I've lost sight of the footpaths, that lure me up into the hills, or down a long rose-crowded lane, behind houses, between the openings of gates, into those explorations of both mind and foot and often camera as well—unplotted stream-of-consciousness walks in misty or fine weather, following a little shimmer of sunlight or dance of leaf-shadow, the possibility of ruins or of sheep. When we moved to Thendara we were promised a map of hiking trails, some sixty-five miles of paths and off-road trails somewhere there in the Los Altos Hills. The map was not available, and just last fall I finally got one—but I haven't opened it. I must begin again, find time to wander and explore. And then in England this summer, along Hadrian's Wall, on moors or dales, along the River Avon and the River Wear . . .
image: Public footpath near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales (North Yorkshire), United Kingdom, Immanuel Giel
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