Helfstyn - Hefaiston
29.08.2008 - 02.09.2008
21 °C
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Reis van de Nautilidae
on Estebaan's travel map.
tears coursed down my face for the fourth time yesterday. I could not and did not want to hold them back for somewhere deep inside me I knew they were part of the healing I needed to part with my family and blacksmith brothers and sister.
The festival closed zesterday and we are all suffering from a lack of sleep. I had anticipated that after everybody had left the campground it would get quieter but I hadnt counted on the French trumpet player whose beer fueled blasts cut the cool quiet night air way into the morning. On the positive side, it kept me awake long enough to get me out of my tent and have one last drink with the Belgian smiths. What a fine group of men they are and we all have parted on the mutual understanding that we are all going to meet again. To all of you who read this blog I thank you from my heart, for it was the generosity of your spirits that has made this one year sojourn in Europe so special. And Patrick, you know.......bedankt voor alles.
So what was the festival like.....umm, well I have forged some new friendships and strengthened some old ones. the quaility of the steelworks exhibited and created within the castle walls were astounding and I have been enormously enriched and inspired. There were too many damn people to enjoy the festival during the midday hours and I estimate thousands rocked up to see the blacksmiths in action and see the works created.
The boys and Lut are now sitting in the middle of the square in Lipnik n. Becvou as we wait for a bus to take us deeper into East Czech. The plan is to reach Roznov tonight and have a look at Czechs largest open air museum of wooden architecture. Our packs are still too damn heavy but some jettisoning has begun.
We are all feeling a little exposed and uncertain.
Posted by Estebaan 01.09.2008 1:16 PM Archived in Family Travel | Czech Republic
Estebaan, it sounds so lovely! Made my heart ache just reading it.
My good friend Tiff who is a personal trainer and practically professional hiker recommends 20% of your body weight max, for a pack. No wonder they feel too goddamn heavy. If you ever get a chance to read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" (the only Bryson I've ever got through - he walks a great deal of the Appalacian Trail) do - the way he describes removing items from a pack until you are left with only the very basics is hilarious. Luxury items become the plainest things - a pack of cards, a box of matches, a spare set of underware.
Love, Miss Jojo xxx
01.09.2008 by missjojo