Thoreau's Walking

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What draws me to emulate the wisdom of the words of Thoreau’s Walking, so much that I have listened to its elegance a half dozen times, and want more? Is it age - no planning business to occupy the bulk of time? Now there is time to pursue my photography passion of capturing the simple beauty of natural environs. Is it the realization that slowing down to the speed of life - sauntering to see and appreciate all of nature’s abundance, is exhilarating, and a metaphor for a reasonable perspective on living life outside of the woods? Is it time, alone in the wild, to awaken to my present being? Is it my body saying, it feels good to move around in my habitat? I suspect yes, to all my questions, and there are more positive motives for walking in the woods.

I walk, not just southwest, like Thoreau justifies, but east toward the rising sun, as well as west to it’s setting. I have dreamed about having a year where I am present for all sunrises and sunsets. It is such a joy to take in the beauty affect of morning and evening changing light. There is beauty in sunless scapes as well. Believing is seeing - be aware and realize. I am grateful to experience a little of what Thoreau speaks of, in Walking.

My old Marlboro Road is just out my door, up a 4% grade for about a mile. It leads to a, seldom used, big stone house. It’s a nice saunter, with the reward of seeing Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump to the east. Half way up is a trail head to the south and west - Thoreau would like that. He would also relate to my being lost in those woods. My grandson, Emmett gave me a compass for the next time I find myself lost in the woods.

Winter’s coming - fear not. You’ve heard of winter wonderland - the moniker for a reason. The monochrome views can be spectacular. The temperature overcome with a bombardier jacket or an Ibex wool. And the reason for walking (snowshoeing) the woods are as powerful as with warmer weather. The quiet of winter is deafening.

Seeing the light

White weight of winter