Pilgrim's Progress – Long Distance Walks in Europe and the UK

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun John Keats – To Autumn One of the many treats of going on a 1,500 mile charity walk, is that it takes you out of your normal routine. It’s not every day that I can sit outside a tent cradling a mess tin brimming…

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The hop that swings so lightlyThe hop that shines so brightlyShall still be cherished rightlyBy all good men and true. Hop picking poem – anonymous The day got off to a slightly disappointing start when I awoke to find that my washing had failed to dry overnight! Thankfully I have brought a sufficient quantity of…

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When to the sessions of sweet silent thoughtI summon up remembrance of things past,I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste: Sonnet 30 – William Shakespeare It was a short day but a full one in every sense – full of sights and sounds…

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A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Endymion – John Keats Mark Easton and his partner gave me a lovely stay at their house in Dorking. We stayed up chatting until well past 10pm! Mark sent me on moy way with another ‘Full English’ – my fourth of the week! The day started by…

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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God The Baptist Herald and Friend of Africa – William Carey I was sad to say good bye to Vince and Veronica Short. They were incredibly kind, highly entertaining and were also a mine of information about the history of Tatsfield. As I left Tatsfield Church…

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I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his ridingOf the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding The Windhover – Gerard Manley Hopkins What ended up as probably the most satisfying day of the walk so far, didn’t get off to a particularly promising start. I had enjoyed a…

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Who, or why, or which, or what, Is the Akond of SWAT? The Akond of Swat – Edward Lear I found myself reciting the first few verses of Edward Lear’s famous poem ‘The Akond of Swat’ as I woke up this morning and pondered the question, who are the Order of Carmelite Friars and why do…

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‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.’ Richard III Act 5 Scene IV – William Shakespeare Today was an early start so that I could fit in an appointment in Chilham and make it to Canterbury in good time to look around the town and Cathedral. I made my way back onto the…

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Journeys end in lovers meeting Twelfth Night Act 2 Scene 3 – William Shakespeare In some strange way, I feel that my journey to St Peter’s Rome will only really start in earnest, if and when I make it across the Channel to Calais. Until then, it is a bit of a teddy bear’s picnic.…

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The sea is calm tonight.The tide is full, the moon lies fairUpon the straits; on the French coast the lightGleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Dover Beach – Matthew Arnold What an amazing night! I’m still not 100% convinced that I didn’t dream it all.…

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