Day 30: At last

After thirty long days of traveling, we have reached our final destination. Canterbury is truly a beautiful place, and I can not wait to experience everything the area has to offer. The journey has been long, the obstacles have been difficult, and the memories will last forever. Each day presented me with a new opportunity; an opportunity to engage in the lives of others, and the opportunity to discover who I really am. In a few days I will depart from the people I have spent so many long hours with on the pilgrimage. We will all go our separate ways. But when we depart, each of us will have a little piece of one another in our hearts. We will cherish those we have met, as well as the lessons we have learned from the people we have encountered.

Advice for the day: "And when you move on, you'll remember, all the times you... had together." - Vitamin C

Day 29: Squire Saves the Day!

I woke in the middle of the night to the Nun’s screeching wails of agony. Her precious dog chased her most prized cat up a tall pine tree. The cat was too terrified to come down. She begged me to climb up after her feline friend. I wanted to tell the nun how much of a hypocrite she was, but I bit my tongue. I figured the Chivalric Code would want me to help the lady and her innocent cat. So I began shimmying up the sticky trunk of the tree. Suddenly the cat slipped and was dangling by its front paws. I climbed the tree as quickly as humanly possible. After what seemed like an eternity, I reached the frightened feline just in the nick of time. When I reached the ground, I looked down and realized that my brand new pajamas were covered with sap! My hair was full of pine needles! I spent the rest of the night picking them out and trying to salvage my pajamas. After all this, I came to the conclusion that it was worth it because I know Sir Knightlyhood would be pleased.

Day 28: Chess With the O.C.

Around midday I ran into the Oxford Cleric. We decided to strike up a conversation and spend time with one another. This time I allowed him to pick the activity. Unfortunately for me, there was no dancing involved. We played an intellectual game of chess. This time it was the Oxford Cleric teaching me. Chess included numerous small pieces in different shapes. Each piece could move in certain patterns across a game board. The point of the game was to capture and wipe out the opponents King. The Oxford Cleric spent a long time explaining the rules and tips of the game to me. After I learned all of the rules, we played a few games. He beat me every single time, but in return I learned some of his secrets. He taught me how to use the castle to your advantage. I even learned how to put my opponent at check mate in four moves! So after losing several times to the Oxford Cleric, I challenged Sir Knightlyhood. With my clever new tricks I was able to crush him.

Advice for the day: Learn something every day.

Day 27: Advice and Memories

I've been looking back at my past posts, and boy am I glad that I decided to write my advice for the day. I have compiled a list of all the past advice, so that I can analyze all I have learned so far on this pilgrimage. The advice list is as follows:

• Take advantage of every opportunity
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Seek help when needed
• Friends are always right around the corner
• Be careful of the friends you choose
• Some woman are only interested in money
• Practice what you preach
• Sometimes it is ok to eat a lot, but be sure to say thankyou
• Sometimes you just need to stop everything you are doing and sleep
• Cheaters never do win
• Looks aren't always everything, or are they?
• There will be days that you are flat-out very unlucky
• If the doctor doesn't know much, do a dance
• Leave enough time to work
• Practice makes perfect
• Study hard, play harder
• Just keep swimming, just keep swimming
• Perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself, is find out who you really are
• Change is inevitable
• Jealousy doesn't get you anywhere
• Eat a lot, be jolly, and make moments. Without great moments, there will be no memories.
• Patience is a good trait to have
• Relax and take one day at a time
• Forgive but don't forget
  
  
  Advice for the day: Don't live in the past.

Day: 26 Hunting with the Yeomen

I made another attempt at making peace with the Yeomen today. We got up before sunrise and went to the woods, the whole way he told me stories of his great hunting successes. When I got to an area I felt confident in, I climbed up into a tree. The Yeomen said he would go about fifty paces west, and climb a tree. As the sun started rising, I could see some deer coming from the field east of us. They slowly moved closer, then stood under the apple tree for about an hour. Once they started moving, I noticed one was a huge twelve-point. The twelve-point happened to look up in the tree and see me. It took off running right towards the Yeomen. Then, an eight point that did not catch sight of me walked up, and reamained within shooting range. I pulled back my bow and released the arrow. In a flash the deer dropped. I went down and gutted it. The Yeomen walked up to me and said he spooked the twelve-point, and that he was unable to get a shot. I asked him if the deer had seen him in the tree. He was so confused, it turns out the Yeoman did not even attempt to climb the tree. He did not know he was supposed to, after all the Yeoman really didn't know much about hunting. The Yeomen confessed that he had attempted to poison me. He said he was jealous because I had gained a lot of attention, and that he was only a Yeoman. He asked me to forgive him, and I did. I knew that God and the Chivalric code state to forgive those who conspire against you, so I felt it necessary to forgive him.


Advice for the day: Forgive but don't forget

Day 25: Getting Antsy

I wonder how much longer this journey is going to take. It's been a month and Sir Knightlyhood doesn't even know when this journey will be finished. I can not wait until we find the area we are in search of. Traveling really takes a lot of energy out of me. Meeting numerous people a day can also drain you of energy, especially when they are as different as the Nun! I have heard several good stories on the journey, but, I have also heard several stories that were not appealing to my interests. Just how much longer can I deal with all these ridiculus stories? I know I shouldn't be so critical of all the others on the journey, because I have learned that the Code requires you to be kind to all. I would love to just get a day to myself to relax and study, without all the ridiculous drama and nonsense that occurs daily. When I become a Knight, I plan on being a person that noone will ever forget.

Advice for the day: Relax and take one day at a time.