The Trail, The River and a Blessing

 


Yesterday’s hike was a whole adventure from start to finish. It all began at City Park where everyone gathered to buy tickets and get ready. As always, the vibe at the meeting point was lively, people reconnecting with old faces, exchanging smiles, snapping small-small pictures to lock in the memories before the real journey even started. Soon enough, mobilization began and we all moved in a convoy toward the hike site. On getting to the site, before stepping foot on the trail, the organizers gave us several warnings: “This hike is not going to be easy, brace yourselves.” At the time, I thought they were exaggerating, I was shouting we active up and down omo it was later I realised they were not lying one bit. The destination was Usman Dam and the path that took us there was no joke. From slippery roads that made every step a risk, to steep falls that tested balance, to high climbs that demanded real energy, it was a true battle between tired legs and determination.

In the middle of all this struggle, I met a girl named Blessing and honestly, meeting her felt like a soft pause in the chaos of the climb. She’s fair, average hight, with a pretty face that carries it own quiet charm. At first, she came off a little reserved but as we walked and talked, I realized she is the kind of person who makes conversations flow effortlessly. She listens deeply, replies with thought and has this way of making even random topics feel meaningful. Her cute smile made the journey lighter and before I knew it, I was hoping the trail would stretch just so the conversation could last longer.

Eventually, I pushed on and made it to Usman Dam. The view was nothing short of breathtaking, the wide river stretched out before me like a masterpiece painted into the earth. Some folks I met along the trail were already talking about getting into the water. Me? I just laughed and shook my head: “Lol, dey play. Me wey be salt wan enter river? Abeg ooo



We stayed there for a while, taking in the scenery, cooling off and just enjoying the collective relief of making it to the destination. But the real challenge wasn’t even getting there, it was the journey back. Going down was like a movie of its own, people were falling left and right, sliding, tumbling, grabbing onto anything for balance. Luckily, the organizers had prepared glucose here and there to keep energy levels up and bikes on standby to help those who just couldn’t make it down on foot.Somehow, with plenty of small slips but no major drama, I got back to the starting point without needing any rescue and by the end I was drained, but at least I could hold my head high like “I did it.” Now, I’m just at home recovering little by little, laughing at the memories and still thinking about how the mountain gave me more than just a tough trail and a river view, it gave me more......

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