Day Twelve The Walk Begins Now

Day Twelve  Wednesday June 9

My Genius Loci

TIME FOR THE NORTH DOWNS WAY

We're going We're going We're going......

The reason I'm here has finally arrived. Oh yeah, I'm going to walk 153 miles starting today! Thats a disputed number, some guide books say 130. They cant seem to agree. 

I got my Talisman. You can't start a pilgrimage without your pre-travel homage to the earth beneath your feet. Here is my little household god, my genius loci. In Roman culture he is the image that represents  the protective spirit of a place.  A little gargoyle I got in York Minster for this very purpose.

I will also carry a stone I picked up at the start, a small piece of flint, and leave it at the finish as an offering. 

The beginning of the path is uninviting and non-descript. Its a signpost. Thats it. Just a wooden post at a busy roadside beside blaring speeding traffic in Farnham.

Not that I wanted a monument
or a huge sign, but come on.... 
lets have some fanfare! See? 153 miles! Says it right there! 

But further along there is a NDW bench, one at the start, one at the finish. 









Bubble bursting time - Shhhhhh can you keep a secret? 
In reality the concept of the Pilgrims’ Way as a single path is actually an artificial creation, dating back only to 1871 when the route in its current form was added to an Ordnance Survey map by one of the OS surveyors, and even then is so inaccurate and without historical evidence that the Ordnance Survey itself have called it a blunder. Still, why let that get in the way of a good walk, its a fun concept, use your imagination and become part of ancient history, like sleeping in a cave.

We're off!

This post with an oyster shell on it is a reminder of the deeper meaning of the NDW walk. A printed laminated sign wishes that all walking the path will find the journey inspiring and spiritually uplifting. The pilgrims walked from  Winchester or London via Canterbury to Rome, longing to see the Holy City and for some the Holy Land. The steady flow of pilgrims may not have been in great numbers, but the reverence of the remains of St Augustine of Canterbury, those of St Anselm and later of St Thomas á Becket, will have given cause for individuals and parties to set out to gain spiritual benefits. Besides, walking is good for you. How can you not feel powerful when you're out in nature walking?

Linda and Me at the NDW Bench

A Friend

A Sunken Road, Made By Many Feet, Hooves and Cart Wheels

Day One Section One - Done! 

This wasnt a pretty walk, not today. The nearby highway was an inescapable, constant drone, there was a lot of paved road walking. Signage was poor or nonexistent in places.  There will be areas of beauty but stolen. This is a warmup reminding me to be humble and that the best is yet to come. 

I  wont lie and tell you this was easy, it hurt. My butt hurt, that dent on the side of the Gluteus Maximus.
I dont use that muscle much and almost 13 miles was a push. My little toe is rubbing on a seam so I wrapped it in a piece of sheeps wool.
The good news is after some stretching and rest it was fine. I can only get stronger.
I also have a massage booked for tomorrow evening!
We have no rest days, we'll be walking continuously for the next 2 weeks while trying to fit in sights and do other things. 
All the same, it feels wonderful, being out with the birds, the woodland animals, rivers, coming upon an ancient sunken track and thinking about the people who walked there 1000 years ago. I am motivated by accomplishment and nature. Lets do this! 

Beautiful 1589 / 1683 Guildhall at Guildford

Getting Organized for Day Two and Beyond