Greetings, anyone stopping by for the first time. The local paper has run a story mentioning my whimsical exploration of ‘Argleton‘, the non-existent town created by Google as an alternative to ‘Aughton’, so it’s possible that some new readers are checking me out. If you’re looking for what I wrote about visiting Argleton , here it is – enjoy!
I started this journey at the very beginning of 2008. The idea is to walk in sequential stages, to arrive at my birthplace, Brighton, some time around my 50th birthday in a couple of years’ time.
I have walked about once a month, blogging about each part of the journey, with sidetrips and digressions loosely related to the main theme, including a trip to Florida (a place much less real than non-existent Argleton), book reviews and a rediscovered story that I wrote at school.
The walk itself started in Southport. I made my way through Maghull and down into Liverpool, used the ferry (my one cheat so far) and walked round the Wirral and down to Chester. An account of a night in a Premier Inn and its associated pub gets a lot of hits: hopefully my speculation concerning the haunting of reclaimed brickwork is useful to people planning a stay there.
After an abortive journey into Shropshire (a county I now see as somewhat uncanny) I wandered through Staffordshire and into the Black Country. Revisiting places I have lived is part of the plan, hence stops in Wolves, Dudley and Stourbridge.
I have now reached a point south of Warwick. I hope to reach Edge Hill battleground soon, the third Edge Hill I will have visited, following trips to the University and the Liverpool district.
Why am I doing this? I suppose it’s a way of discovering my own country and my own history; travelling slowly through landacpes usually passed at speed on cars and trains; being part of an international community of walking blogging people; putting one foot in front of the other again and again.
Enjoying your blog – writing and pics. A new reader from the far side of the world, there’s no doubt that your world reads and looks a little like (genre) fantasy to me, but then I love genre writing too!
Ha! This Yank thoroughly agrees with you that Florida is a place much less real than the non-existent Argleton! Much of Florida, anyway. For a place even less real thann that try Las Vegas some time. No, on second thought, don’t.
You’re looking dashing and a bit grizzled there on the beach, and ready for more adventure. I’m still enjoying the journey with you.
Cheers from across the pond
Good to have you aboard, Sarah Miller.
FW, always a pleasure. I’m sure much of Florida is as real as anything, but the replica Portofino hotel-village had a Prisoner-like unreality to it….
Forest, that ‘grizzled’ pic is a year old – you should see me now: http://www.itsnature.org/TV/images/article-images/grizzly-adams.jpg
Ah great, thanks. It’s a great improvement, I must say.
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