Monday, July 6, 2009

Simplicity...


We got up early today so that we could catch the commuter rail into Concord. You can't take the regular subway system, since its about 11 miles away, so we had to walk to the commuter station and wait about 30 minutes for the train. It took us about 30 minutes to get to Concord. Layton read online that Concord isn't a walking city like Boston. Boy was he right! I desperately wanted to go see Walden Pond and see the replica of Thoreau's cabin. He told me that it probably wasn't going to be an easy walk. I didn't really believe him, but he was right! Half of the time there was no side walk and we were actually walking down a highway at one point. We finally made it to Walden Pond. The pictures do not do it justice. It was SOOOO amazingly beautiful! We actually took the time to walk all the way around it, which was a little over 1.5 miles. It was quite an adventure and so beautiful and PEACEFUL!! I bought a handmade mug in the gift shop.

After we hiked back into town along the highway we grabbed some pizza and ice cream for lunch and then we headed in the opposite direction to find Monument Square, The Orchard House (Louisa May Alcott's House), Ralph Waldo Emerson's House, and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, which has what's called "Author's Ridge", where Thoreau, Alcott, Emerson, and Hawthorne are buried. It was CRAZY for me to think that all of the great literary GIANTS walked the same streets that I was walking on and were actually buried under right where I was standing.

It was quite a crazy day of walking (my feet are getting so tired!), adventure, fun, laughs, amazement, and exhaustion! I absolutely LOVED the town of Concord and could actually see myself living there. Who wouldn't want to live right up the street from Ralph Waldo Emerson's house?!?!

Today's total mileage: 11.29
Today's blessing: Eating amazing raspberry sorbet with fresh raspberries in a quaint town full of so much history. I could almost hear Thoreau speaking to me :)

I would like to end with a few words from Thoreau:
"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail. In the midst of this chopping sea of civilized life, such are the clouds and storms and quick-sands and thousand and-one items to be allowed for, that a man has to live, if he would not founder and go to the bottom and not make his port at all, by dead reckoning, and he must be a great calculator indeed who succeeds. Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion."

3 comments:

  1. The thought of being in the midst of those literary giants just gives me chills! What inspiration! Amazing pictures, amazing places!

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  2. I didn't know they were all buried there...that's so cool! I can't wait to hear more about your trip! I'm glad you're having a great time! It's funny that Layton "made" you take a nap...I'm curious how that convo went! LOL! Love you friend! Can't wait for you to come home!

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