It started out as a rather nice day (for November), but then the wind gusted and the sky turned dark, and it grew even windier, again to the point of almost not letting you hold your ground. On goes the pack cover, out come the rain pants, rain jacket, and poncho, and on they go, too. Struggle as you do against the wind, the rain itself does not smash you in the face until you are fairly close to your destination. This state of things brings to mind a Talmudic argument:
Should one should get all gussied up for the rain when it looks like rain whether forecasted or not forecasted even if it is not yet raining?
The House of Shammai says: No. If precipitation is not precipitating, then one should not parade around in rain garb, most especially not in the ridiculous poncho, and as far as the orange gaiters go, forget it! To do so is an affront to normal people and the fashion world at large. Besides, it makes a person look like a gantze mesehugeh (big fool).
The House of Hillel says: Yes. If it looks like it is going to precipitate, one should make preparations in advance so as not to get soaking wet trying to get all the garments garbed when the precipitation precipitously, not to mention suddenly, comes raging down as it is wont to do. To do so is an act of wisdom. Better one should look like a gantze meshugeh than be a gantze meshugeh.
Besides, did not the Holy One, blessed be He, instruct our ancestor Noah to build the ark before the deluge so as to be ready when it came?
The House of Shammai says: Yes, so did the Holy One command, but Noah was a tsaddik (righteous person) and deserving of special attention. But since the destruction of the Temple, we are no longer talking arks, we are talking clothing, which should be worn judiciously, not in a haphazard manner.
The House of Hillel replies: Since Adam and Eve started the shmattah (dress) business back in Gan Eden, a business that has served our people well, we should wear any and all garments as often as possible. Therefore, rain gear should be put on at the first suggestion of a sprinkle.
Rabbah Miryam omeret (Vicki says): To be prepared is wiser than not to be prepared.
And now, back to the trail.
Doesn't this look like Mwnt, that special hill we saw a while back? Well, it is not Mwnt and it is not considered especially special, although, it, too, can be climbed if one wants to risk traversing a very narrow strip of land to get to it, remembering all the while the warning signs, "Cliffs Kill."
Beach at Newgale:
There is definitely a Sphinx-like face looking at you here:
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