On Boredom
On Boredom A scene from Gus Van Sant’s film Gerry is a three and a half minute tracking shot of the profiles of the two main characters, both named Gerry, in tight focus as they trudge across a vast and empty desert. While the audience might marvel at the technical virtuosity, they also feel and […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022 The ends of long trails usually have a certain drama, none perhaps more than the obligatory Katahdin sign pose at the end of the Appalachian Trail. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. The […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 33, June 12, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 33, June 12, 2022 Yesterday’s many crossings in heavy mist veiled a bit my awareness of a significant change in the overall terrain (though the rocks and my feet made me acutely if unconsciously aware of it). This glacial nature of landscape, the earth’s skin is scraped raw, exposing boulders […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 32, June 11, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 32, June 11, 2022 The weather predictions for the next few days were foreboding and, given my experience earlier in the trek, I discounted the severity of what was to come. The first few weeks every day they called for rain, but usually it was just scattered showers, no need […]
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Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 30, June 9, 2022 ZERO day in Ullapool. Woke to a large cruise liner moored in the harbor, so town (the village) is a bit more crowded than before. The hostel here is well-appointed and well-run. My bunk room had 6 middle aged men from six different counties, and I […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 26, June 5, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 26, June 5, 2022 Long distance walking always brings new sights, but after many years, usually not any real novelty about how to walk. Today taught a lesson. Having grown up in the mountains of Virginia, I was early acquainted with wilderness paths, while at the same time, I became […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 25, June 4, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 25, June 4, 2022 I stopped briefly at a bothy this afternoon and had a conversation with Simon, a man walking part of the Cape Wrath Trail. He had settled in for the day while I was planning to push ahead to the next bothy about 8 km further on. […]
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 24, June 3, 2022
Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 24, June 3, 2022 Quite possibly the most beautiful walk I’ve ever taken. Woke early as the Munro baggers were itching to get started and my bunk was just above theirs—had coffee with them later, a good lot. I was the only one walking out what for many is the […]