#89 Inch Your Way There – 50 Paces Project
From November to January 2004/5 I lived my father’s life on a small island in New Brunswick. I looked after the animals and waited for the river to freeze so I could cross the ice safely and reliably to get to shore. [see Watching the ice form… a month spent on an island – off-line, off-grid, off-shore.]
In order to know that the ice is safe to cross, you have to check it every 50 paces and mark the safe path to shore. That means chopping a hole in the ice to test its thickness. If it is safe, you mark the path by putting small trees into the holes you’ve chopped in the ice, which will stay there until spring thaw.
After spending a month alone on an island, your mind starts to wander. (Hopefully not too far.)
As I was testing the ice, I started wondering what was 50 paces, or 100 paces, or even 1200 paces from my door at home? Or your door? Or someone else’s door?
And thus the 50 Paces Project was born! How cool would it be to cross the river and at the same time see the world 50 paces at a time.
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