Monday, October 20, 2014

WALKING


I love to walk in nature and I especially love to walk alone. In South Africa .... or where I live anyway .... there are not many places one can do so safely. At the wild coast I walk alone for miles and as long as I keep the fishermen in sight (even just a dot on the horizon), I feel safe. It's a time that I unwind completely with not a worry in the world. 

"It's when I'm walking that I come closest to an affection for myself." - Shawna Lemay



During the build up to my daughter's wedding we promised ourselves a healthy walking holiday at the wild coast once everything quietened down. Unfortunately that never happened because our fox terrier was badly savaged by our bull terrier.  Her pelt was almost ripped right off her body resulting in an air pocket between flesh and fur. It's been over a month that her little body has been battling against the infection she developed under her skin but today I can finally say she has turned a corner in her recovery.

During this time of watching over her, whilst she fought for her life, my thoughts have taken me to our favourite beach walks for solace. 



I found a few quotes on Shawna Lemay's blog that sum up why I find these walks such a balm to my spirit ......

"There is an element of repetition in the act of walking where you can forget. And there is a tiredness. A peacefulness. I think that when you are really alone you have a fragility. The feelings are more intense. You have more of a feeling of the eternity of things."  -  Frederic Gros




"And walking with a camera is yet another kind of walking. One's looking becomes more delicate, sharper, refined. One loses oneself in the walking, and then is lost again, while one focuses in on the leaf, twig, or dried seed pod that has attracted one's attention." -  Shawna Lemay

I loved  this post on Shawna's blog. 



One can walk for days on a wild coast beach and never see a soul other than cattle and goats and perhaps the occasional herdsman with his dog.




For me, it's a walking meditation
kicking up water in the shallows for miles
dreaming of the totems I will carve
incorporating the pebbles and driftwood I've gathered




 Catching fish for lunch every day makes one feel healthier





"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter.... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life."  - John Burroughs



"The kind of dog you have will change the perfume of your walking. The degree to which your dog stops to sniff and mark territory, the pace you keep ...... "  - Shawna Lemay



"Walking is important to my practice, a way to begin. It opens the route between the external world and the inner world of the studio. On my ritual paths, I take notice of changes that occur -- daily and seasonally -- recording what attracts my attention, 'navigating' my way through time."  -  Kim Kopp

"Walking..... is how the body measures itself against the earth" - Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A history of walking.

62 comments:

  1. So glad your fox terrier has turned the corner, what a horrible ordeal. I feel relaxed just looking at your walking photos, enjoy the time. Strange for me to see cattle at the ocean side. I can't think of any place in America where I've seen them near water except inland.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda it was very traumatic because I was on my own when the fight happened. It was extremely difficult to get him to let go of Bella. We are really looking forward to spending time at the wild coast again. It is such a stunning, peaceful part of South Africa.

      Delete
  2. What a beautiful post. I love to walk too and find that I can work out any problems with just a walk in the woods - no coast close enough for me. And the quotes you found are perfect.
    Happy to hear your dog is finally healing. What an ordeal for both of you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It takes us 9 hours to drive to this spot but it is so worth it. We have the woods close by but its not safe to walk there alone or with my husband so we really look forward to our time away. The quotes are beautiful aren't they?!

      Delete
  3. There is a clarity of light in these photographs Robyn which makes it obvious that they were not taken in the UK. How I envy you your walks along the shore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, you would love these beaches, though I also envy your walks in the English countryside. I miss farm life too.

      Delete
  4. Your photos are amazing. And so glad some of my words resonated.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shawna, all your words resonate so I spend a lot of time reading your blog.

      Delete
  5. I feel that I am on this walk, the pacing was perfect, the air was so fresh and lovely.
    I feel that walking is like stitching somehow - step by step, stitch by stitch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. walking, stitching, carving, beading, writing .... it is all therapeutic. Glad you enjoyed the walk, Judy.

      Delete
  6. A beautiful walk. Good to hear your little dog is on the mend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joanne. Bella looks better every day.... and what an appetite!

      Delete
  7. A big slobbery kiss on the nose to your terrier. And tell him/her to get better quickly. I love your photos!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Beanie. Bella enjoys slobbery kisses and thanks you :-)

      Delete
  8. To walk, to create a rhythm that pleases our heart beat, to let go of thoughts as they are washed away by the sound of the waves...oh yes. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Bliss!
      BTW I have a big pot of bone soup in the slow cooker for Bella. She is sitting in the kitchen waiting patiently. So glad you told me about it. She eats a big bowl of soup and rice daily.

      Delete
  9. I walk daily with my dog. Some days when time is perfect I feel like I can walk forever, and I want to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know the feeling, Lisa. Some days are just perfect for walking.

      Delete
  10. love these photos of walking the edge where the ocean meets the sea and good to see you back in bloglandia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops the ocean meets the sand! how can the ocean meet the sea?

      Delete
    2. Thanks Mo. It's time to get back into the swing of things.

      Delete
  11. thank you for this post, robyn... i especially love the rebecca solnit quote. i feel it's true...

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course you enjoyed this post Lynne! I enjoy following your walks too and often wish I could hop over and walk with you, but seeing the creek and the forest through your eyes is the next best thing.

      Delete
  12. Happy to hear that your little dog is on the mend. Your wild coast looks like just the perfect recuperative spot to be. I can't imagine not being able to walk 'safely'. I'm in the lucky country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo, I imagine a lot of our coast is similar to the Australian coast though I've yet to visit in person. Something I would love to do one day.

      Delete
  13. So sad Robyn, you have worried me as my daughter has a young bull terrier and what we call a Tenter field terrier, small foxy type, have you any idea why ? Love your wild coast photos and walks, as Jo says, we are lucky in Oz to so far walk without fear. Ooh saw a shell in one photo. Glad you are back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Penny, I wouldn't worry. We've had bull terriers all our lives and have never had such a big problem. Digby had a bad start in life with all sorts of health issues. We had to stop walking him too because I battled to hold him when there were other dogs on the walk. People don't keep their dogs on leads or control their dogs in our area so they can end up in a huge fight. Your dogs have a lot of exercise I'm sure which makes a big difference.

      Delete
  14. so now, perhaps, you will be able to breathe and make some work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're telling me! I've been stagnating for too long now and it's time to get my act together. I am breathing easier since Bella perked up and though she would love me to continue pandering to her every whim I know it's not good for me to ignore my art.

      Delete
  15. Walking nourishes me from soles to soul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed, India! It get's the thoughts and ideas flowing too.... not to mention the circulation.

      Delete
  16. So glad everything is on the mend, you must have been in a very difficult situation. Love the John Burroughs quote, walking & watching the water driven in, wave after wave is to me one of the most simple & extraordinary things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The simple things ..... I enjoy walking toe deep in the sea for miles.

      Delete
  17. Hello, Robyn! Nice to see you back again! Hope your daughter's wedding was very exciting and romantic, full of happy people! I wish the young family lots of love, support and good luck and many joyful moments for you!:)
    Reading about walking - I guess what you mean, although I've never walked that long along the shore. I have a similar experience in the mountains. But it's again that pleasure to breathe deeply, to forget about everything else and to enjoy every single object you discover or glorious sight that opens in front of you! We all need some peace and silence... A time just for ourselves and our thoughts!
    I'm sorry about the incident with your dog, but it's been so brave - I'm sure you are all relieved now!:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rossichka. The wedding was wonderful! You would have enjoyed it because it was at a game lodge (Memories of your time in Kenya :-)

      Delete
  18. welcome back -- and it's so welcome to have you back. :-)
    simple repetitive motion is so wonderfully meditative.

    Perhaps Digby should be looked at by your vet? (I'm sure you've thought of this) Sudden, if it is sudden, personality changes can signal illness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi M! Thank you for the warm welcome :-)
      Yes, we did speak to the vet about Digby. He is in peak condition and had been for a check up the month before. I think the tension had been building and with the excitement of wedding preparations and many visitors etc it came to a head. We are still trying to find a suitable home for him (with more space to exercise in and no other pets).

      Delete
  19. There is so much life in these photos. What a walk. So sorry to hear about your dog...but relieved that things are much better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A simple life .... but many photo opportunities. There are quite a few old shipwrecks in the area and a recent yacht wreck further down coast. I gathered a pile of weathered yacht fragments for assemblage, (enough to make your eyes twinkle, Seth), some with peeling paint and a few with rusty bolts attached.

      Delete
  20. Hi R - sad tale regarding your dogs - sorry that they could not be companions and that the little one suffered so - but glad to hear she is mending. I often think that walking alone is in fact walking meditation - in fact I tend to do that each Wednesday when Fiona is do her circuits with her women's group. I also agree that at times walking with my iPhone camera sharpens my attention to art; but it does detract a bit from the quiet contemplation of things - though I love the walks both ways. I like how you turned to virtual walks for quietness and nourishment. Go well. B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Barry, some days I didn't bother about taking photographs but I had the camera with me just in case.

      Delete
  21. Robyn,
    This is a beautiful post and I love the photos and all the quotes, I have always loved walking, I have the desert and the forest here to walk in and it is always healing.
    I cried when I read the part about Bella, what got into Digby? I am sending kisses to both of them this is a very hard situation, I am so glad that Bella is on the mend!
    I am also glad you are back, you have been missed. I hope and know the wedding was wonderful. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annie, thank you so much! The wedding was indeed wonderful. I'll post a few photos when the professional photos arrive.
      I have no idea why Digby lost it. It could have been a jealousy problem or the excitement of the wedding but the vet says it will happen again. I miss him. I will be a lot happier when we find him a good home with no other pets.

      Delete
    2. I am glad all went well with the wedding.
      Saying prayers that Digby finds a good home and that Bella gets well fast.
      xoxo

      Delete
  22. I love the photos and the quotes about walking, which is also one of my favorite ways to meditate. I'm so sorry to hear about your dogs, but happy for your daughter's marriage. My son got married 2 weeks ago, so I know what a busy time it is. Blessings and big hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sharmon. They are beautiful quotes aren't they?! I hope your son's wedding ran as smoothly as ours did. xoxo

      Delete
  23. A lovely, thoughtful post, Robyn. As a fellow dog lover I was so sorry to hear about what happened to Bella and hope that the plucky little girl continues to improve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Avus. Bella is doing very well though she won't let me out of her sight. I daresay she will settle soon now that she is feeling so much better.

      Delete
  24. OH how I connect to each step, the healing, the freedom, the opening to curiosity, wonder, awe… a meditation indeed and with a camera, wow! This quote spoke to me as if the words were my own ""And walking with a camera is yet another kind of walking. One's looking becomes more delicate, sharper, refined. One loses oneself in the walking, and then is lost again, while one focuses in on the leaf, twig, or dried seed pod that has attracted one's attention." - Shawna Lemay I'm so glad you dog is healing and that you had a chance to walk alone and feel safe and content dear Robyn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laura. I'm sure you would love Shawna's blog. Her posts are filled with gems.


      Delete
  25. it does look like a place of great peace, those wide open expanses of ocean and sand with the occasional gentle cow wandering. and yes one can only feel peaceful if you feel safe. my heart lets out a little sigh just looking at these photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, I walked right up to those cows and looked deep into their eyes. They have the most beautiful eyes!

      Delete
  26. Oh Robyn, so glad your tending love n care has brought her along towards health. I recall a long ago email, where jealousy sparked between these two.

    A walk to soothe you. Fresh fish ! Solitude. So glad you are well. Nothing like the earth underfoot, rhythm in Her rhythm in us, joining.

    Sending blessings

    ReplyDelete
  27. M, after that early incident Digby and Bella have lived side by side enjoying each others company for two years. I did feel a slight change in the last month but not anything I was too worried about. I put it down to wedding excitement.

    Indeed, the earth underfoot, the air fresh and enough space to wander..... and ponder. Blessings to you xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  28. Such beautiful images... so serene and peaceful and lovely... I love to walk on the beach as well... and all the words and thoughts go so perfectly with your images.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Robyn, so sorry about the doggy issues - I have just got myself a kitten for company and life sure has changed!
    Your beach pics are peaceful and calming - so similar in many ways to our beaches. Hope you get to walk there again soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Noela, we're still hoping to go before Christmas but the time is just flying by.

      Delete
  30. Dear Robyn, I am so sorry about your dogs, this must have been a nightmare and I know how you love them both. I hope you're finding peace as your world calms down and that you will be back at your wild coast soon. I love the photo of the bundle of sticks and all the reflections on the edge of the water.
    roxanne

    ReplyDelete
  31. It was a nightmare Roxanne, but all is well now. Digby has gone to a home in the country with lots of space for him to exercise in and no other dogs to irritate him. Bella has recovered and is in peek condition. We managed to get to the wild coast for a blissful week, so all is back to normal.

    ReplyDelete