Now Read This: “The Salt Path,” by Raynor Winn

It began with a small mistake. Moth and Raynor Winn simply trusted the wrong person with their friendship and their money. And at first, their business investment was only a minor loss. But when they received a court summons for the repayment of a debt they never incurred, everything snowballed. Their savings ran dry as they paid for lawyers. Their incorrectly-filed evidence became useless in court. The home they restored and the business they created were taken away because of a technicality.

Everything they worked for over their 32 years of marriage vanished in just a few short days. Just when this news started to settle, Moth was diagnosed with CBD, an untreatable disease that had already left him in severe pain with limited mobility. He wasn’t going to live much longer, but they didn’t know exactly how much time was left, either.

Not two weeks later, Moth and Raynor found themselves homeless at age 50 with little hope for their future. But this led them to the beginning of their next big journey — a hike across the South West Coast Path. With only the items they would need, Moth and Raynor set off on this 630-mile trek from Somerset to Dorset, where they would test their very limits and learn to believe in the future.

Raynor Winn’s autobiography “The Salt Path” has wonderful writing that conveys a great amount of insight into this couple’s feelings as they impulsively set off on their new adventure. In this narrative, she shows the powerful bond she and Moth share even during the hardest parts of this expedition. Raynor’s detailed writing not only helps share her outlook on the world but also manages to keep the story moving quickly. I really enjoyed this biography and would recommend it to anyone who likes stories about traveling or is looking for something motivational.

If you would like to check out another title like this one, you might try “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, which is about her more than 1,000-mile hike after a tragedy struck her family. Both titles are available in print at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.