A Day Away

I had picture time with some stray sheep, I learned again why I enjoy microbrewery beer so much more than large-scale brews, I had water fresh from the spring (like we used to when I was a kid), and I walked. And walked. And walked.
I can see the hills in the distance, dark against the misted rain and clouds, while my feet still feel them underfoot. I’m heading back to Oxford after a couple days of walking and exploring. In west England there is a small area broken into several towns surrounding these hills. The hills are the Malvern Hills, and Colwall, Malvern Link, Great Malvern, West Malvern and Hereford are the main towns surrounding and settling within these hills. The highest of the hills reaching 1352 feet, the Worcestershire Beacon, lords over others such as Sugar Loaf and the British Camp (Herefordshire Beacon). Spanning 9 miles north-south in total, I walked along the tops of the precipices for about 5 of those miles, then back, and my feet surely understand what they have just done.
It’s an exhilarating experience walking along the tippy-tops of these big ol’ hills. Once the wind kicks in and you realize you’re looking across England into Wales and across the length and breadth of England all just by turning around, you feel as small piece in a vast puzzle but also infused with life. Maybe it’s just the wind that makes you sure you’re alive or the fact that you really are seeing great distances with the naked eye, but either way, this is reality. It’s not a movie or a photo, but a real land and a real wind and a real sky and a real mist that I was experiencing. Perhaps it was the water that flows in Malvern from the wells. There are several famous wells, such as St. Anne’s and Holy Well, the water flowing through and in Malvern is VERY good water. There’s a little fountain in the middle of town from which I filled my water bottle at least thrice. So yes, I’ve had life-infusing water. Now if the water takes away my blisters, well then THERE is some real infusion. Cheers.

And I'm...

Staying.

After a lot of thought and a lot of advice seeking and prayer, I've decided to stay the course and wait it out here in the big islands. I was ready to transfer funds from my bank here to my bank at home to pay for my tickets home and back and almost did two nights ago but couldn't because it wasn't within the time restraints. I didn't sleep. I awoke after maybe an hour of sleep and headed off to open the hotel. Opening the hotel isn't fun simply for the fact that I have to be awake at 6 in the morning, however once I'm up it's like any other time I'm up early in the morning, I'm happy. I opened the hotel and had some strong coffee and cheese and needed to get a newspaper for a customer from the tuck shop. As I was walking to get the paper I realized that my entire life that I can really remember has been spent under the thumb of employment. I've never not had a job. I came here to relax and haven't been able to at all because I know that I will just end up back at work. So I decided I needed at least one week on a beach by myself; no job, no places to go, no pre-plans, no phone, no contact with home... Just me, maybe a couple books, and the sand. What would it be like to wake up in the morning, walk to get breakfast under a bright sun, lay under it until lunch, go eat, walk around the down for awhile and find something to do that night with no strings attached. It would be at least relaxing and peaceful one would hope. That's what I hope to gain from my week on a beach. However, before that week, I had two other weeks to deal with before I could work on my tan.

Then I remembered special tours run by a group called Radical Travel . They have set tours throughout Scotland and Ireland where you can pick from a single day trip to up to eight days on a guided tour through the Highlands or throughout the entire loop that is the coast of Ireland. I had watched a video about them during my orientation when I first got into London back in October. It seemed fun and so I looked them up. Here's what I found and here's what I'll be doing for two weeks in April before meeting up with my ol' friend Jon.

After a day in Dublin and a day in Belfast, I'll start, on April 7th, a tour through Ireland called The Shamrocker Irish Adventures 5-day Celtic Rocker

After ending up in Dublin after the Irish adventures, I'll fly to Glasgow for a day looking up old family histories and do a day in Edinburgh climbing Arthur's Seat before leaving on the 14th for The Haggis Adventures 5-day Compass Buster

Here's an idea of what that trip could be like: (This is the aforementioned video I saw in orientation)


I have that and the flights to get me to these tours all booked and paid for so you can be sure I'm not going to change my mind. What I'm not clear on is where I'll spend my beach week, although Gibraltar is leading the pack for the cheapest flight and the coolest features; wouldn't YOU like to walk around a town where monkeys are as free to do what they please as you are?

So there you have it my friends, my mind is made up. I hope you all enjoy the little video and I'll be keeping you posted whenever possible with the latest adventure. I've got a few days off now, so it looks like Cambridge and Cheltenham could be in the works this week. I miss you all, but I'll be home sooner than you think. Thank you for the prayers and advice. Cheers!

Oh, and in case you're wondering, heck yeah I'm trying the haggis!!

Coming Home?

Alright, I REALLY didn't want to do a post about it, but if you really know me, you will know I like to make well thought-out decisions and get as much advice as possible, as well as weigh all the options. So, here goes: I've got a decision (we won't call it a dilemma because that insinuates a possible negative outcome) to make sometime within the next few days. The decision is either to come home early on April 3rd and come back to Greece/Italy/Paris with my good friend Jon who is coming to visit me on April 24th for two weeks OR stay here as planned and travel a little bit before making my way to Greece to meet Jon. I'll lay them out here as options A and B.

A: Fly Home Early
Pros
- Bring home enough money to fix my car (which DESPERATELY needs fixing), have enough to have a GREAT time in Greece with J-Twoody and probably have enough to come back home for good in May and not have to worry about where the next tank of gas is coming from. (Yes, Mom, I know you could help, but I you know how I like being independent.)

-I wouldn't be alone anymore! I'd be with family, I'd get to drive down to Texas to see my niece, possibly get to drive to Virginia to visit with Tim, and get to see Natalie a month sooner than I've expected.

-I'd have the time to look and hopefully interview for some jobs for when I get back in May for good.

-Confession before Pascha would be nice...

-I wouldn't have to find a place to store my stuff while I'm away in Europe AND I wouldn't have to buy about $400 worth of camping equipment.

Cons
-I'd miss out on seeing the Highlands, the Guinness Brewery, and the French Riviera at the ripe old age of 23. I don't feel SO bad about it because I KNOW for a fact that I will see the Highlands and the Brewery before I die, and most likely the Riviera as well, I just wouldn't be doing it as a youngster out on his own in the big wide world, however it would be really cool to come home from having done that.

B: Stay Here As Planned and TRAVEL
Pros
-I walk the length of Loch Ness and live in the Highlands out of a tent for a few days; just me, the land and God.

-I visit the Oban Whisky Distillery while on my way to visit the island of Iona where St. Columba and St. Columcille were born.

-I visit Glasgow, the city where my mom's side of the family is from.

-I get to visit the Guinness brewery and possibly Armagh where St. Patrick's relics are held.

-Either see more of England or head to Portugal where I drink port wine from the source, head through Spain to the French Riviera and simply relax on beaches for awhile before heading to Greece to meet Jonny.

-I learn to live without relying on fast food, cars or buses, indoor plumbing and the daily shower.

Cons
-I do all of the awesome stuff I just said by myself with no one to talk to or enjoy it with.

-No internet or way of communication for at least a week at a time.

-I have to find somewhere to store my stuff and hope it doesn't get stolen.

-I come home having traveled a lot and very happy with myself but also without a penny to my name and a job unfound.

-I learn to live without relying on fast food, cars or buses, indoor plumbing and the daily shower.


Conclusion:
Either way I look at these options, it sure is nice to know that I'm going to be happy with whatever I do. If I choose option A, I see my niece, my family, my girl, my friends, and I get to really start my future on a strong foot. If I choose option B, I'll still see my niece, family, girl and friends eventually, but I would do it after having had walked across Scotland, venerated relics, lived where I don't speak A WORD of the local language and survived. I would have had a great time, alone or not. I will be happy regardless. I'm glad I have such a wonderful "problem." I am so blessed. And I'm taking opinions...