Comments on: East End Desire Paths https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 19 May 2020 00:11:52 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: E.G. https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338805 Tue, 19 May 2020 00:11:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338805 Wonderful concept, “Desire Paths”.
And a beautiful piece.

]]> By: Poyntz Pauline https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338560 Sun, 17 May 2020 11:40:11 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338560 Dear Gentle Author, are you sure Pilgrim was supposed to stick to the “Straight” path ? I thought it was the “Narrow” path.
I hadn’t heard the name Desire Path, but it fits beautifully.
I have, well; had , a reputation for getting lost when out in the countryside because I could not “ stick” to the path. The urge to explore in a certain direction was sometimes so strong.
I loved getting lost. Bramble bushes , nettles, brooks, fields of cows could sometimes , cause a pause to consider how to manage this or that obstacle but the joy of reaching home again without having to admit defeat was beyond compare.
Thank you for reminding me of all the Desire paths I have taken throughout my life.
Pauline

]]> By: Claire D https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338326 Sat, 16 May 2020 08:05:56 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338326 I’m with you entirely GA, there’s something everlasting about footpaths and “desire paths” seem to have an extra wry smile and twinkle in the eye about them.
“Pointless intervention in Shadwell” particularly appreciated.

]]> By: Alan Stanton https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338295 Fri, 15 May 2020 23:33:09 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338295 George Redgrave is another enthusiast for these desire lines or desire paths. He started a Flickr Group of such photos. https://www.flickr.com/groups/desire_paths/

Which inspired a video: CAMINITO DE DESEO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=TWCaBuBDQqQ

I’ve posted photos on George’s group and now ‘drop-in’ occasionally on his photos here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/funfilledgeorgie/

I too am intrigued by desire lines and a fan of walking where the mood takes me.
But with reservations.

George I have had a few friendly discussions about this online, as he seems more committed to free walking. Whereas I worry when parts of parks slowly disappear under a merging delta of detours. With grass transformed into packed mud.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/9599607920/

Plus reading about examples of soil erosion caused by water gushing down short gullies – channels made by boots determined to take the most direct route – the short cut.

Though some people go, literally, out of their way to tread a more difficult and challenging route. As in the video above.

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338289 Fri, 15 May 2020 22:19:50 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338289 Oh, thank you Helen from Boston. Sorry to add another message here — but I am so grateful to re-read the Frost poem, after all these years. A volume of Frost poems languishes here in my library, a high school graduation gift from my parents (class of ’65) because my folks knew how MUCH I loved the grand old man of poetry. Yes, you’re exactly right: this is the perfect poem to accompany the fine photos today.

Thank you GA, and your readers.
A Spitalfields Life is a consistent, enduring source of optimism — and we need it now.
Stay safe, all.

]]> By: Jonathan van Halbert https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338287 Fri, 15 May 2020 22:10:15 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338287 Lovely story.. But who wrote it? It reminds me of a poem I read as a Child.

Little fly thy summers ply. What care if you live or die.. That too was Anonymous!

]]> By: Elizabeth Olson https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338277 Fri, 15 May 2020 20:39:30 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338277 Leaning into this posting! Captions make me smile. Have noticed desire paths branching out all over Horth Hill this spring — not sure whether ramblers are still looking for Harry or whether they’re a means for isolating whilst forest bathing!

]]> By: jennifer galton-fenzi https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338265 Fri, 15 May 2020 16:36:41 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338265 Thank you for this post. Serendipity – at the time I opened it I was reading Antonio Machado’s poem ‘Traveller, your footprints are the only road.’

]]> By: Jill Wilson https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338260 Fri, 15 May 2020 14:35:02 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338260 It would be interesting to know if the paths have differed at all in these “unprecedented times”.

Are they stronger because more people are taking their hour’s exercise? Does the dry weather make them wear more or less than in a rainy spring? Has social distancing made any difference? Is there anywhere where there are two parallel paths two metres apart – perhaps one for coming and one for going??

]]> By: Christy https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/05/15/east-end-desire-paths-x/#comment-1338258 Fri, 15 May 2020 14:24:22 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=181359#comment-1338258 Lovely essay and photos. They may be shortcuts – or not- but they give us that wonderful ‘What if?’ feeling

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