This book, From Laurel Hill to Siler's Bog: The Walking Adventures of a Naturalist by John K. Terres (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1986; originally published in 1969), reminds me of a lot of things. Working at Algonquin. Walking the distance (about eleven miles) between Durham and Chapel Hill, and Dr. Dick Pearse. I worked at Algonquin from 1984 to 1987. I knew Dr. Pearse from the late 1970s until he died, an elderly man by that point. A friend of my parents, he lived in Durham County in a genteel way, with a lot of land, horses, and dogs out in northern Durham County. He was very big into history, and he regaled us with a lot of stories. The pertinent strand related to how he and friends would walk around North Carolina and just about anywhere they went, or rode by horseback. The idea of walking between towns and cities struck my imagination, and my friend Kenny's, too, so we tried it.
The walk between Durham and Chapel Hill was damned interesting. First, the impact of automobiles on the landscape was the most obvious fact, right down to seeing dozens of dead birds that had apparently been hit by cars without their drivers even knowing it. There was lots of living fauna and flora, too, of course, but the car exhaust and noise made itself known much of the time. In any case, you can easily walk between the two cities in a matter of hours, but we've become so accustomed to driving or being driven that this fact may not even dawn on most people. I thank Dr. Pearse for the inspiration, and for cultural memories of a time when it was not out of the ordinary to walk significant distances.
Today's Rune: Separation (Reversed).
6 comments:
I've walked between a town or two; always thankful for good boots.
I used to walk everywhere around Baltimore, or took a bus if it was particularly far away. Cars are spoiling, I have to remind myself sometimes that I do not need to drive to go to the 7-11 down the street.
OUR FAMILY NEVER OWNED A CAR SO WALKING WAS THE MAJOR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. MY FATHER WALKED EVERYWHERE RIGHT UP UNTIL HE WAS ALMOST 80. YOU COULD RIDE THE BUS FOR A DIME, THE ONE THAT RAN FROM ONE BURG TO THE OTHER. BIKE RIDING WAS A WAY FOR KIDS TO GET AROUND TOWN. NOW THOSE SAME STREETS ARE CONGESTED WITH TOO MANY CARS, TOO MANY PEOPLE.
Any work about naturalists and walking is tempting to me. I love to walk, and wish I was a better naturalist.
Erik, I love to walk. It gives you a totally different perspective on things. Sorta like when you are on a motorcycle and the same roads look completely new.
You've done everything. It's what they call "experience," eh? Try putting it on a resume :0
Post a Comment