I went for a longish walk today. I tried, with mixed success, to follow the example set by Phil Smith’s practice of mythogeography, or at least to slow down and look at the city in a new way, with fresh eyes. I did see some odd things: iridescent pigeons and camouflaged mallards, a forester trimming tree branches who reminded me of the man roofing the church steeple in the Al Purdy poem, busy streets and empty sidewalks, closed shops and assertions of business-as-usual, friendly greetings and apocalyptic warnings. I walked until my feet ached and my back hurt. I stopped for a snack and a drink of water, and listened to a large flock of cranes flying north. Then I turned for home.
Maybe one thing I might be able to take away from the pandemic is a new way of thinking about walking. That might help to make up for having to take a leave of absence from my studies. It’s something worth considering. I’ll think about that idea the next time I go for a walk.
Or, we can just continue to walk virtual caminos until it’s safe again! Good to see you out walking today. We were too. Now down to the blog!
Geoff
I’m enjoying stopping to look at things—it’s very different from my usual plowing ahead. It would make long days even longer, though!