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Thread 7: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

1000 replies

DisappointedReader · 14/07/2025 14:32

The Observer The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Second article in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-whats-in-the-book-and-what-the-observer-has-found

Third item in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-the-truth-behind-the-blockbuster-book-video

Fourth item in The Observer
‘I felt I was being gaslit’ – the landlord who helped Ray...

Thread One ^www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5368194-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?^

Thread 2 Thread 2. To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Thread 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5369425-thread-3-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 4 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5370609-thread-4-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 5 Thread 5: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Thread 6
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5372494-thread-6-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement Raynor Winn

New posters welcome. It would be helpful to read at least the four Observer items above before posting.

To all - Please be careful when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Please do not engage with possible visitors who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail.
Keep on the path as we have done together amazingly well for six threads so far. No saltiness. Thank you.

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...

https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:50

AldoGordo · 16/07/2025 15:42

Is it stated in TWS who the friends are who join them in Iceland? I don't have the book, nor have I read it.

Edited

Isn't it Dave and Julie? They also join TW and SW and are shown in SW's IG feed of 6 Apr 2024 in the cloisters at New College, Oxford before they set off together on the Thames Path.

LostSunglasses · 16/07/2025 15:51

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:41

The nephew and his wife on LI?

Yes, but that's it, isn't it? (And speedily deleted again.)

@AldoGordo, it's 'Julie' and 'Dave' from TSP. They also show up again for the Pennine Way part of Landlines.

ZiggyPlaysGuitarrr · 16/07/2025 15:52

The friends in TWS are Dave and Julie, who they'd met in TSP. They also appear in Landlines. I've wondered about them too as I haven't personally seen any evidence that they exist, but a PP said they appeared in a now-deleted RW Instagram post and photo from a couple of years ago.

LostSunglasses · 16/07/2025 15:53

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:50

Isn't it Dave and Julie? They also join TW and SW and are shown in SW's IG feed of 6 Apr 2024 in the cloisters at New College, Oxford before they set off together on the Thames Path.

Oh, so there's evidence they're real, then? I did wonder!

notwavingbutdrowning1 · 16/07/2025 15:57

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:12

I wonder if Starmer's thinking, 'Shit, why haven't my aides briefed me on The Salt Path?' Can't imagine it's his kind of thing.

LostSunglasses · 16/07/2025 16:01

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:50

Isn't it Dave and Julie? They also join TW and SW and are shown in SW's IG feed of 6 Apr 2024 in the cloisters at New College, Oxford before they set off together on the Thames Path.

I just looked that up and found the photo, but does it actually identify them anywhere as Dave and Julie?

notwavingbutdrowning1 · 16/07/2025 16:03

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 15:50

Isn't it Dave and Julie? They also join TW and SW and are shown in SW's IG feed of 6 Apr 2024 in the cloisters at New College, Oxford before they set off together on the Thames Path.

I've just had a look at that picture on IG. Amuses me that she writes 'The gang's all here' about a virtually empty cloister.

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 16:04

LostSunglasses · 16/07/2025 16:01

I just looked that up and found the photo, but does it actually identify them anywhere as Dave and Julie?

No but the previous post says they are about to start the Thames Path with Dave and Julie who are referred to in the IG post as "the gang's all here". This I take to mean SW, TW and Ray and Julie

There is also a Thames path FB post showing them on the walk togeher

Huge pleasure and privilege to meet... - Thames Path National Trail | Facebook

Uricon2 · 16/07/2025 16:04

LostSunglasses · 16/07/2025 15:50

The funny thing is that, looking at those two photos and asked to choose which one is

(1) the cheery poet whose book about walking the Pennine Way starts with funny anecdotes about apparently having 'small lungs' and his wife saying wouldn't it be easier for him to have a more predictable midlife crisis and grow a ponytail and buy a Harley, and who is

(2) the dubious confidence trickster and pathological liar

you'd probably say that poor, blameless SA looked like the sinister one. He always manages to look surly and vaguely shifty, and in his Poet Laureate official photo he looks like he's up in the dock for petty theft. Smile

This 100%. In that photo he's just picked up his CBE and looks like he's found out his overdraft has been cancelled just before he heads for a root canal. A natural photographic subject he is not. Does show you can't judge a book by its cover.

FlyAgaricc · 16/07/2025 16:06

Uricon2 · 16/07/2025 16:04

This 100%. In that photo he's just picked up his CBE and looks like he's found out his overdraft has been cancelled just before he heads for a root canal. A natural photographic subject he is not. Does show you can't judge a book by its cover.

@Uricon2 absolutely hilarious

AlertCat · 16/07/2025 16:08

Cakeandcheeseforever · 16/07/2025 15:17

@AldoGordo if you block rabbit holes isn't there a risk of blocking rabbits already inside the holes from getting out, could that kill them?

Rabbits dig. They could dig from inside to get out as easily as they dig from outside to create the burrow in the first place.

PullTheBricksDown · 16/07/2025 16:10

ZiggyPlaysGuitarrr · 16/07/2025 15:52

The friends in TWS are Dave and Julie, who they'd met in TSP. They also appear in Landlines. I've wondered about them too as I haven't personally seen any evidence that they exist, but a PP said they appeared in a now-deleted RW Instagram post and photo from a couple of years ago.

There's more evidence of Elvis still being alive than this! I'm not convinced.

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 16:14

PullTheBricksDown · 16/07/2025 16:10

There's more evidence of Elvis still being alive than this! I'm not convinced.

Huge pleasure and privilege to meet... - Thames Path National Trail | Facebook

AldoGordo · 16/07/2025 16:25

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 16:04

No but the previous post says they are about to start the Thames Path with Dave and Julie who are referred to in the IG post as "the gang's all here". This I take to mean SW, TW and Ray and Julie

There is also a Thames path FB post showing them on the walk togeher

Huge pleasure and privilege to meet... - Thames Path National Trail | Facebook

Edited

Saw this just now as well. So they are real. Wonder what they are thinking.

Re: chat about friends in pp...this is written in acknowledgements at end of TSP.

For all their patience and generosity as we sofa-surfed through their lives, I’ll always be indebted to Adi and Cara, Sue and Steve, Janette and of course Polly. Sorry to all of you – for loitering too long in your bathrooms and using all the teabags.

Sue and Steve likely refers to SW's sister and BiL. Janette is likely TW's sister.

Who are Adi and Cara? Is Polly the old school friend who they stay with over winter?

FlyAgaricc · 16/07/2025 16:28

AldoGordo · 16/07/2025 16:25

Saw this just now as well. So they are real. Wonder what they are thinking.

Re: chat about friends in pp...this is written in acknowledgements at end of TSP.

For all their patience and generosity as we sofa-surfed through their lives, I’ll always be indebted to Adi and Cara, Sue and Steve, Janette and of course Polly. Sorry to all of you – for loitering too long in your bathrooms and using all the teabags.

Sue and Steve likely refers to SW's sister and BiL. Janette is likely TW's sister.

Who are Adi and Cara? Is Polly the old school friend who they stay with over winter?

@AldoGordo no thank yous to Tim's brother

Redheadedstepchild · 16/07/2025 16:30

So they're Dave and Julie then? More doppelgangers. The, "House In The Country" couple, Dave and Julie...

...and as we know, Salnor bears a remarkable resemblance to peak Baywatch era Pamela Anderson...

Lots of people seem to look like our plucky duo. Apart from Simon Armitage.

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/07/2025 16:31

PullTheBricksDown · 16/07/2025 14:58

Yep this. The letters published with the 'how very dare you' rebuttal don't show either a) any existing damage or terminal diagnosis, and b) the miraculous reversal produced by the walk. And as I said earlier, RW can say how intrusive it is all she likes but it's what it would take to clear them of deception about Moth's medical condition. It will say quite a lot if they don't do this.

What is interesting about the brain scans is that one letter (2015 or 2019, the former I think it is) says the previous scans have been normal and they are requesting more and will write after that. This follow on letter is not provided.

I presume from that nothing was found, or else that would have been included?

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 16:32

AldoGordo · 16/07/2025 16:25

Saw this just now as well. So they are real. Wonder what they are thinking.

Re: chat about friends in pp...this is written in acknowledgements at end of TSP.

For all their patience and generosity as we sofa-surfed through their lives, I’ll always be indebted to Adi and Cara, Sue and Steve, Janette and of course Polly. Sorry to all of you – for loitering too long in your bathrooms and using all the teabags.

Sue and Steve likely refers to SW's sister and BiL. Janette is likely TW's sister.

Who are Adi and Cara? Is Polly the old school friend who they stay with over winter?

Janette may be TW's sister

FlyAgaricc · 16/07/2025 16:32

@Redheadedstepchild lots of doppelgangers about. I feel a collage coming on

mauvishagain · 16/07/2025 16:40

I'm not a neurologist but I was (before I retired) a medical doctor and have covered aspects of neurology in training and in work. The contents of the hospital letters gets raised quite frequently so I thought I'd try to explain more. Skip this is you don't want a neuro tutorial!

Symptoms and signs are different things. Symptoms are what the patient compains of - and in neurology, they can be many and varied, and of course no-one but the patient can know what things actually feel like to them. The 2nd paragraph in the 2015 letter lists the symptoms.

Signs are what an outside party can see or elicit. Some of these can be faked (eg you could imagine you could hold a limb very stiffly out of choice), some would be much more difficult to fake.The third para in the 2015 letter is about this. An experienced neurologist should have a good feel for genuine signs, and there are little "tricks of the trade" that can sometimes help distinguish between genuine and fake.

Looking at the signs: firstly, Parkinsons disease and similar states often affect a person assymetrically, and usually lead to reduced voluntary movements. So reduced L arm movements is entirely possible. The "myoclonus" refers to that irritating involutary muscle twitches that we all sometimes get, not a bigger jerking movement; I can't think how you'd fake myoclonus. "Abnormal posturing of the left hemibody while he walks" fits with his illness but is it for real? I haven't seen TW bending or leaning awkwardly in any pictures or videos. Ideomotor apraxia would be pretty easy to fake; stereognosis ditto. Basically these mean that he would find it difficult to repeat demonstrated movements, and to recognise position of parts of the body (shut your eyes, ask someone to move your toe or your thumb - you know what position you're holding it in even though you can't see it. Neuro damage can mean that the brain can't tell the position). Saccadic eye movements are very quick and brief flickering movements of the eyes as they move; I don't think you'd be able to fake those. So we really just have the eye movements and myoclonus. Hardly severe, hardly a terminal state.

By 2019, he's had a scan which shows "dopaminergic depletion" - ie less of the chemical dopamine that you'd expect in the brain, and this gives weight to the idea of a Parkinson-type illness. He also has "atypical disturbance of the anal sphincter function" - let's not go into this too much! It could be neuro - but usually it's not!

It sounds from these letters as though there's been virtually no neurological disease progression over the years though clearly TW has had some more recent heart problems.

Catwith69lives · 16/07/2025 16:49

SWCPA also considering dropping SW&TW as ambassadors according to the DT.

Coastal charity may cut ties with The Salt Path author Raynor Winn

Interestingly I read on one thread that so many foreign readers of TSP have read the book and want to come to the UK to walk "The Salt Path" that there was some debate about whether the SWCP's name should be changed to The Salt Path. I suspect that this idea may now have been put on hold!

Uricon2 · 16/07/2025 16:51

Thank you @mauvish for the insight and explanation.

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/07/2025 16:56

I'm wondering about pregabalin withdrawal syndrome, given the rapid withdrawal in TSP. Would that result in the flickering eye movements and myoclonus?

That's the sort of thing I have had since withdrawing from pregabalin. It can cause ongoing problems.

I'm also a bit surprised the neurologist didn't mention the pregabalin and coming off it, the one I saw was quite interested in the meds and side effects etc

FlyAgaricc · 16/07/2025 17:02

@Catwith69lives Yes, I noticed that. I think some of the articles about her on their website are no longer available. They had a page about salt path walks with extracts from her book. I'm not sure if Salt Path is a term she coined?
I wonder if she'll ever dare to walk the SWCP again...

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/07/2025 17:03

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/07/2025 16:56

I'm wondering about pregabalin withdrawal syndrome, given the rapid withdrawal in TSP. Would that result in the flickering eye movements and myoclonus?

That's the sort of thing I have had since withdrawing from pregabalin. It can cause ongoing problems.

I'm also a bit surprised the neurologist didn't mention the pregabalin and coming off it, the one I saw was quite interested in the meds and side effects etc

Edited

I notice here those kind of things come under the side effects. Note that it shouldn't be stopped abruptly.

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/3156-Pregabalin-medication-titration-FINAL.pdf

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/3156-Pregabalin-medication-titration-FINAL.pdf

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