Here is the final video that was shown during our critique. I intend to post a longer version as well, but as it stands, this is the final video work.
Thank you.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Walking on Water Fake
This was proven to be a fake by Mythbusters, but nonetheless it is a nice video.
Liquid Mountaineering
Reflection: October 30, 2011
This was my final day of walking. It was the most difficult markedly, but also the most rewarding. There were several points at which I thought I would not be able to complete the pilgrimage. However, the need to fulfill my task loomed greatly over me. I had to finish the walk as surely as one must find nourishment each day. In many ways, the pilgrimage was my nourishment; keeping my mind off bodily hunger and feeding my spirit driving me to succeed.
I knew early on that if there were any stops today and my forward motion was stalled, I would fail. Only once did I stop briefly to retrieve food from my pack and eat while continuing on my path.
When I saw the first tall buildings from Sarnia it signaled he closeness of Point Edward. This was definitely a morale boost for me. When I was walking through Sarnia to get to Point Edward, I was joined by my Dad. He walked with me for the last two or three kilometers to Nana's house. We discussed the journey and it really helped me to keep going and reach my goal.
My arrival at Nana's was bliss. I saw her for the first time in months. Most of her hair is gone now, and her demeanor has been softened by morphine. I couldn't help seeing her as she was though, she was my Nana and always would be. Nothing will ever change that.
Our visit was short, but meant the world to me. Both Nana and Papa were very proud of what I had done and they seemed to appreciate it deeply, perhaps more so than me. I am still more or less confused by the meaning of the pilgrimage to me. It was an interesting endeaveor to be sure, but there is much that needs to be resolved within me as yet to complete it.
They knew what I had done though and that I love them. Now, I've proven that to myself as well.
I knew early on that if there were any stops today and my forward motion was stalled, I would fail. Only once did I stop briefly to retrieve food from my pack and eat while continuing on my path.
When I saw the first tall buildings from Sarnia it signaled he closeness of Point Edward. This was definitely a morale boost for me. When I was walking through Sarnia to get to Point Edward, I was joined by my Dad. He walked with me for the last two or three kilometers to Nana's house. We discussed the journey and it really helped me to keep going and reach my goal.
My arrival at Nana's was bliss. I saw her for the first time in months. Most of her hair is gone now, and her demeanor has been softened by morphine. I couldn't help seeing her as she was though, she was my Nana and always would be. Nothing will ever change that.
Our visit was short, but meant the world to me. Both Nana and Papa were very proud of what I had done and they seemed to appreciate it deeply, perhaps more so than me. I am still more or less confused by the meaning of the pilgrimage to me. It was an interesting endeaveor to be sure, but there is much that needs to be resolved within me as yet to complete it.
They knew what I had done though and that I love them. Now, I've proven that to myself as well.
Reflection: October 29, 2011
(Re written from pilgrimage journal)
My second day of walking was a surprise. The first few steps were painful as I had expected,, then when my body warmed up I really got into the rhythm of walking again.This day had no turns save for a short 180 meter jag at Forest Road. The path was straight and undeviating. It was daunting. Upon reaching Fisher Line I hit a definite wall mentally and physically. However, I was able to push through for another hour and a half of walking before my checkpoint of the day.
There were various points of interest during the walk today. There were two dogs who followed me for a number of kilometers and kept good company while they were alongside me after their initial displeasure at my arrival. Later, they got into a minor scuffle with some other farm dogs and decided to turn around and return home.
The hardest part of the day was the three or four kilometer incline that I had to ascend after passing a sugar beet harvest. Again the physically daunting task loomed over me though I was able to climb up and over this obstacle.
Along the road I passed a crippled bird. I had contemplated various actions including taking it with me to attempt to heal its wing, even the thought of a mercy killing crossed my mind. My indecision as nearly as crippling to me as the birds wing was to it. I decided to go on and leave the bird; after all, I was not meant to intervene with nature on this pilgrimage and I know almost nothing of birds unfortunately.
It seemed almost as if I was being tested with these things I was seeing along my path. The dead dear and the dying bird. Maybe it could be seen as over analysis, but I think they somehow helped me to come to terms with my grandmother's terminal illness and the unrelenting passage of time in nature. The frailty of life.
My second day of walking was a surprise. The first few steps were painful as I had expected,, then when my body warmed up I really got into the rhythm of walking again.This day had no turns save for a short 180 meter jag at Forest Road. The path was straight and undeviating. It was daunting. Upon reaching Fisher Line I hit a definite wall mentally and physically. However, I was able to push through for another hour and a half of walking before my checkpoint of the day.
There were various points of interest during the walk today. There were two dogs who followed me for a number of kilometers and kept good company while they were alongside me after their initial displeasure at my arrival. Later, they got into a minor scuffle with some other farm dogs and decided to turn around and return home.
The hardest part of the day was the three or four kilometer incline that I had to ascend after passing a sugar beet harvest. Again the physically daunting task loomed over me though I was able to climb up and over this obstacle.
Along the road I passed a crippled bird. I had contemplated various actions including taking it with me to attempt to heal its wing, even the thought of a mercy killing crossed my mind. My indecision as nearly as crippling to me as the birds wing was to it. I decided to go on and leave the bird; after all, I was not meant to intervene with nature on this pilgrimage and I know almost nothing of birds unfortunately.
It seemed almost as if I was being tested with these things I was seeing along my path. The dead dear and the dying bird. Maybe it could be seen as over analysis, but I think they somehow helped me to come to terms with my grandmother's terminal illness and the unrelenting passage of time in nature. The frailty of life.
Reflection: October 28, 2011
(Re written from pilgrimage journal)
Many times today I questioned the purposes of this walk. What is its purpose other than to arrive at my destination? If that was the only reason for going, then why hadnt I decided just to drive instead?
The longer I walked, the more it made sense somehow. It means more that I am doing this in order to see her rather than taking the easy way out. In the same way buying indulgences is the easy way out of sin, driving would have been the easy way out for this journey. The pilgrimage holds a greater purpose than other methods of travel. It serves as a sort of penance for what has transpired.
I am putting myself to the test, to measure my body's endurance and its relevance in love of my grandmother. It may not make much sense to anyone else, or indeed to myself yet, but I am hoping that its purpose becomes clear during the walk and perhaps after I arrive at Nana's.
Many times today I questioned the purposes of this walk. What is its purpose other than to arrive at my destination? If that was the only reason for going, then why hadnt I decided just to drive instead?
The longer I walked, the more it made sense somehow. It means more that I am doing this in order to see her rather than taking the easy way out. In the same way buying indulgences is the easy way out of sin, driving would have been the easy way out for this journey. The pilgrimage holds a greater purpose than other methods of travel. It serves as a sort of penance for what has transpired.
I am putting myself to the test, to measure my body's endurance and its relevance in love of my grandmother. It may not make much sense to anyone else, or indeed to myself yet, but I am hoping that its purpose becomes clear during the walk and perhaps after I arrive at Nana's.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Aching Feet
Hi everyone,
So I just wanted to let you know that I made it! I arrived in Point Edward at my Nana's house around 4:15pm on Sunday October 30th. The last day of my pilgrimage was easily the most daunting, both physically and mentally. I will be posting relevant information on the blog in some consequent posts. Just wanted to update the status to completed.
I would say that it was made safely, but that would be a lie. I greatly underestimated the arduousness of the journey and my body is not in a very functional state right now. My feet are in miserable shape, covered in blisters and they were bleeding by the time I arrived in Point Edward. The pain paled in comparison to the mental barriers I passed along the way and everything was made acceptable upon my arrival.
I walked roughly 30 kilometers a day in 6 hour stretches with one 15 minute break on the first two days. The third day was made in one straight shot because I was fearful that any sort of break would alter my momentum and I would not have been able to finish. Overall, the ordeal was worth it, as I was able to finally have time to visit with my grandmother.
More to come shortly.
Much love
So I just wanted to let you know that I made it! I arrived in Point Edward at my Nana's house around 4:15pm on Sunday October 30th. The last day of my pilgrimage was easily the most daunting, both physically and mentally. I will be posting relevant information on the blog in some consequent posts. Just wanted to update the status to completed.
I would say that it was made safely, but that would be a lie. I greatly underestimated the arduousness of the journey and my body is not in a very functional state right now. My feet are in miserable shape, covered in blisters and they were bleeding by the time I arrived in Point Edward. The pain paled in comparison to the mental barriers I passed along the way and everything was made acceptable upon my arrival.
 |
| Feet after cleaning...they were bloody before |
More to come shortly.
Much love
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Initial Jitters
So I've decided that for my final walk I will be making a pilgrimage from my family home in Denfield Ontario, which is north of London to Point Edward, just beside Sarnia. The pilgrimage from my home to my destination will be roughly 90 km. It will take an estimated 18 hours of walking at a decent pace. The reason for this pilgrimage is to see my Nana. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the summer, and given months as an expected limit to her time left alive. While at school there is almost no time to go home let alone get to Sarnia to see her. Besides, my grandmother is quite stubborn and won't tell us much about her illness. I want to go and see her, potentially for the last time. Over the past few years at University I have grown increasingly distant from my grandparents, but I love them deeply and want them to know that. I doubt that Nana would condone this pilgrimage...in fact I imagine she would be opposed to it for safety reasons. But I am going to do this.
It is a frightening prospect in some ways, walking 90 kilometres in solitude along back roads so as to not get caught for hitchhiking accidentally. I don't necessarily think that people will understand why I am doing this, especially my own family. Pilgrimages are a personal matter. I want to do this for me, and I want to do this for Nana. I don't know what I will find on the way to Point Edward, and whether it will be good, bad, angering or painful. I might have life altering revelations or just end up with sore feet. Either way, this is something I must do and am both excited for and apprehensive about. As I sit here typing, my back is sore and I am just getting over a bad cold. Hopefully I can muster the strength to get through this pilgrimage to my goal. I can't wait to stand there at Nana's house on Michigan Ave. and tell her that I love her, and that the walk was worth every step.
It is a frightening prospect in some ways, walking 90 kilometres in solitude along back roads so as to not get caught for hitchhiking accidentally. I don't necessarily think that people will understand why I am doing this, especially my own family. Pilgrimages are a personal matter. I want to do this for me, and I want to do this for Nana. I don't know what I will find on the way to Point Edward, and whether it will be good, bad, angering or painful. I might have life altering revelations or just end up with sore feet. Either way, this is something I must do and am both excited for and apprehensive about. As I sit here typing, my back is sore and I am just getting over a bad cold. Hopefully I can muster the strength to get through this pilgrimage to my goal. I can't wait to stand there at Nana's house on Michigan Ave. and tell her that I love her, and that the walk was worth every step.
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