HHH CHAPTER 1 Hello Holywell; goodbye to my family

The day of departure arrived, occasional cool showers, some sunshine that only felt warm when protected from the wind.

Short notice maintenance haircut…done.

My stuff sealed in dry bags…done.

Backpack filled with said dry bags and zipped up… done.

My last job was to free my lovely tree ferns from the fleece and straw that had protected them from frost over the winter. Its enormous leaves floated free. My husband and I picked up our daughter and left Manchester for North Wales.

First stop, an ancient monument.

We stopped at Basingwerk, a 12th century monastic monument, closed by Henry VIII in the 16th century. It remains impressive, although roofless and in ruins.

Apparently, Henry V dined in this refectory during a pilgrimage to give thanks for his victory at the Battle of Agincourt.

St. Winifreda’s Well. My official starting point

I found it very moving to be at the oldest pilgrimage site in Wales and England. Saint Winifreda attracted the attention of a certain Caradoc in the 7th century. She rejected his advances. Naturally, being scorned, he cut off his head. It has always been difficult to get men to hear the word NO. From where his head fell, a spring of water gushed out of the ground, near where his uncle Saint Bruno was in his small church. Bruno replaced her head with “fervent prayer” and she was healed, except for a white scar surrounding her neck. It can be seen in all his photographs, such as in the stained glass window of the nearby chapel, where we lit candles for good luck.

I washed my hands in the holy water and my daughter anointed my head. It’s time to head to the guest house.

The Brigitine Guest House for Travelers

Sister Everest, who was actually very small in stature, warmly welcomed me into the simple guest house. The guest house is as simple as the sanctuary is elaborate. Saint Brigid was born in Sweden in 1303. She herself was a great traveler (also known as a great hiker in her time, as there was only walking or horse riding) and traveled to Palestine at least twice. Now, the order of nuns she founded has the mission of serving travelers and pilgrims. This makes me feel very connected to all those who have walked the paths before me. And, indeed, to those who will come long after I am gone.

I take a walk through the city in the evening sun, enjoying the wonderful sound of the blackbirds singing high in the leafless trees.

Highlight of the day? Finally see the water bubbling in the star-shaped well.

Low point? I say goodbye to my daughter, my husband and my brother who also came. I was grateful for his presence since his wife is not well and is suffering. May Saint Winifreda do some healing there.

Gratitude today? Especially for the warm encouragement of my family today. My brother says I am “bold” to do this. I hope my courage and strength prove him right!

I loved the deep blue of the water in the sanctuary and the way it bubbles and catches the light. Some pilgrims immersed themselves in the pool of holy water outside despite the cold.

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