This was Jamie's idea. The walking that is. Sometime last winter she began to enthuse about a time for reflection at a slower pace. She extolled the virtue of getting in shape and shedding a pound or two. She waxed poetic of the joy provided by the glory of creation. Her lyrical crusade continued with notions of connection between the two of us and a time for communion with God Almighty. Yes, she wanted to take an extended walk through the English countryside.
As for me? My reservations narrowed to unpredictable weather along with sore feet but when those incidentals were given voice, the reasoning proved unworthy in terms of persuasive conviction.
And so it came to be that on the morning of September 6, 2022, two wandering souls ventured out into the damp morning air of Chipping Campden, UK. Our nine day, 110 mile trek through the Cotswolds had suddenly transformed from a simple hope to a stark reality with a single step onto the cobblestone curbside. A hike in planning for months, "trained" for throughout the summer, and expanded to include 5 days in London on the front with a similar number of days in Paris at the rears. With the foot journey being centermost, our travels expanded to become a logistical web of transportation schedules woven tight with activities that the tactician Churchill himself would surely appreciate. Regardless the before or after, the walking adventure had finally inhaled its first breath and our trek began in earnest as the door to our "tea room" accommodations closed behind us. Somewhere in the distance lay our destination - the Roman-built spa community of Bath.
Now I say adventure, but let's be honest, we're not exactly scaling Mount Everest here. Nonetheless, there is something to be said for venturing into the unknown while somewhat unsure if one's preparations will prove adequate. In truth, the Cotswold Way is a collection of idyllic towns and villages connected by a pathway hewn into the earth by the countless footsteps of travelers over a period of centuries. In the making for generations but officially established as a National Trail of England as recently as 2007, the path crosses quiet meadows and meanders alongside ancient stone walls which have withstood the tests of time. Then, as if bored with view on the left side of a wall, the barrier is breached by stile, kissing-gate, or inventive combination before the track continues with new vistas afforded to the right. Soon, as if trying to escape the confinements of the walls, the trail might veer randomly into ancient forests where it is caressed by deep depths of shade before emerging onto broad, open escarpments where wind and rain wait to erase the footprints of trekkers past - yet the history echoes. Quiet lanes ensue and the pathway finds peace.
Jamie was right. There is a certain joy that can only be experienced when one's pace is slowed, time becomes less urgent, and nature all around proclaims the Glory of the Lord. Although I might state further that sore feet rapidly progressing towards aching may be helpful in truly connecting with God. At least in my case, times of physical, mental, and emotional weakness are the occasions when my soul seeks comfort in and companionship with our Loving God the most.
Not too surprisingly then, day 3 of our trek found me not only a bit apprehensive about taking the very
next step but also pondering God, His creation, and my simple place within it all. Plus matters of time, i.e. past, present, and future - each in relation to the near and far. Indeed, the eternal. Now, no need to tell you that I'm neither an Einstein nor Hawking when it comes to matters of time and space although I guess I just did. How's that for ego? Be that as it may, times past and times future marched along with us in the cadence of the walk. Thoughts ranged from the dark void of pre-creation (Genesis 1:1-2) and the fall of man (Genesis 3) to the end times when the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21) will be established - a new creation where faith, hope, and love (I Corinthians 13:13) will be constants. Between those alpha and omega events, recollections gathered over my exceedingly finite life of 70 years simmered.
London had been a whirlwind of activity having visited the British Museum, Maritime Greenwich, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum to name but a few highlights. The Royal Botanic Gardens and a symphony at the venerable Royal Albert Hall deserve mention as well.
I imagine that most Englishmen consider each venue a "national treasure". However the argument could very well be made for them being designated as "human race" treasures. Many of the works being presented were truly exceptional and invoked a sense of awe and inspiration. Unfortunately, examples of war and rape, murder and plunder all too often follow in close proximity. The contrasts, some uncomfortably stark, give one pause. Such is life in a fallen world.
Our coming agenda in Paris promised to be equally full and thought provoking. Nevertheless, try as I might, a clear vision of even one of those future events failed to reveal itself. And so it is with the next life - heaven, eternity if you will. At present, details weighted with clarity regarding that future home are few and difficult to comprehend. However, I hold two truths dear. My Savior will be there and we will abide with faith, hope, and love eternal.
As you may have guessed, that next step on day 3 was in fact taken and endured along with countless additional strides. Without too much whimpering I might add. Although Jamie is probably in a better position to make that call than me. Regardless, opportunities to practice faith, hope, and love were available with every step along the Cotswold Way. Lessens best learned with repetition. Hopefully, those lessens will serve my soul well somewhere in the eternal when time and space are understandable. If they exist at all.
Museums
 |
Elgin Marbles - British Museum
|
I was a bit disappointed to find these plus many others in a vast room. They had adorned the Greek Parthenon. I had expected to find giant stone spheres.
 |
The Great Court - British Museum
|
 |
Mammoth Skeleton - Natural History Museum
|
 |
| Depiction of the fall of man - The Cast Courts, Victoria and Albert Museum |
 |
| Water Lillies, Claude Monet - Musée de l'Orangerie |
Panorama picture of the oval room that houses Monet's work. It is always stunning when a venue is designed and built specifically to house a particular piece of art.
 |
Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci - Louvre Museum
|
The throngs of my fellow tourists were more impressive than the painting itself.
 |
The Napoleon Courtyard, Louvre Museum
|
 |
Chapel, Palace of Versailles
|
Gardens
Wherever we travel and especially if we're walking, we always make an effort to go into the churches along the way. Each is unique and some prove to be truly memorable.
 |
| Parish church of St. Mary - Painswick |
This church was quite impressive from a visual standpoint but I chose this weathered relief near the front entrance to remember it by. The visual impressions will fade with time but the aroma as we entered will stay with me for life. There would be a wedding here sometime after we left and the
bride-to-be was doing her best to fill the sanctuary with roses.
 |
| View from the Golden Gallery - St. Pauls Cathedral, London |
The Golden Gallery is a 520 stair climb from the cathedral floor. This panorama picture is looking westerly with the Thames River on the left.
 |
| Staircase - Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, Paris |
Sacré-Cœur is only the third cathedral that we've climbed having previously done The Duomo of Milan, Milan, Italy and as just seen, St. Pauls Cathedral in London, England. We wish we had started doing others long before we did. There are usually a series of circular staircases connected by narrow passages which move the climber ever closer to the center of the dome and an observation deck above. The worn stair treads are always a fascination if not a source of intrigue.
 |
Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
|
The climb up Sacré-Cœur was only 292 stairs. However, the cathedral is perched atop the 430 foot butte Montmartre. The views from these heights have always been amazing and in this case there was an added bonus (unmute).
 |
Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
|
 |
| A test of wills. The "statue performer" lost - Paris |
Science
"All the science I don't understand,
it's just my job five days a week"
Rocket Man, Elton John
 |
| Straddling the Prime Meridian, Royal Observatory, Greenwich |
 |
| Shepard Gate Clock, Royal Observatory, Greenwich |
 |
| The Airy Transit Circle, Royal Observatory, Greenwich |
This telescope was used between 1851 to 1953 as the reference point when charting the heavens and determining times thus earning the description "the center of time and space".
The Foucault Pendulum - Panthéon, Paris. We had no idea that this pendulum resided in the Panthéon when we walked in. It was captivating.
Now, I won't pretend to understand much of the following description which I copied from an information board adjacent to the exhibit but maybe you will.
You are invited to see the earth revolving.
In 1851, physicist Léon Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the Earth
by constructing a 67-metre (220 ft) pendulum beneath the central dome.
By making the pendulum swing manually at 10 o'clock (referring to the graduated
marks on the dial), the pendulum moves about 11° in one hour compared
to the dial. One has the impression that the pendulum has pivoted but in fact
is still oscillating in the same plane. What's actually happening is that it's
the Earth and consequently the graduated dials that have changed position.
At the latitude of the Panthéon (48° north), the pendulum makes a full
rotation in 31 hours and 52 minutes or 11° per hour. At the North Pole, the
pendulum would make a full rotation in 23 hours and 56 minutes (equivalent
to one full rotation of the Earth on itself). This is the value of the sine of the
latitude that will determine the duration of a complete rotation of the pendulum.
The video begins with camera pointed down at the floor which is covered by a giant circular mirror that reflects all above it. Tedium and a low battery prevented me from documenting the movement of the pendulum, make that the floor. Regardless, we spent enough time in the Panthéon so that I can verify that the movement did in fact occur.
It occurs to me: as the microscope is to the telescope perhaps there is as much to learn from moving real slow as there is from moving very fast.
Random Souvenirs
 |
The Full English Breakfast
|
 |
| Paddington Station - home base for our London adventures |
 |
Old Royal Naval College with skyline of the Canary Wharf District in the distance,
Maritime Greenwich
|
 |
Panoramic picture of the courtyard of King William Court,
Old Royal Naval College |
 |
The prerequisite picture with the classic British phone booth,
Exhibition Road, South Kensington District, London
|
Notice the holes above Jamie's right ear. Quite by accident we had stumbled upon pieces of a war memorial. The holes, along with other damage in the area, were inflicted by shrapnel resulting from enemy bombing during the Blitz of WWII (1939-1945) and left as reminder, if not a warning. Yes, madmen are still among us.
