Wayfaring

I work in a village close by the Wayfarer's Way, a long distance walking path. You find these little markers on posts to keep you on the straight and narrow. This feature attracts those rather shy creatures, the recreational walker.


It turns out they are rather hard to spot. Being usually retiring (or even retired) they prefer to keep themselves to themselves. In fact they generally carry their own food and water and are a little island universe, not dependent on the likes of you and I.




I can report that when cornered, they are quite harmless, even friendly. It's possible to strike up a nice conversation with them, even if there it is laced with envy of their relaxed and work free lives.




This is, as I say, recreational walking. Just imagine the countryside two centuries ago, when these paths would have been trod by those with no choice about walking. Families on the move, or tinkers and hawkers making their slow and sorry way from town to town. What would they do when old age came upon them?

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