Strangers from Overseas came for the neolithic hill forts. The Romans came. The Angles and Saxons from northern Germany and southern Scandinavia came. The Vikings from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden came. The French from Normandy led by William the Conqueror came, and landed at Hastings. The Spanish in the Armada came. Plymouth Sir Francis Drake …
676. Fifteen Rules for Pubs
Okay, I’ve eaten in plenty of pubs. While I pick up a pre-made ham and cheddar cheese sandwich from M&S sometimes or go to a real restaurant occasionally, I usually find myself in a pub several times of week. I’m no expert, but I do have a list of “Rules for Pubs.” 1) You have …
675. A Breakfast Table Comparison
I’m enjoying breakfast in Winchester. I’m in that limbo period, post-walk completion, pre-Mary and cousins arrival. Since I have time to mull over this last walk in comparison with some of my other walks, I want to tease out my sense that this walk has been more of a “domestic” walk. While each long-distance walk …
674. Why Should the Last Day Surprise Me
On the one hand, I’m eager to reach the end of the South West Coast Path. I’m looking forward to the large, artistic sign symbolizing the end of the SWCP (or the beginning if one is just starting out). I’m hoping that I don’t have to wait long for one last ferry to catch a …
673. Fellow Path-Walkers Conversations
When I walked the Via Francigena, I did not talk to a single fellow walker until I talked to Russ around the tenth day of my walk. Not on the South West Coast Path. Almost every hour I’m saying hello, chatting about the weather, “oohing and aahing” about the view. I’m not having some conversations. …
672. Thatched Roofs and Quaint Cottages: English Villages as Destinations
As I’ve mentioned before, every day shortly after noon, I begin to look forward to my night’s lodging. Despite names like East Farm BnB, my lodging has all been within villages or towns. My desire to reach my accommodations for the night is always heightened by my romantic vision of thatched roofs and quaint cottages. …
Continue reading 672. Thatched Roofs and Quaint Cottages: English Villages as Destinations
671. “Not One of Them…But I Am”
Torquay English Riviera When I look at a map, I’ve moved through a considerable part of southwestern England. I would suppose that I’ve seen plenty that this part of England offers. But I haven’t! Walking the SWCP allows me to become acquainted with England about 100 yards on each side of the path. I regularly …
670. Signs
I usually keep a look-out for signs. When I recall the times that I’ve gotten lost, I usually do so for a number of reasons. I get distracted. I intentionally decide to follow a different way. “Gee, the map shows a trail cutting across land here, I’ll try it.” Or, I unintentionally follow a public …
669. “A Poor, Ignorant Girl”: Mary Anning
She hears all sorts of words like these. One fellow enters her shop and, we can hear his disdainful description, “a little dirty shop, with hundreds of specimens piled all around.” She writes to a friend “the world has been unkind to me” and “the world has sucked my brains from me.” Ouch! Look at …
668. Shapes and Structure: Our Interacting with the World On and Near the South West Coast Path
In the previous post, I presented a number of black and white photos showing the natural world on and near the South West Coast Path. This post looks at some of the ways we have impacted that world. What would humans do without stones? Stones were used by humans to mark special, "sacred" sites. They …
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 