer, and in my early high school days I wasn't half bad. I gave it up to focus more on school and my social life, and it wasn't until Wales that I realized how much I missed it. I was swimming in front of everyone in our group, my adrenaline beginning to pump. All I wanted to do we swim. I asked people to race me, I swam in circles, and I swam in and out of caves with the guide. I felt so free and so adventures and it popped into my head that I really need to swim more. I also decided that I need to live somewhere like this. Somewhere with mountains and oceans and huge rocks. I really want to learn how to rock climb as well.
We made it back to the lodge for a hearty lunch and a 20 minute nap, and when we woke up for kayaking I was exhausted. Kayaking was fun, but my body ached from the morning and my arms are severely lacking in strength. We had a huge head wind and choppy waters, but they taught me how to capsize my boat and roll back over, so that was fun. Our guide for the afternoon was a girl not much older than myself. She was from New Jersey, had been to Wales on an abroad program weekend just like me, and loved it so much that she just picked up and moved there for a year to work for the adventure lodge. It was so inspiring. Some people are so brave and just let life take them anywhere, and I really hope I can be like that. She also had this really cool blonde and purple hair, which made me want to dye my hair purple again when I get home. Sorry mom.
That night, my shoulders ached as I sat on a bench drinking beer with these people from Mississippi. I talked to them for hours and we built a bonfire. It was so relaxing and I honestly didn't want the weekend to end. The next morning we went on a seven mile hike through the cliffs, over the ocean, and it was truly beautiful. The weekend was comprised of more physical activity than I've participated in all summer, but at least it made me realize that I want to do these types of things all the time. I'm thinking Colorado. When I graduate next year, I can literally go anywhere in the world, and that's crazy to me. Well, anywhere I get a job I guess. But that's a whole other thing. Anyway, I highly suggest that if you ever make it to the UK, you make a point to get to Wales. There may not be a whole lot there, but there's something special about being in a place that feels as if it remains untouched by man
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