On departing

'A holy place carries power. To be on pilgrimage is to move into a world where the dividing line between past and present, between this world and the next, between what we call sacred and what we call secular, dissolves. The outward journey is also a journey inward. We need to be prepared to let go of the accustomed patterns and controls that we impose on our daily lives, and instead be ready to be opened to what lives beyond — and what is most often expressed in symbol, image, and poetry.' Esther de Waal (Glendalough: A Celtic Pilgrimage)'

As weeks go, the last couple have been ones of contrast: I led worship several times during Holy Week, marking the final days of Jesus' earthly life and his death on the cross, setting the scene for his resurrection, and its message of transformation which is central to the Christian faith. 

On Easter Sunday we explored that message together at Shirehampton Methodist Church, where we blessed a new font, testament to other work of transformation, having been made from timber previously used in the church (as was the large cross above the organ).  During the service, one member of the congregation asked to be baptised when I return from my sabbatical: something to look forward to.  

I went on to lead worship elsewhere on Easter Sunday evening, reflecting on the account of two of Jesus' disciples walking away from events in Jerusalem after the news of Jesus' resurrection.  As they walk, talking about the events of recent days, a seeming stranger walks alongside them, joining their conversation.  This encounter turns out to be with Jesus, opening up for them (as the opening quote reminds us), of something that lives beyond the immediate moment.

In contrast to the busy-ness of Holy Week and Easter Sunday, last week was time to change gear during a week's family holiday, taken on board a narrow boat in the West Midlands.  The experience of those disciples was uppermost in my mind during the week, appreciating the conversations that we had whilst on holiday, firstly with one another, secondly with those we encountered, quite often a snatched dozen words whilst passing someone on the tow path, but others much longer including those we shared locks with.  Times cherished, short term friendships made, ones which we might well remember.

If you've been on a canal, then you'll appreciate that the pace of life is more measured, giving time to appreciate surroundings passing at walking pace.  Time to change gear and become accustomed to a different rhythm, often imposed by external influences, the flow of water in or out of a lock chamber, for example. 

Conversations provide the opportunity to share information, let go a little of self; changing rhythms enforce a similar letting go - both an opportunity for new experiences, new encounters with others, self and something beyond.  Looking ahead to several hundred miles of walking, sixty plus nights away, I've no idea who I will encounter, what conversations I will have, but I hope to be opened to something which lies beyond my experience of self and God.

Support

The primary purpose of this walk is not for fundraising, but many have asked about this, so I've decided to ask for donations to All We Can, the international development and relief organisation, working to see every person’s potential fulfilled. Focussed on serving the world’s most marginalised communities, All We Can is rooted in the Christian faith and part of the Methodist family.

Track and trace?

If you would like to know what progress I am making down the island over the next three months, take a look here which will have an up to date position.  NB the tracker will be switched off once I've finished walking each day, so don't be alarmed if the latest update is some time ago (particularly around the three marked waypoints, when I will be taking planned breaks of several days).

A big thank you to Wayne Drinkwater from GB Race Tracker who has provided the tracker free of charge, and to Martin Connell who helped me with some of the technical aspects of joining together well over 60 individual day-long routes!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Four weeks

By this time in four weeks, I hope to have made it to Cape Wrath and completed my first day's walking in the direction of Dover.  Alongside starting to handover my day-to-day responsibilities to my colleagues, I've also been gathering the equipment I need for my trip in the last few weeks.  I am pleased to say that I've found most of it from around the house and garage, so there are just a few things to get now.  I'm particularly grateful to friends and colleagues who have offered OS Explorer Maps, most of which I now have, and will be using alongside the OS maps app on my 'phone (mindful that I won't always have access to power!).

Getting to the start is quite an adventure in its own right - a long train journey from Bristol to Inverness, near where I will spend a night with long-standing friends.  It's then a bus journey to Durness, where will be spending a night in a youth hostel before taking the small ferry across the Kyle of Durness, followed by a minibus to the cape and the landmark lighthouse.  A member at one of my churches told me this morning to expect a bumpy journey - the road which leads to the lighthouse was built for the keepers to get there, but since the advent of automation, the track is less well used.

My first day's walk should be around 11 miles (back from lighthouse to the ferry, retracing the minibus journey), followed by a second night in Durness.  My aim for the first week is to get to Ullapool where I've booked two youth hostel nights, aiming to give myself a day off every week or so to have some downtime within my itinerary.

I've had quite a few offers of accommodation en route, mostly as I cross England, so one job for the week ahead is to look in more detail for the second part of my journey when I will be heading from Mallaig towards the border of SW Scotland with England.

Pilgrimage

Some of you will have spotted that the BBC Series 'Pilgrimage' returns later this week, which I will watch with interest.  Several celebrities take a journey of a lifetime, each with different faiths and beliefs - will stepping in ancient footsteps on a spiritual journey broaden minds?  

Alongside the 'stepping aside' and taking a break, I wonder how my stepping along will impact me spiritually and in other ways?

...Be for us our companion on the walk, Our guide at the crossroads, Our breath in our weariness, Our protection in danger, Our albergue on the Camino, Our shade in the heat, Our light in the darkness, Our consolation in our discouragements, And our strength in our intentions...

(from the ancient prayer that comes at the end of the Pilgrim Mass said along the Camino de Santiago)