2014: Winchester to Canterbury
A South Downs Pilgrimage
In November 2014, I made a Wayfaring pilgrimage from Winchester to Canterbury, in search of a better route than the well-known North Downs Way. I made a plan to set off with no money, and I dragged Guy along with me.
It started with drinking water from the ancient holy well in Winchester Cathedral Crypt. I had a cheap water filter, and it did not work. So I purged for the first 3 days, which I persuaded myself was deeply traditional. I was walking on what felt like clear energy, none of this heavy bulky food power, but something far finer.
The route was experimental, and ended up going via Brighton and Hastings. It was a journey was funded by song. I aimed to share with Guy something of what I’d learned over the last 8 years of being a Wandering Minstrel. Coming from a privileged Cambridge University background, Guy struggled to have people offering him free food. Homeless people advising us the best places to sleep was deeply challenging for Guy, but he held up. I made sure we shared what we made from busking with other empty-pocketed folk.
It was a strong journey.
Here is a song from the way:
