This pre-walk period differs.

Almost always before my other walks, I spend 2-3 days adjusting. Whether Madrid, Lisbon, Canterbury, Lucca, or Minehead, I let my body and my spirit get used to the new time zone, the new environment, the new food. Plunging into a walk hours after arriving in a new place doesn’t suit me.

The Coast to Coast pre-walk differs. I’ve spent almost a week with Charles and Christina and Dwight, and, then another two weeks with Mary. Wonderful memories of London, Liverpool with Liverpool winning a soccer match; Cambridge where Dwight could get a feel for his name-sake and grandfather serving with the US Eighth Air Force during WW2; and then Mary and I touring Norwich, Lincoln, and York before returning to London. We all were in full-tourist mode.

One last day of full-tourist mode. From 8AM until 7PM, I see Manchester’s street art, join a walking tour, visit the People’s Museum, and then the Science and Industry Museum. I conclude with a visiting exhibition of replica Banksy street art. Whew!

Speaking of street art, I enjoy it. Sometimes the street art is like a Rembrandt where the theme is extremely clear and focused. Sometimes the piece is like a Breugel where I have to hunt to find an important, particular piece for the larger theme. Sometimes the piece is like a Picasso with bewildering geometric patterns and colors.

To my thinking, street art is like folk art or a political cartoonist. Folk art can be found on discarded refrigerators, sides and hoods of old rusting cars, and plywood signs and billboards. These works are “inspired” and not dependent upon validation by “high culture” art critics. Political cartoonists write in the moment with a sharpness and, to some, an offensiveness. The cartoonist seeks to be timely and relevant in addressing some social or political issue.

Manchester street art is phenomenal. Some honors the city’s past; some addresses social issues; some is simply beautiful; some I don’t get. I hope that you enjoy the photos.