In the tenth chapter of one of my favourite books, How to be Idle, by Tom Hodgkinson, chapter nine is titled "5 p.m.: The Ramble".
"In the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the era of romantic poetry, countryside walking became the thing. The nature poets Wordsworth and Coleridge were great walkers. They ambled all over the coast of North Devon and Somerset in the years immediately following the French Revolution, and later wandered the Lake District. Walking for them was a crucial part of the creative act; it was when they thought, dreamed and also gathered images. Rural rambles were central to their new poetic philosophy, expounded in Lyrical Ballads (1798), of getting back to nature and simplicity."
"Indeed it was on a walk along the North Devon coast, just a few miles from where I sit at this moment, that Coleridge stopped off at the now famous Ash Farm, took opium and conceived and possibly wrote 'Kubla Kahn.'"
5 comments:
Your new header is fantastic!!
Hope we get a peek at the cake when it's finished, Ace Girl Cake Baker. :)
I see the Cardhu has taken its rightful place on your blog! It looks wonderful. I am all for rambling, as you know, and even though mine are mostly urban rambles, I still find them to be a meditation of sorts. Now the opium... well, BPG, I'll have to get back to you about that... tales untold... :)
The current edition of the Idler is titled “How To Save The World Without Really Trying” and argues that idleness is eco-friendly and that to save the planet we need to to do a lot less.
Walking seems so simple yet in the urban sense it has aquired some baggage. The stop and go lights, the weaving through crowds and noise conspire and reduce mind drifting opportunities.
It's interesting how nature trails, once a place for casual walks, now are shared with power walkers and trail runners - a very energetic group - not idlers they!
Ideally, the country lane or a vast greenland park are best suited for strolling, thinking and dreaming.
The opium accessory is not advised. Power bars and orange juice are better alternatives.
Thank you for your comments. Bill: you make a good point. I have often been walking along a trail, only to be nearly run over by the more speedy trail-users on their bikes or - if I'm on a paved part - roller bladers.
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