People (John Hanson Mitchell for one) have walked to Walden. Today we walked around Walden, as millions of others have done. The spirit of Henry David Thoreau was palpable as always. Because of his life and his writings this insignificant pond is one of the world’s famous bodies of water. Amazing! He wrote:
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
To live deliberately means to be aware of one’s life each minute, every day I think. Are you? Am I? Probably not but its an idea worth remembering and striving for. Henry started the movement to save the planet when it was not obvious that it was in danger — “In wildness is preservation of the world.” What a concept — one we need more than ever now.
Here is some of what we saw today:
A trail at sunset.
Half way around the pond.
Through the woods.
Riprap to the pond.
Images and Ideas from Life and Elsewhere 
9 comments
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November 19, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Laurie G. Miller
Beautiful photos Frank…as always!
-L
November 19, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Frank Winters
Thanks Laurie — I appreciate hearing from you — so glad you like my photos!
November 19, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Liz Martin
Thanks for the walk around the pond Frank; it’s awhile since I’ve done it. I miss autumn!
November 19, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Frank Winters
Thanks Liz — I’m glad you enjoyed it — we had a great afternoon.
November 19, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Carolyn Donlin
I love these photos, Frank. Thank you for sharing both the photos and your thoughts about H.D. Thoreau.
November 19, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Frank Winters
Thanks Carolyn — I know you visited Walden on your trip to our fair state — I’m very pleased that you liked my photos!
February 24, 2019 at 8:58 pm
dogear6
John Hanson Mitchell’s book is great. I haven’t read it in a while – I need to get it back out.
I was surprised to see Walden looking so nice. The last time I saw it was in the late 1980’s. It was full of sunbathers, parties, and trash. I’d heard the developers tried to put in condos, etc. there. And they may have since 2011, when you wrote this.
It was a nice link that came up at the bottom of your blog.
Nancy
February 24, 2019 at 9:32 pm
Frank Winters
Thanks Nancy. On the first day of this year we walked around Walden again, my wife and I. It was just the same except there is a beautiful new visitor’s center. We’ll go again in warm weather. I promise to write about it, and to start posting again, you and Johna have inspired me.
February 24, 2019 at 9:35 pm
dogear6
I can’t wait to read about it. My husband and I have discussed heading to Concord for a long weekend. Besides Thoreau, it was significant in the War for Independence. We’ve learned so much about that since moving to Virginia and are always interested in learning more.