This is Y December 2020 Digital Edition

EXPERIENCE
EVEN SOMEONE WHO
IS BLIND CAN SEE
AND FEEL YORKSHIRE’S
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY.
I got onboard, trekking 220 miles
across Nicaragua from the Atlantic to the
Pacific coast was a gruelling experience.
Scaling a 5000 foot volcano (stepping
two centimetres to the left or to the
right would result in a 2000 foot drop),
tramping through dense tropical jungle
in temperatures of 40°C, was certainly
a challenge, with crocodiles and snakes
deciding amongst themselves whether
they should eat you now or later. Pushing
another traveller who was in a wheelchair
and sleeping in hammocks was exhausting.
Each morning I thought I can’t do it, I
worried that physically I wasn’t capable of
tackling the arduous journey ahead. I then
realised it had to be power of the mind
that would get me through and it then
turned into the most wonderful experience.
Work initially brought me to this
great county I now call home. I love the
breathtaking beauty and even someone
who is blind can see and feel it.
I’ve walked the Yorkshire Three
Peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and
Whernside), 26 amazing miles in 10 hours.
I can’t physically see it but I can feel the
wind on my face and I have incredible
images of rolling green hills in different
shades. Sometimes I think I have a better
picture than a sighted person. It’s like
reading a book that’s then turned into a
film. The picture conjured up in the mind
is often far more vivid than when you
actually see the cinema interpretation.
Returning from another far-flung
destination, I recently headed to The
Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa
in the Dales to embrace quiet relaxation,
delicious cuisine and to have a lot of fun.
Being handed a double-barrelled
shotgun for the first time ever was surreal.
As a blind person it’s crucial to listen to
instructions. A helpful instructor explained
the importance of taking the correct
stance. If you pull the trigger and you’re
not in the right position, flying back and
toppling over is highly likely. The gun
was loaded, I carefully rested it on my
shoulder and I was about to fire. Luckily
my positioning was bang on and although
I was scared, I also had an overwhelming
feeling of exhilaration.
For my second go I relaxed into it
more, but the jolt is powerful every time
and the intense smell of gunpowder made
me think of how life must have been in
the past, hunting and gathering to survive.
It may seem like a reckless activity, a
blind man clay target shooting but with a
sighted professional instructor to verbally
guide and ensure I was aiming in the right
direction, all went to plan.
I didn’t know what an archery bow
looked like or how it felt. It reminded me
of a violin bow and I was convinced I was
going to play music. Surprisingly, the skill
of firing an arrow requires a lot of strength
and I was relieved that my time at the gym
had prepared me well. The bow has to be
pulled back gently. My sighted instructor
gave me accurate guidance, encouraged
me to relax and the sound of the arrow
whooshing through the air at top speed
and hitting the target with such force is
something I will never forget.
Opposite: Amar gets to grips
with a shotgun and collects his
arrows. Above: Professional
instructors guide Amar through
the experience. Below: Amar
stayed on the beautiful 1,400
acre Dales estate.
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