7 miles with the Extinction Rebellion Lightship Greta
Yesterday I got back from my first two nights away in 6 months. Up until a week before I didn’t expect I’d be able to make it. I thought I’d have to put activism on hold till next year. It’d already been almost a year. I’d watched the Black Lives Matters protests online knowing that going into the city to protest was too much for me. Instead I’d listened to some of the podcasts about BLM and the importance of intersectionality.
A week long convoy was making its way to London with the Lightship Greta. Last year I joined the walk from Hurst Green without giving it a second thought from Hurst Green. This time was different. I am trying as much as possible to feel my way to recovery. I’ve been building up to this over the last 6 weeks with a wild camp and hike each week but it wasn’t till last week I thought it was even possible that I could join the walk.
I prepared my food and rested before hand. I arrived into Horsham at 7pm and was greeted by the samba band and as I looked round to the right to the Lightship Greta was coming into the town. Perfect timing. We walked a short way to the college and our neighbouring pre agreed camping spot for the night. A few of us went to set up camp. People walked back to the field to get food. I opted to stay — tired and just wanting to eat and go to bed. One guy remarked on this, checking I was okay to stay “on my tod”. I just said I’d already eaten as I didn’t have the energy at that time for an explanation. It felt strange as I normally love the communal eating of actions. I started to think about what it might be like for people with eating disorders, not wanting to be seen to be eating in public or be able to eat regular food along with everyone else.
I had a night time tea and slept so well, better than I normally do when wild camping. I woke up early at 5.40am although that’s normal now for me. The air felt autumnal and you could feel the subtle shift in the seasons. My tent and sleeping bag had condensation. I packed up. We left a few hours later, closer to 10am. It’s always hard to leave early in a big group but for me it takes energy to wait around. I saw someone doing yoga and joined them making my own practice.
When asked if I could push or pull the lightship I said I couldn’t as I had Lyme disease. There was another girl who said she was arthritic so she was out too. We walked together. I was glad there was someone else in a similar boat. Normally I would have been pushing/ pulling it. It was a big deal for me just to be there. As we chatted I asked if they’d brought their own food — yes. It was re — assuring to hear it was a reality for someone else too.
The day was long and slow, we didn’t really stop for lunch. The boat wheels behind got punctures. I thought back to a ride I’d done years before from Birmingham to Stratford where 4 of us got 30+ punctures between us. I think without all the punctures it would be unlikely I’d have remembered the ride.
The lightship got stuck on overhanging branches so it had to be carefully manoeuvred, reversed and with a stick gently prized from the branches. I developed a sense of respect for everyone on this mission. A couple of times we stopped for a bit longer and I lay exhausted on some grass by the side of the road. I would have loved to have stopped for an hour for a lunch stop but logistically it was difficult.
The last mile seemed to drag on for so long. We were almost at the camp but it seemed we were always still a mile away. We finally made it there about 4ish. I’d heard how the day before had been really hard and they hadn’t reached the camp till 7pm. I was grateful we didn’t have another 3 hours to go. Even though we’d come only 7 miles it had taken us 6 hours.
When we arrived on camp it felt cosy with big trees making it easy to forget that round the corner we were essentially in the suburbs. We set up and had a evening de brief and check out. I always like check ins as they create a space to share how you are feeling. They are common in activist groups, but I see their value in other places. The main reason I found out I might have Lyme was after explaining how I was feeling at a check in for a meeting. I notice their value even more when I’m in large groups, it’s just so helpful to know where everyone is at. I want people to know that I have Lyme disease, it makes it easier. I’ve met people with Lyme along the way who prefer to keep it a secret, but as there is so little awareness about it I feel it’s important to talk about it. I might save one person from getting it. Incidentally with climate change Lyme disease cases will increase so it felt there was even more reason to be protesting.
Sometimes I had to take a step back from the group but once you’ve shared why this is the case it feels you can just do what you need to. A friend of mine joined the camp with two of her kids which was lovely. In the morning as breakfast and teas were set up I noticed in myself how this would normally be something I’d do.
I left the camp by 7am, feeling proud to have made it. It’s taken me 6 months to get to this point. No small achievement. I came back and had a slow day, unpacking, sorting my stuff and having a bath in the afternoon. Time is different when you are ill. Rest days were rare for me before, I was always busy. I’d have holidays up till the night before work and on rare occasions even the morning! Now I need the rest before I do anything else.
I thought about returning to London for the final night or two which is in large part down to the group. I knew even though I’d be exhausted after being able to be a small part of this epic journey would uplift me. When I’ve come back to rest it feels ambitious. If I did it it would be the first week I’ve camped more than once. It’s already the most I’ve achieved. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow.
