Yorkshire and on

From Settle, we have entered Yorkshire County, a more activist area of England, after traveling through some of the beautiful areas into the mountains and valleys. We even take time (two seconds) to smell the aromas of the roses along the way. The only breaks in the peace are the low flying military jets shaking the environment, the sudden racing trains, and the sections on the narrow highways. Otherwise, we enjoy a pastoral beauty. Today, we bused back to Igelton to walk to Settle so that we could say that we walked all the way. We will be in Settle for three nights, leaving Monday. The Quakers and others have been joining in the walks. We are entering the rain soaked areas with more in prospect. Nonetheless, the drizzle today gave a new beauty to the views, then the heavy rains hit us the last mile and a half. Better then, than the first miles.

On Wednesday, the fourth of July, we will participate in Independence from America, which is celebrated at Mendel Hill each year. Mendel Hill is a RAF base which is operated by the US to gather intelligence. The reason it is an RAF base is that English law established that all bases on English soil be operated by the English military. Two courageous women entered the base to test the law. A judge asked who operates the base. No answer has been forthcoming. So, the case is in limbo. Independence from America is sponsored by an international Campaign to end United States bases on foreign soils (I do not have the exact name at the moment.) and local peace groups. I will let you know about the event later.

Gandhi did not know what "Indian Independence" meant. His word was "Hind Swaraj", Indian self determination. Swaraj is an important and meaningful word in this context. It means listening to the voice within, acting with determination based upon truth, whether individually or nationally. CONSCIENCE And so, again we are 180 degrees away from Gandhi on many issues.

I just finished Ernest Hemingway's, Garden of Eden, his last novel published post humosly. The plot of characters is a contrast to the Eden Valley we passed through recently. Eden here means "water" according to the early Norsemen, water the basis for life. Garden of Eden is an existential expression of the biological human along with the psychological. The Eden Valley continues my thoughts on the ontological views of life, which have been my reflection for months before this journey. In other words, we generally live in the Hemingway realm, unless we reflect deeper in contemplation of the full reality. Both can be gripping. Both are critical to understand to be real. The duality is the reason we are ruining the earth.

Marcus Atkinson, organizer or this Walk, is from Australia, but his ancestors are from the area we are transversing. They were taken to Australia centuries ago. Even today, the name Atkinson is known in the community.

Today is Lenore Meyer's 60th birthday. May she be blessed with happiness.

Added note about Barrow: Ten years ago the employment was 10,000, now it is 3,000 plus outsources. Little wonder the people are insecure.