I do enjoy my morning
runs by the River Lune as it snakes it's way through the centre of
Lancaster. Not only is the fresh morning air exhilarating but I
actually find running by the sleeping dragon quite inspirational in
my constant battle with Meniere's Disease.
When I first arrived
here as a student back in 1990 I was told about how the Romans
founded the city. The story went that they decided that the hill by
the Lune would be an ideal point to set up shop as it had a perfect
view all around for keeping an eye on pesky Celts and possibly a few
sneaky Picts.
However, there was just
one little problem.
The river was in the
wrong place.
In order to ensure that
they were firmly secured, the river needed to go around the base of
the hill and not in its existing straight path. So it was that the
Romans did to this force of nature what they did to just about
everything else: they subjugated it and bent it to their will. They
dug a new path for the Lune that gave the river it's familiar kink
around the base of Castle Hill, they settled Lancaster and the rest,
as they say, was history.
There is, however, one
problem with this story.
It never happened.
Recent archaeology has
shown that the river was never moved. It has always been in the
position that it occupies and resolutely flows from hill to shore
blithely ignoring all who stand in its path.
So this is the true
inspiration for me. A river that refuses to be cowed by the actions
of others stands as an example for me in my constant battle against
Mister Menieres. My journey may twist or turn, but as I continue I
shall build in strength and power until one day I shall overcome and
see the ocean blue.
Don't forget, you can catch up with my writing bits and pieces at the following places:
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