How must we travel on this planet?
A personal view
Sitting out the front of ‘The Curator Café a favourite pit-stop for a chai, surfing decor reminds me of home. Adjacent to the main roundabout of Totnes you see the ‘Stone marker’ and plaque of explorer William John Wills, born in Totnes and was the surveyor and navigator of the ‘Burke and Wills expedition’. To set foot and explore Australia from south to the north of a great southern Continent. Many Australians are familiar with Mr Wills story.
Their expenditure ended in death at Cooper Creek in Outback Australia. I have travelled much across the outback of Australia. Every time I would be inspired by the ‘Great Nomads’ across the desert and the harsh conditions would test any great soul on this earth.
William John Wills born 5th January 1834 embarked on the first journey as an outsider to this great southern land. An Aboriginal Elder once told me they could trade ochre (a decorative rock that was used for ceremony) from Adelaide, my home town to North Queensland, Cape York – the destination Burke and Wills took. Old trading routes would take them 4 days from sovereign nation to sovereign nation to trade Ochre. Much quicker than the Australian, British and Indian post today!
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To traverse the Moors. A magical place of water flowing over rock and under tors back into the ground. Ancient stone circles and paths intertwine as you enter small villages made from local stone. Dartmoor National Park is an insight into early Celtic, medieval history across United Kingdom woodlands, mist and magical weather forming over ancient landscapes.
Totnes is a gateway to the inspired great outdoors, to walk across landscapes like a Pilgrim. The spiritual feel is a sense of peace that nurtures the value of place in my reflections of the two years that embeds values of village life.
I contrast Cooper Creek landscapes of drought and flood as I walk along River Dart. Volumes of water flowing out to sea in contrast to a dry continent I have experienced.
With Totnes holding the gateway to little villages nestled into landscapes that time has forgot contrasting to the modern world of new dwellings that have emerged across urbanised cities. What is the capacity of Totnes? Like every destination, there are limits of local population, employment and affordable housing. How far will Totnes go or will it sit with the ‘Small is beautiful’ ethos. Housing across many parts of the UK and modern world are at a breaking point. Population is increasing across the world.
What is the optimum level required for Totnes to hold her weight and worth as a Transition Town that today has an international reputation? Ethical by nature, embedded into landscapes with access and walking, cycle trails to encourage a town that is less by car and more a softer way to walk across the community.
An impression that will always be inspired – the walking-bicycle path along the Biddle brook and the lineal wetland that softly allows the water to enter into Dart River. A magical ride from Schumacher College traversing past the Cider Press along the River Dart into Totnes.
A World class experience for the number of paths that we travel in one lifetime.
Craig Cooper is a local author and writer of Gratitude on Country