St. Columbanus was a Celtic saint and a peregrini. A pilgrim for the last 15 years of his life, he died in 615. Esther de Waal quotes him: “Therefore let this principle abide with us, that on the road we live as travelers, as pilgrims, as guests of the world…” What a wonderful expression, “guests …
619. Odds and Ends: Humor, Political Statements, and Art
Because I try to write and include relevant photos centered around a theme, I don’t include all sorts of interesting photos, at least photos that I find interesting. I know the English have a sense of humor; however, that humor makes rare public displays. There are occasions though. Sometimes the humor depends upon the observer …
Continue reading 619. Odds and Ends: Humor, Political Statements, and Art
618. Clouds
Early Light Porthleven Bude Rain coming Does anyone see me, I don’t care. I’ve got places to go, shapes to take, though I know not where. Like an actor in a play, I change. Sometimes in the first peeking light of morning, I let you see a bit of me, but only a bit. Sometimes …
617. The Wonder of Rocks and Stones
I feel them under my feet. I reach out to them next to me in order to steady my balance as I descend a slope. I see them above providing convenient handholds as I climb a steep incline. Slow-travel allows me literally to come into contact with primeval features of earth. As I slowly walk …
616. Apprehension and Expectation
I’m awake at 5AM. I’m apprehensive and expectant. I’m apprehensive because of the 100% chance of rain with wind gusts of 25 mph. In similar weather conditions, my 6 mile walk two days ago took 5 1/2 hours. I had to walk slower than normal with the driving rain, the obscure path, and the scrambling …
615. Adjusting to the Sea
Ilfracombe Interesting Fact: every part of Cornwall is never more than 17 miles from the sea. Porthleven As humans, we have always interacted with the sea. Here along the Cornish coastline, there are dozens of Neolithic sites. It is no accident that these very distant ancestors lived by the coast. Besides the fields and woods …
614. Keep the Water on the Right
“Keep the water on your right.” A wise reminder! That is the wisdom for those of us hiking the South West Coast Path from the north to the south. Growing up, I was not around water very often. My brother Chuck probably remembers better than me our boat ride on Lake Michigan or our family …
613. Stiles
I’m walking. I’m moving through some woodlands and approaching a grassy field. What do I expect, a stile. I don’t expect stiles in France. I don’t expect stiles in Italy. I expect stiles in England because these ingenious portals allow walkers to cross into fields where sheep, cattle, or horses feed, while assuring those animals …
612. People Belonging to (on) the Way
Richard I anticipated that this slow- walk would be different than my other “recognized” pilgrimages. I know that English on the surface appears to be a secular nation. As a result, I realize that I won’t meet many people who are walking with “faith” motivations. No crowds of fellow pilgrims as on the French way …
611. English Parish Churches
Another quintessential English landscape feature is the parish church. In Cornwall alone, there are over 200 parishes. A lot of churches! Despite many of the medieval Norman style churches “restored” in the mid-late 1800’s, the churches still generally have their characteristic shape. The stone cruciform exterior usually has, but not always, an attached bell tower. …
Journeys: Explorations in Body, Mind, and Spirit 