Today – September 8, 2014 marks 8 full years of wandering the globe nomadically for me. It’s a special day that I like to stop and think about where I’ve come, how I’ve changed, and where I’m going. However I’m not going to reflect upon that here as it all needs time to resonate. Instead I choose to celebrate the act of wandering.
Wanderer
This poem was given to me during my position as the Keables Chair at ‘Iolani School:
Wanderer, your footsteps are
the road, and nothing more;
wanderer, there is no road,
the road is made by walking.
By walking one makes the road,
and upon glancing back
one sees the path
that must never be trod again.
Wanderer, there is no road –
Only wakes upon the sea.
–Antonio Machado
I loved the poem and it immediately took me visually back to many of the places where I wandered. My memories of wide open spaces, epic journeys, and the places on the globe that have become a deep part of me. So I celebrate my 8 years with a lovely glass of wine with friends, and memories of wandering the globe. These images from scattered ends of the globe immediately give me a feeling of wandering. People moving around the globe realizing that it is much much bigger than our brains can comprehend. It’s that feeling of connection to the earth and sky and contemplating your place somewhere in the middle. It’s a place where we stop and take a second to breath and take it all in. It’s simple, mellow, contemplative. It’s not even important where they are from – it’s about the feeling they evoke. And when I look at them as a whole, I can’t help but rejoice in my 8 years of wandering.
By Bryan September 8, 2014 - 7:18 am
Oh the places you went! What an accomplishment. I wish your road many additional years of travel.
By Anita @ No Particular Place To Go September 8, 2014 - 10:32 am
Happy anniversary and wishing you many more years of epic travels! As always, your photos are beautiful and inspiring and, as a loyal follower of your blog, I look forward to vicariously traveling with you on the journeys ahead.
By Betsy Talbot September 8, 2014 - 10:41 am
Happy travel-versary! Happy to have shared a few adventures with you and wishing you many, many more.
By Marsha @ The Travelling Historian September 8, 2014 - 1:27 pm
Happy travel anniversary! Such wonderful photos!! Here is to many more years of travelling!
By valerie September 8, 2014 - 6:05 pm
Happy anniversary Sherry, hope our paths will cross again one day! your pictures are amazing and they convey so well the beauty of the world and the benevolent eye that you have when watching it! take care!
By Authentic Seacoast September 8, 2014 - 6:16 pm
Congratulations! Thank you for visiting the Authentic Seacoast on your travels. It was a pleasure to welcome you and your mom as our guests. We wish you continued safe journeys.
By Christina September 8, 2014 - 8:34 pm
Congrats on eight years of wandering! That is such a beautiful poem and great for this moment of reflections. Thanks for all the amazing images and stories! Here’s to many more new paths!
By Corinne September 9, 2014 - 1:34 am
Sherry, Congratulations! These views are hard to get tired of, I would think. Beautiful!
By Molly September 9, 2014 - 3:38 pm
Stunning photographs, Sherry! Especially the photo with sun streaking through the trees, and the photo with the bridge over the river. You’ve covered some incredible ground!
By Marcia @ CuracaoRentalHomes September 10, 2014 - 7:37 am
So many pictures, so many places, and what a poem! Happy travelling day and here’s to at least 8 years more.
By Rosaline September 13, 2014 - 6:34 am
Amazing, amazing journey and commitment to the cause! Glad I got to share a tiny part of it 🙂
By Sherry September 22, 2014 - 7:15 pm
Rosaline – I’m so lucky that we are still in touch! That’s the amazing part – now I have friends around the world! So happy we met on that horrible plane ride in Morocco!
By Ronny September 14, 2014 - 1:39 am
So many amazing places you have been over the past eight years … here’s to many more awesome years on the road!
By Janet October 19, 2014 - 9:29 am
I’ve just seen your site for the first time and wish my boots were walking next to yours. I’m a Grammy who travels with kids, hoping to inspire them to expand their world, learn, and grow. Travel is full immersion learning. There is nothing better. May you continue wandering and wondering.
By bertandpatty November 21, 2014 - 1:49 pm
What an amazing journey you’re on Sherry. Like so many others, you’ve been an inspiration to us and our travels, and I look forward to the day our paths cross again.
By Katie November 24, 2014 - 12:20 am
What wonderful photos!
I also love travelling, and will be doing it more often in a few years when I’ve gotten rid of some debt and saved some money.
Do you travel constantly, or sporadically when between jobs? Are you a full time writer and photographer? I’d love to find a way to travel more often – any advice?