Couldn’t find them

I took my phone out with me yesterday with the intention of getting a couple of pictures of the trees I mentioned before.

I had a fairly clear idea of where they were. Not exact, but close enough that I expected to recognise the spot once I was there. The trees themselves are still there. I’m fairly sure they’re the same ones.

I couldn’t find the carvings.

I went back and forth along that stretch of the path more than once, checking trunks on both sides. Nothing stood out. No markings, no cuts, nothing that looked even remotely like what I remember seeing.

It’s possible I’ve mixed them up with another part of the woods, or that I’ve been misremembering how obvious they were. The more I think about it, the less confident I feel about details that seemed clear at the time.

I mentioned it in passing to an old work colleague when we spoke the other day. She laughed it off and said it sounded like I was working myself up over nothing. Hearing it out loud, I can see why it comes across that way.

Still, I know what I saw.

I’m going to go back again soon and take more care this time. I might record the walk properly, just so I can stop second-guessing myself.