Another scare in the UK

Traveling at home or abroad has inherent dangers.  You can either take the chance and do your best to be cautious, or stay home and never see what the world has to offer.  Believe me, there is a lot to see and experience beyond the borders of our home countries.  I choose to grab opportunities to see the world when they present themselves, taking care along the way to be aware of my surroundings and as careful as I can be.  My reward is great, with an ever increasing network of friends from all parts of the world.

Just two days ago, fifty miles south of where I was peacefully sleeping in Milton Keynes, England,  a terrorist drove a van into innocent people walking over the London Bridge.  Then he and two others went on a stabbing spree in the busy Borough Market area of London where people were enjoying life over a meal or drink, maybe on a date or with friends. At last count, seven died and many others were injured requiring hospitalization.  Truly a sad day for those victims and their families.

There are many other victims left in the aftermath of an event like this. Every citizen of London is a victim, now having incidents like this on their minds every time they leave their homes or go out with friends. Every person who chooses to travel abroad becomes a victim, having to take even more precaution to try to ensure their own safety.

While I was no where near London when this happened, of which I am thankful, this incident had an effect on me too.  The next day, I had planned to take a train to the busy London Euston station, then take the Tube to Greenwich for the day.  Those plans were cancelled.  Even though it probably would have been a safe trip, incidents like this force us to question our safety and make decisions to stay as far away from perceived harm as possible.  Opportunities lost due to senseless violence.  Simply put, its a shame the world has come to this.

Anger aside, our alternate plans provided for a peaceful day in the countryside far away from harm.  We enjoyed a six mile hike up and down hills, through a forest, and across fields of new wheat and grazing cows.  We stopped and ate a picnic lunch on a grassy hillside with a beautiful view, then later stopped into a pub for a coffee in a small village along the way. This is the England I love.  This is why I travel. This is why I will continue to travel. At the end of the day, you have to look for the rainbows.