And it’s clear I’m not a professional blogger. I get to the end of my walking day and writing/editing a lot isn’t the first thing on my mind.

Since I am trying mostly to “wild camp” – that we call “stealth camping” in the US – what is on my mind is to find a place to camp, to set up my tent so it’s quite inconspicuous, get something to eat, and go to bed. And sometimes that means waiting until it is closer to sunset.

Wild camping is technically illegal, I have read, but I’ve also read that campers are only very rarely told to move on. It would be a civil offense not criminal, but if one refused to move after the landowner told you to, it could escalate to criminal. Scotland is different.

But it’s hard, as far as I can tell, to figure out who the landowner is so you can ask permission.

During the day when I’m out walking, I stick to the lanes and roads. No problems there, except that so many of the ones that my route uses are maybe a lane and a half wide. And since the Cornish farmers enjoyed building their hedges (now protected historic treasures) the sides of the roads are 6 to 10 foot high rugged plant matter usually with a core stone wall. (There’s some sort of sermon illustration in there.)

Generally the hedges block the sun and wind. They also sometimes block a long ahead view of oncoming traffic. But since they also contain the sound, I hear the vehicles before we see each other. I’m wearing an orange safety vest on my left shoulder as a flag, too. I turn to the hedge and get as far to the side as I can. The drivers seem used to this.

Anyway, I have been to several churches and want to share the prize so far: the Quaker Meetinghouse in Come for Good, built in 1707. Amazing thatched roof and, of course, simple interior.

I’ve passed several “disused” church buildings, too. That is, no longer used by the Church as a place of worship. One is now a preschool. Another is a private home. And so on. Some are “listed” as historically significant.

I’ve also discovered that among the Anglicans (maybe others, too) there’s a movement or program to have “open churches” unlocked and available through the day to anyone who wants to come in for quiet and prayer. Or just to look at the stained glass. Ann suggested that a pilgrim might also ask whether he could spend the night as a place if sanctuary. If the opportunity arises, I’m intending to ask.

OK, another issue with blogging from the pilgrim path is having a good enough connection. I am tenting tonight in a commercial campground for the first time. It’s next to the Lost Garden of Heligan, and was at the right place for me today when I needed to stop. But I’m not getting a strong enough signal to upload photos. Some other nights I have put up in a valley, so poor signal. Or out too far. Cornwall is pretty rural, though, so as I go north that may change (at least until the wilds of Scotland).

Which reminds me, my main map is from the Ordnance Survey (they’re like – and maybe better than – the USGS topographic maps in the US). They show all the wooded patches. And it only becomes clear on the ground that some of those patches are too steep to till so that’s why they were left in trees; or that they’re marshy; or that the scrub between the trees is imoenatrable; or that a particular wood is fenced off with a 6 foot tall fence topped with 2 strands of barbed wire. (Such a fence surprised me last night, so I had to pitch up in sight of a house.) I’m learning to be flexible.

Those are the kinds of things that God is working on with me do far. That, and not being able to walk as far in a day as I had hoped.

Be well.