So about 11 years ago, I randomly picked up a biography of a poet I’d never heard of, decided that it missed the soul of this guy I’d never read and that I could write a much better biography. THAT IS CRAZY.
Two years ago, Victor let me quit work for a year so I could write my book. When we decided to come to Paris for Victor’s 40th, I told him he could stay in France, but that I was coming to England to walk John Clare’s “Journey out of Essex.” I still have not finished my book.
Today, I started that walk by taking the tube out to the Northeastern suburbs and the Epping Forest, the site of the mental institution poet Clare was escaping from.
Obviously, January is not an optimum time to go on a four-day 80-mile stroll, but here I am doing just that.
My day started in London, the moment this store opened. If you need a map, this is the best place I have ever seen.
This is so sad—one bad decision after another.
This is the Tube, not in a tube. I still love it. And you can take it to Epping Forest, zone 6.
This is the village of Loughton. When they have these villages on TV, I don’t recall them being chocked with cars.
This is what the trail markers look like. It did not stop me from getting completely lost, but I think I can get the hang of it and do better tomorrow.
This is what the walking maps look like. You follow the green arrows and the trails have names that sometimes appear on posts.
It was, you know, very muddy, but still all kinds of awesome. Here pigeons live in the forest. Honestly, it never crossed my mind the pigeons would like living in a forest.
A path through the Epping Forest.
This is an old pub in the middle of the Epping Forest that was there when Clare was here. Next to it, there is a snack shack where old men sat and made small talk with mountain bikers and trail runners in lycra.
There are hills… I did not account for that because I am a dunce.
Not much else to say except HOLY FUCK I WAS IN THE EPPING FOREST!!!!!
Postscript: I did not make it to the site of the mental institution (long knocked down) on the other side of the forest. I had an afternoon appointment back in London. It was raining cats and dogs, so I had to turn back once I got to High Oak. I then got lost again and had an unpleasant walk back, showing up about 20 minutes late for my appointment, a bit soggy. Still, a good start! And the maps have me all excited.
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