A LESSON FROM THE TRACK

“I can imagine lots of couples do something like that for their 25thwedding anniversary, why would you go to an exotic Island to relax when you can walk a 430km trail!” The response, sweating sarcasm, from my old sports teacher, at a chance meeting on a 25km training hike. Romantic, sand soaked, sun bathed, blue water- bliss 25-year wedding anniversary celebration options never appeared on our ‘trip advisor’ as we considered the challenge of a long- distance hike. Sifting through alternatives to the heavily trodden El…

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24/12/2019

discovery / Experience / Germany / hiking / HISTORY / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

PATHWAYS AND DOORWAYS

Absorbed into the trail, my footsteps join the collage of those who have walked before me, documenting my transient participation in deep time. My personage is enshrouded by a mystery of greatness. My thoughts centre around a vista of heroes, whose legend clings to trees, drips down rock faces, clacks on cobblestones, flows richly in rivers, and breaths in the valley-draping mist. Their stories shape direction, blaze trails and create pathways for precedent. Horizons scaped with valour, inspiration, discovery, innovation, perspicacity. They were the vanguards of…

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10/11/2019

Germany / hiking / HISTORY / long distance hiking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / walking / wanderlust

IN A COFFEE CUP

Moving up to the Drive Thru window, I order my regular soy cappuccino. “Would you like a Wallfahrt with that? Some Bohemia? A Warsaw Pact? Honey? Bread? Or perhaps Red or White Main Water?” With no knowledge of the ingredients, I consider the options. A pinch of Bohemia requires a crash course in Kingdoms, Reichs and Republics, of noblemen and Nazis. Are the Germans, Hungarians and Austrians in or out? Can the Sudeten and Egerland Germans stay or must they go? We’d have to draw some…

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10/10/2019

discovery / Experience / Germany / hiking / long distance hiking / RAMBLINGS / Slow living / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / walking / wanderlust

SIMPLY SLOWLY

Summarizing slow living: ‘You see stuff, hear stuff, learn stuff, connect stuff, appreciate stuff.’ For want of an ideologically saturated, nausea inducing attempt at describing a commonly cliched state of gratitude, mindfulness, contemplation and solace; simple is best. Simple is transparent and simple resonates. It sits well with the territory; the tractors, the old towns, the church turrets, the corn fields, village fountains and the ever - present tabby. Simple is what we have strapped to our backs, stuffed in our mouths and sets the unassuming…

4 Comments

27/09/2019

Germany / Gratitude / hiking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / walking / wanderlust

OF HISTORY AND HOPE

“Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.” Ronald Reagan, West Berlin, 1987. “The wall will be standing in 50 and even 100 years.” GDR Head of State Erich Honecker East Berlin, January 1989. “It comes into effect according to my information, immediately.” Günter Schabowski, East Berlin, November 9th, 1989. “Now what belongs together will grow together.” Willi Brandt (Berlin’s Mayor), November 10th, 1989. “The wall was not brought down by Washington, Bonn…

2 Comments

21/09/2019

australia / Determination / discovery / Experience / hiking / LIFE RAMBLINGS / milestones / positive thinking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / Uncategorized / walking

ARE YOU KID-DING?

“Because the teachers hate me.” Is the sweaty response from the continuously complaining 14 year old as to why he was in the most difficult hiking group on the school camp. “That way they don’t have me hanging around base camp for three days.” His athletic, teen build and energetic aura hinted at the more likely reason he’d been selected to pound the three day trail from Tidal River, to Waterloo Bay and on to Sealers Cove. Radiating heat from rugged granitic rock faces smothers conversation…

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16/02/2019

blessing / Experience / Germany / hiking / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / walking

LEAVE IT AND TAKE IT

There are stories here of ancient times, deep concealed caves, underground lakes, Jurassic Dolomite outcrops, bloody battles, wayfarers, pilgrims and faith transformed. Peoples have peregrinated through the valleys of the Franken Jura, this Fränkische Schweiz for centuries. We connect with their footsteps and weave our trail in its magnificent history. Beneath rocky limestone outcrops we leave laughter. On fortress peaks we leave awe. Along rivers windy we leave stories. In deep caverns we leave intrigue. Across rich green fields we leave gratitude. At town squares…

5 Comments

25/10/2018

Germany / hiking / joy / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized

Schnitzel with Noodles

The soothing symphony of cowbells settle in the soul, The crisp sharp lines of mountain peaks deliver a sense of whole. Crystal lakes like diamonds shine glaciers ancient and old, Dazzling days and freezing nights the best of warm and cold. Herds in celebration mark a season turned, As shepherds drive their cattle down a winter break they’ve earned. Festivities of traditional dress, brezen and beer daze, A livelihood from cheese and milk of Hirten and Berg ‘Käs’. Balconies billowing red geraniums bright offset against fields…

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28/09/2018

blessing / hiking / joy / RAMBLINGS / TRAVEL / TRAVEL RAMBLINGS / Uncategorized / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Rhode to Riches

The I-95 takes us out of NYC via New Jersey on a drive that crosses 5 States in one day. New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A drive through heavy industry; old manufacturing towns reformed, shaking old images, creating new economies, right through to quaint oceanside Newport. Where the history of commerce and trading runs deep, from slaves, to cargo and in later years gladiatorial yacht racing trophies. Richness runs wide in Newport Rhode Island. A town where opportunity and beauty have intertwined for…

4 Comments

18/09/2018

blessing / Courage / hiking / joy / LIFE RAMBLINGS / milestones / perspective / positive thinking / RAMBLINGS / Self help / TRAVEL / Uncategorized

Two Little Vowels

Trail and trial. Five exact same letters. Try saying them quickly multiple times over with a few additional words for a good tongue twister. A mere reversal of two vowels changes the entire context of expression, nuance of the communication or implication of the active out- workings of each noun. Def. Trail: a beaten path through rough country such as a forest. A route planned or followed for a particular purpose. Def. Trial: a test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something.…

4 Comments

06/09/2018