The Journey Begins

Today I start my sauntering. A friend shared with me the history of the word, sauntering, which fits with my plan to saunter through creation. Grant said, “In the Middle Ages people went on pilgrimages to the Holy Land and as they passed through a village people asked where they were going they would reply, “A la sainte terre,” which means “to the Holy Land.” And so they became known as saint-terre-ers, or saunterers.

Even though I deplore what Middle Ages pilgrims did to those who do not embrace their beliefs, I loved learning the background of the word. It is fitting for my journey because I believe that I am traveling through the “Holy Land.” All land is Holy land. I will be sauntering on Holy ground in the presence of the Holy.

I drove east before I headed west to drop off my four legged, faithful companion, Winnie, to my friend’s lake home in Cumberland WI. Winnie is in the hands of a Cocker Spaniel lover. Winnie will be well loved by Kurt, but not so loved by all the birds that frequent Kur’s birdfeeders.

With Winnie delivered to her vacation spot, I am heading north toward my first stop, Lake Carlos State Park near Alexandria. Next stop will be Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota, the land of prairies, bison and wild horses.