In the comments to my post The Power of Austerity, Miss Eagle asked an interesting question. I’m hoping other readers may be able to help with it.
I was talking about the difficulty St Clare and her sisters would have had in their society living exactly like their Franciscan brothers, begging for their meals on the road. Miss Eagle’s comment was this:
I am interested in the women who “tramp the road as beggars”. You see – as unlikely as it all would be at my great age and antiquity – there is something inside of me that has this idea….
So, Tess, do you or does anyone know of women ancient or modern one could look to in this regard?
Well, the only person I can think of is Granny D, who coincidentally I wrote about a couple of weeks ago here. At the age of 90 she walked through America. Hers is a political cause, and she had backup, so not quite a Franciscan friar, but in the same spirit, I feel.
What about you lovely readers, can you think of any women, historical or contemporary, who could be our inspirations?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
interesting question. granny d was who came to my mind, too. this makes me wonder about the hesitancy of women traveling alone. i am planning on taking a road trip in the near future and would love to do some camping along the way, but even with my tendency toward bravery i am a bit hesitant to set up my tent solo (due to the “human element” i might encounter not the natural elements.) i doubt that my husband would have the same reservations. i wonder if the “safety” issues for women have limited the amount of “tramping” for our gender even though we all know that our intelligence & strength (although maybe not our brawn) are equal to or superior than the other gender. i look forward to hearing more responses from you readers.
Have you heard of the Peace Pilgrim? She wandered North America for 28 years with nothing but the clothes on her back. All of her food and shelter were given to her, unsolicited…quite an amazing and inspirational woman!
I forgot to include the link to the Peace Pilgrim site (she has been gone for over 25 years now).
http://www.peacepilgrim.com/
Thank you Kate, for the Peace Pilgrim link. I remember her – in fact who could forget that face.
I read with interest Tess’s post on Granny D. But neither of these women – mighty though they are – is where (I think) I am at. They had a cause. They had support. They had an element of publicity and public exposure.
I know what I am going to say might sound confusing and too idealistic for words but I guess I am thinking of something eremetic – but mobile. You see, Lucy, I have done a little of this in motor vehicles.
The first time was travelling alone in my trusty Commodore sedan (panicking my sister)and camping out in Australia’s Outback either in a tent or just in my swag under the stars. Then if you pop over here you will see my trusty Mitsubishi station wagon being prepared for a trip around country Victoria during which I camped along the beaches of Bass Strait. There was a lot more stuff went in the wagon after this picture was taken.
Later that year I also travelled from Melbourne to Broken Hill in the wagon. Last year, my travelling was done in the middle of winter so I did not camp out. I have a single sized rubber mattress covered professionally in plastic which I gleaned from someone’s footpath rubbish. This fits nicely and comfortably in the back of the wagon when the back seat is down. And as you can see I make myself quite comfortable.
I also have one problem I have never overcome in a satisfactory manner. You’ll laugh at this. I cannot travel light. So walking would force that on me, would it not!
I would intend to carry a swag (no bed linen with crocheted edges) so I could sleep anywhere. OK, offers of accommodation would be welcome but if I have a swag I can doss on someone’s floor. I would also want to carry a billy and some basic eating utesils and implements – and of course a torch/lantern.
I think if I ever do this I will do a reasonably short trip first – to see what I am actually capable of and not too far beyond public transport to get me home again if need be. And a couple of ideas are beginning to pop into my head.
The weather can be quite changeable in Victoria but winter, from which we are beginning to emerge, is our wettest season. But Victoria can experience days in excess of 40 degrees Celsius – so the weather here is nothing if not interesting.
I once saw on documentary on TV about a Melbourne man who opted out of society and spent his life walking and he went further north in the winter and came south in the summer.
One thing I know will happen from previous experience is that I will go so long and I will want a good shower and I will want to wash my hair!
Seem to have left out the link about camping in the wagon: http://tradpad.blogspot.com/2006/01/meself-to-mallacoota.html
Tess AND Miss Eagle, I’m as strong willed and adventurous as “some” but I pray you have not given Lucy “permission” to camp alongside the road. I’m all for adventure but PLEASE no camping alone!!! I remember in particular, many, many years ago when driving at night alone from Dallas to Oklahoma City (a few hundred miles) I filled my car with gas and as I left the filling station I noted in my rear view mirror that a lone man had driven out after my leaving the station. Noting that he seemed to be following rather more interested than not, I was glad to give a small whistle and summon the two waking German Shepherds (they were dogs:) sleeping in my back seat and as quick as they came up in the back seat, the driver behind pulled over and made a U-Turn. No camping alone – this is America – home of ax murderers:) Arghhh!!!
xoxo
What an interesting set of responses, thank you all.
Lucy and SS: yes, I’m afraid I agreed about the dangers inherent in camping alone. And it infuriates me. Big dogs do seem to be a good idea.
Kate: thank you so much for the Peace Pilgrim link. As soon as I saw it I remembered her, and was so pleased for the reminder.
Miss Eagle: I did indeed laugh at your difficulty with travelling light, which I share. When I spent a few days with Lucy in Paris earlier this year, I thought I’d done pretty well on the packing, but I still managed to come back with two-thirds of what I’d brought unworn/unused! But I love your idea of living out of a station wagon, and I really enjoyed your pictures. Could you not do the same thing but pack light then park up and stride out for long treks? And perhaps anyway Australia is still a little less axe-murdery than the US.
I have one other reservation about being a walking pilgrim of any sort – I do like proper modern plumbing for, er, certain things.
I’ve just remembered one other thing: an Australian couple I used to know who lived in England decided to go back home via the US, and planned to cycle – on their tandem no less – from East to West then fly back from LA.
They didn’t make it all the way – just to the mid-West – because of the dangers of traffic, but they had a great time and said people where they stopped were incredibly friendly.
What an inspiring post and set of responses. I have been contemplating a lot what it means for me to “pack lightly”, both literally and figuratively, especially on our return after a month of travel. We always make a point of having only carry-on luggage which many folks are surprised by, but every time we re-packed the questions came back to me about what I *really* need.
Peace Pilgrim was the woman who came to mind for me too and it also infuriates me that as women we have to be so fearful about traveling solo in desolate places. I like the big dog solution though.
Jet lag still has its hold on me! Will be posting soon about my own travels . . .
love and blessings Tess, C
Christine! Yay, you’re back, we missed you. Look forward to hearing about your adventures post jet lag. Hugs, T