“It’s not the destination, but the journey that matters” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I’m walking with Jesse the Lurcher, I’m constantly looking up to the sky, marvelling at that one moment when I look and capture the colours and light. It changes as I look, the image is extremely transient and that’s the unique one moment in time. Just a second, of a minute of an hour, of a day and just one day in the year of your whole lifetime, never to be experienced again in exactly the same way.

With a journey, our minds seem to be occupied with thoughts of the destination - what will it be like, when will I get there, and things like that. So much so, these thoughts can leave no room to take the time to be concerned with your experiences of travel.

With this in mind, on my latest trip to Norfolk, Google maps tells me it would take about 3 to 4 hours. This means a stop somewhere along the way is essential. Both me and Jesse need the break! We have all the facilities to hand to work something out which will be as pleasurable as getting to where we are going. I take advantage by studying my route, enlarging it and hanging on to my National Trust membership! On this journey, I spotted two wildlife centres, two splendid dogs allowed pubs and a National Trust destination, which is what we went for - Lyveden, Northamptonshire.

It was absolute splendid - we had all the grounds to walk in, the lodge was warm and inviting, the cafe so welcoming (dogs allowed) and the toilets spotless! So much better, rewarding and uplifting than an anonymous service station. We continued our journey, refreshed and relaxed.

Christmas was spent in Holt - a splendid market town, extremely dog friendly and a lovely welcoming destination. Naturally, a run for Jesse along Hunstanton Beach was called for.

And so, the return journey. We decided to take a different route, and planned our break without planning it, but deciding to take a turn off the main route when we saw an interesting brown signpost. This was so very very rewarding again! So much history, inspirational landscape and beautiful architecture. Initially, we headed for Apethorpe Palace and then went to investigate Fotheringhay, site of Fotheringhay castle and the most unexpected huge St Mary and All Saints Church.

On our return home, opening the front door and being enveloped in the comfort of our own home, I realised that we hadn’t just been to Holt, but two other fascinating places that only demanded a bit of extra time, but gave so much in return.

And this is why I’ve quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson for the title of this entry. It’s my target to enjoy the processes of my work, to appreciate the stages of what I’m doing, whatever it may be, to get me to my goals. There’s so much enrichment and enjoyment when we practice this method of journeying, and I hope you will too.

It would be interesting to read your thought on this.