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Today I scanned the final photographs of the Henley – Newark row/walk of July 2003. The last leg, from Nottingham to Newark was 25 miles in length.
Sam set off without James, and I trailed in his wake. It is hard to believe that I managed to keep within sight of him as he rowed along the River Trent, but these photographs would seem to prove it. Perhaps the cattle would bear witness.
As the rower moved into Farndon, James, Louisa, and Gemma set out to greet him and to follow him towards
Newark Castle, first passing the railway station;
to be greeted by his reception committee as he docked. Louisa, as requested, handed me two pints of beer – all for me.
Perhaps this was a lap of honour alongside the castle ruins. This 13th century castle was originally built for the Bishop of Lincoln. A Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, ‘in 1646 the garrison surrendered, but only after a direct command from Charles I. Parliament ordered the castle destroyed so it could never be held against them again, but fate took a hand; plague broke out in Newark town, and the destruction of the castle was halted.’ This quotation is taken from http://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=93 which contains a more complete history in very readable form.
So, what has all this to do with T.S. Eliot’s ‘Little Gidding’? From this, the last of the poet’s Four Quartets, I have borrowed
‘What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from………….
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time’.
The reason is that I do not have the negatives of the last of my photographs as they are prints, which must have been produced by our friend Alison, or her sister, Rosemary, both of whom were there to send us on our way.
Sam took delivery of his boat at Henley where he and James set about preparing and stocking it for the journey. Note the black bin behind my son,
which I strapped on with the rather optimistic intention of collecting sponsorship money.
Pacific Pete left the mooring,
and we were under way. This was to be the last sound footpath I trod for the next eleven days.
This evening we dined on Thai inspired fish cakes from Tesco served on Jackie’s succulent bed of sautéed onions, peppers, leeks, mushrooms and manges touts; noodles; prawn toasts and spring rolls. The Culinary Queen drank her customary Hoegaarden and I drank more of the madiran.
P.S. See Mike’s bitaboutbritain comment below for a much fuller illustrated history of Newark Castle
Very nice adventure Derrick. Great memories. Gary
They sure are. Many thanks, Gary
A wonderful journey, Derrick.
Thanks very much, GP
I love this poem and these are the best lines ever written I think. Particularly fitting for your marathon effort on behalf of your lovely son! I’m particularly taken with the photo bearing the sign for Newark Castle.
Many thanks, Pauline
Ah, I’ve awoken early enough to see the end, and the beginning all in one, before I head off to be a plumber again. The Newark Castle looks fascinating.
Many thanks, Ivor
Pauline has said what I was thinking. I also love those lines (as you’ve seen), and I was struck by the photo of the man at Newark Castle. He looks like a ghost.
Many thanks, Merril 🙂
How on earth did you get that photo of the transparent man on the platform? Really clever. Great boat race picture gallery. 🙂
Many thanks, Sylvia. Through a glass shelter 🙂
Clever, that. I thought you had superimposed the image somehow. Things are never as complicated as we thought. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Mary
It appears as if a good time ws had by all
Very much so. Thanks a lot, Lonely
I detest this poem. When I was studying in Boston one of my professors – Sebastian Moore – annually recited Little Gidding. He got a standing ovation. I thought it was a load of nonsense. I prefer Eliot’s cat poems!
Purr. Many thanks, Bruce
I was led to this, from Robert Frost, Instructor and Flight Controller at NASA (Wow!)
:
The oldest reference to it, I know, is in the 1936 movie Rhythm on the Range starring Bing Crosby. Bing sings a song called “I’m an old cowhand (from the Rio Grande)”, written by Johnny Mercer.
The song is about a cowboy that isn’t really a cowboy. Very appropriate for that scene in Die Hard because Hans had just called the New York cop a cowboy.
Yippie-i-o ki yay is used in the song, about 24 seconds in, you can hear it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=IFS6UXi4DB4
Many thanks, Bert. Have passed it on to Yvonne
Awesome picture of the man on the platform! Louisa, as requested, handed me two pints of beer – all for me. I bet it was all for you…cheers! 🙂
And didn’t touch the sides. Many thanks, Jill
That looks both amazing and interesting; beyond me, that’s for sure. And I liked the Eliot. There’s a MUCH better article about Newark Castle here, though – http://bitaboutbritain.com/the-castle-at-newark-on-trent/ 🙂
Many thanks, Mike. I knew you would have done it. I am alerting readers to this through a P.S.
That’s very kind, Derrick – thank you!
I have always found those lines so moving, and the same is true for this series of posts. Bravo to Sam, and bravo to you! Very inspiring.
Very many thanks, Laurie
What a long and sometimes difficult walk you had! Your photographs recording it and your son’s journey are wonderful – I love the photo at the beginning of the post of your son rowing hard past the herd of cattle who are lazily resting on the river bank or cooling off in the water.
Very many thanks, Clare
Those are beautiful lines of poetry. Thank you!
Many thanks, Lavinia
What an adventure! Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks, Lynn
These are some memories worth preserving for posterity, Derrick.
The ghost of another person overlaid upon that one shot is ethereal!
Many thanks, Robin
That must have been a consuming experience. All those emotions seem to percolate down the screen right to the reader. Excellent photographs.
Very many thanks, Uma
I reckon Jackie’s succulent bed of sautéed onions, peppers, leeks, mushrooms and manges touts; noodles; prawn toasts and spring rolls. would be fine; have my doubts about Thai inspired fish cakes from Tesco though after my few experiences with them in 2005. Tesco’s that is not their fish cakes probably thrown together in someones backyard.
Many thanks, Brian
What a fun day! And in such a beautiful setting, too. Getting a bit envious over here…
Many thanks, Anna
Great memories coming back to life. What a treat Derrick 💛
Many thanks, Val
What an interesting picture the one with the superposed images!
Many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Great finale to the journey Derrick, drawing together my current home county and the home county of my youth. I remember walking to Little Gidding when I was 16 or 17 and reading the poem. Pretentious? Moi?
🙂 Many thanks, Quercus
https://priyankagupta2597.wordpress.com
Thank you Priyanka
Welcome.😊