Walden Pond

Kirjallisuuden ystaville nimi Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) on varmasti tuttu edes jollain tasolla. 

Literary friends probably recognize the name Henry David Thoreau (1871-1862) at least on some level.

Mina kuulin nimen ensimmaisia kertoja vuonna -96 kun opiskelin Pohjois-Amerikan tutkimusta Helsingin avoimessa yliopistossa ja opintoihin kuului myos kirjallisuuskursseja. Opiskeluun ei silloin kuulunut kuin joidenkin otteiden lukemista Thoreaun tuotannosta mutta mina tykastyin kovasti ja luin hanen teoksistaan Walden, or, life in the woods (Walden, elamaa metsassa) seka The Maine Woods (Kolme matkaa eramaahan). Molemmat naista kirjoista on siis suomennettu. 

Thoreau syntyi ja eli meidan naapurikaupungissa Concordissa. Han myos kuoli siella. Concordissa on pieni jarvi nimeltaan Walden Pond, jonka rannoilla Thoreau asui pari vuotta pikkuruisessa yhden huoneen (mokissa oli yksinkertainen sanky, poyta, tuoli ja takka) mokissa kirjoittaen. 

I first heard the name in -96 when I studied North American Studies in the Helsinki Open University. The studies included literary courses. We only read some extracts from Thoreau's work but I liked it and I've read Walden, or life in the woods as well as The Maine Woods.

Thoreau was born and lived in our neighboring town Concord. He also died there. There's a small lake called Walden Pond. There Walden lived for two years in isolation in a tiny one room cabin (there was a simple bed, table and chair, and fireplace in the cabin) writing.

Walden Pond on yksi osavaltion yllapitamista alueista ja parkkipaikalle on maksu. Jarven ympari kiertaa polku (noin 2km pitka), joka on kovin suosittu lenkkipolkuna, mutta ihan rantaviivaakin pitkin pystyy jarven kiertamaan.

Walden Pond is one of the State Reservations. There's a fee to get to the parking lot. There's a trail around the Pond (about 2km) which is very popular for walking. You can go around the pond also right at the edge of the water. 

Kun ystavani oli taalla lokakuussa, kavimme yhtena aurinkoisena paivana ulkoilemassa. Ihmisia oli liikenteessa aika paljonkin. Liikkeella oli turisteja kameroineen. Muutama aiti lapsineen oli tullut evasretkelle rannalle. Useampia miehia ja naisia kaveli yksinaan tai pienissa ryhmissa ihan tosissaan kuntoilumielessa. Yksi mies kaveli lenkkiaan rauhallisemmin, kahvmukin kanssa. Yksi nainen oli loytanyt tuulelta suojan ja luki kirjaansa nauttien auringosta. Pieni koululaisryhmakin lukiolaisiakin oli paikalle tullut opettajan kanssa.

When my friend was here in October, we went for a walk around the pond on one sunny day. There were lots of people about. We saw tourists with their cameras. Few mothers had come for a little picnic with their children. Several men and women were walking seriously either alone or in small groups. One man was walking a bit more calmly, with his coffee mug in his hand. One woman had found a hiding place from the wind and was reading and enjoying the sun. Small group of high school students were about as well with their teacher. 

Luonto oli kauneimmillaan syksyn vareissa. Keltaista, oranssia, punaista ja auringon kultaamina varit hehkuivat upeasti. 

Nature was as its best, in autumn colours. Yellow, orange, red and the sun made them shine beautifully.

Pikkuneiti keksi heitella valilla kivia veteen. Han naki kun yksi mies heitti littanan kiven veteen ja kuinka kivi hyppi veden pinnalla useamman kerran ennen kuin upposi. Sita han sitten yritti mutta eihan se ihan niin helppoa ole. Mutta kivien heittely oli kaikesta huolimatta kivaa vaikkei onnistunutkaan alkuperainen idea. 

Little Miss started throwing stones in the lake. She saw a man throw a thin stone to the water and how it bounced on the surface several times before it sank. This is what Little Miss tried to do but it wasn't so easy. But throwing stones was fun any way even though the original idea didn't work out. 

Auringosta nautittiin myos me. :D

We also enjoyed the sun. :D

Vaikka tasta ulkoilusta ei ole kuin puolisentoista kuukautta niin se tuntuu jo kovin kaukaiselta. Ystavaa on ikava! Toivoisinpa etta pian keksittaisiin tuo Star Trekista tuttu transportteri. Paasisi kaymaan vaikka ihan vaan iltakahvilla!

Even though it's been only a month and half from that outing it feels like it was much longer since that sunny day. I miss my friend! I do wish they would invent the transporter they use in Star Trek. I could pop by for a evening cup of tea!