Just a quick post-Journey look at my first full day back in Maine. I was sleeping at my sister Deb's place in South Portland, Maine. Many readers aren't aware that my first time on the streets occurred here in the South Portland and Portland area five years ago (2011), and can be read about under the Odyssey Journey here at the blog (if you're interested, start here).
As I walked around this place that seemed so large and sometimes intimidating back in 2011, I was struck by how small it really is compared to what I'd walked in other parts of the country. And dark streets that seemed rough five years ago, were almost laughably benign now.
Distances like the walk from Deb's house to Mill Creek Park in South Portland (1.5 miles) seemed onerous back then. They are hardly noticeable now. Hills that I dreaded each day back then, I don't even feel now. The longest walk I did during the Odyssey Journey was 15 miles. On both the Manifest Destiny and Living Magazine Journeys I pulled a few 35 mile days. Walking 20 miles a day for 5 days was a regular distance during the 100 mile trek through Virginia.
Now I was back here where it all began. And, I felt like I'd returned to my kindergarten classroom, viewing the little desks and familiar chalkboard writing. But there is a new writing on the Wall. This Wall had grown up.
There is nothing here in Maine now that intimidates me. I can truly say that I've seen it all. My Journeying habits are still strong. I keep track of internet hot spots here as I had all across the country. I look in every nook and cranny for possible sleep spots. And, there are plenty. I never would have imagined five years ago how easy it would have been to simply camp out.
I spent some time at the South Portland Public Library, while a brief thunderstorm passed over, then rolled out to sea. Then around 8:00 p.m., I walked back through Mill Creek Park. That park has an incredibly spiritual significance to me. It was my Bodhi Tree; my private place of rest and peace in the summer of 2011, with it's gazebo, pink and white water lilies, ducks and pleasant benches. I took pictures of it on this day, but my SD card failed again. I will take some more shots of it later. I reformatted the card so that I could capture the sunset from my favorite evening spot...
Panoramic evening across the Fore River.
Complete with a sunset over the mud flats...
When I got back to Deb's I finally opened all the mail I'd sent back to Maine in the last 20 months and organized it. Definitely a sentimental little wallk down American Memory Lane...
On the left is general memorabilia. On the right are maps, menus and brochures.
All my fortunes.
On the left are little nick nacks. On the right are seeds: a coffee bean from the
Botanic Garden in Washington DC, A hazelnut from Oregon,
passion flower seeds from California, and in the plastic--opium poppy seeds from Oregon.
On the right are hotel receipts. On the left are train and bus tickets.
Hoping for business expense tax deductions.
On the left is my last boot warmer and tent manual.
On the right is my front page story from the Gaston Gazette.
I was surprised at how few things I really had left from the Journey. They all fit easily in a Priority Mail box. My friend Sheryl had also sent a box containing my Manifest Destiny utility vest, fleece coat, blanket, and Camelbak. That's it. The one thing I wish I had sent back was my walking stick (instead, I'd donated it to Goodwill in Portland, Oregon).
It was pretty late when I was done. I went to bed with Buddy lying next to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.