However, Richard and Elizabeth were an exception. They were an elderly couple who’d retired some time ago and had clearly enjoyed exploring the world ever since. They were in their early 80s, about 40 years older than me. Richard was a little unsteady on his feet, and clearly the elder of the two. He often used a hiking pole on uneven surfaces.
Elizabeth was a force to be reckoned with. A few weeks before arriving in Peru, Elizabeth broke her arm. As a result, she joined our group in Lima with her forearm in a cast. However, this setback didn’t stop her. In particular, I recall an amusing conversation that Gwen, our guide, had with her in Cusco.
Throughout the tour, we were offered optional excursions. In Cusco, one such outing involved whitewater rafting in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Some of us elected to visit its famous markets. However, Gwen had to gently, but firmly, talk Elizabeth out of going whitewater rafting. As far as Elizabeth was concerned, her broken arm was no limitation. Understandably, our guide wasn’t keen on the idea of an elderly woman with a broken arm riding rapids in the Andes.
From time to time, Richard and Elizabeth slowed us down. For example, we stayed a night on Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca. To reach the village hosting us, we climbed a steep and winding set of hand-hewn stone stairs from the lake’s edge. Richard was clearly in no condition to climb them. As a result, he and Elizabeth took a long sloping path that wound partway around the island.
When it came time to depart, the group spent almost an hour waiting for the couple to make their way down the hillside via this indirect route. Likewise, they were generally last on and last off the tour bus, in part so as not to delay others while Richard gingerly navigated the vehicle’s steep and narrow stairs. If I’m totally honest, more than once, one of us in the group would mutter aside, suggesting they were too old for the tour.
However, their determination to see the world and continue seeing it long after most of us would’ve thrown in the towel was truly inspiring. I hope that Garry and I will become the Richard and Elizabeth of some unsuspecting tour group one day.
When it came time to depart, the group spent almost an hour waiting for the couple to make their way down the hillside via this indirect route. Likewise, they were generally last on and last off the tour bus, in part so as not to delay others while Richard gingerly navigated the vehicle’s steep and narrow stairs. If I’m totally honest, more than once, one of us in the group would mutter aside, suggesting they were too old for the tour.
However, their determination to see the world and continue seeing it long after most of us would’ve thrown in the towel was truly inspiring. I hope that Garry and I will become the Richard and Elizabeth of some unsuspecting tour group one day.
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