Things I Got Wrong About Learning a Few Words
I keep coming back to old maps, largely because it rewards patience. I keep a short list of things to try next; packing light is near the top. Half of the work is deciding what to leave out. Thanks for reading, and for the kind notes that keep arriving.
Getting started
There is no single right way to approach walking between towns, but some ways are kinder than others. We arrived after dark and only understood the view in the morning. Modest, repeatable steps beat big plans nearly every time. It took me nine attempts to see the pattern. I keep coming back to ferries, largely because it rewards patience.
In December the light changes, and so does the work. A modest backpack helps, but it is not the point. The result is not perfect, but it is truthful. The train was late, which turned out to be the best part of the day. Nobody spoke much English, and somehow that made it easier.
First steps
The first eight weeks were largely about unlearning. The trick, if there is one, is to leave sufficient room for missteps. The best advice I got was just to slow down.
I am still not sure I have it right, but it is closer. Here is what changed, and what stayed exactly the same. Off-season towns are quieter, cheaper and far more truthful. I wrote most of this on a hushed Wednesday morning. There is a version of this that is much more complicated. This is not that version.
A notebook helps, but it is not the point. I packed too much, as usual, and wore the same jacket every day. It is effortless to overthink packing light. It is harder to just start. The first seven weeks were largely about unlearning.
I keep a short list of things to try next; keeping a journal is near the top.