A VOICE ON THE ROAD

By Cheryl Murfin There's a whole world in there. People as me how I "story find" while I'm walking? How do I write and walk at the same time? Or, even when I'm not walking to write, how do I start any piece of writing when I feel stuck or worried I won't get it right? First, let me tell you, while I am not a complete luddite, I am not a huge fan of technology (she says as she blogs from her self-built website, on her expensive computer). But some technologies are better than

By Cheryl Murfin Eildon Hills Photo by Tom Chisholm St. Cuthbert's rambles up, over, and through the Eildons, a cluster of three distinctive dome-shaped hills formed by volcanic activity around 350 million years ago, rising over the Scottish borderlands like sentinels. Of course, like any good, large natural landmark, they feature in the region's folklore. My favorite story is that of Thomas the Rhymer. After hearing the story for the first time about five years ago, I crane

By Cheryl Murfin Eccles Cairn (Photo by Andrew Curtis) On the fifth day of the walk, we climb over the wall that separates the Scottish side of the dirt path from the English side. Just beyond this point, a rounded knoll rises to the left, at the top a pile of rocks that you'd miss if you weren't looking. I am always looking for this pile, and I never skip pulling off to climb the steep hill and pause at the pile. Even if the skies are crying and my fellow walkers would rathe

By Cheryl Murfin Why do I start these long, long walks with the same two to three invitations, dispersed over the first two to three days of walking: Day one: See. Day two: Hear. Sometimes on day three: Smell. In the right circumstance: Taste And, always, there is the invitation to touch the world that exposes itself on a long walk—the peeling tree bark, the heart rock underfoot, the tall grasses, ferns, gate fences, and any socially amenable cattle. The reason is simple: to