Sunday, September 5, 2010

Man who aimed to walk to India forced to quit

By Sarah Marcus

A British man who aimed to walk from Bristol to Gandhi's birthplace in Porbander, India without spending any money has been forced to give up at Calais.

Mark Boyle, 28, who began his trip with only t-shirt, sandals and a bandage four weeks ago, hoped that strangers along the way would provide him with food and places to stay.

He is a member of the Freeconomy movement, which believes in a " moneyless society in which no money changes and there is no duality between giving and receiving", and would like to see money disappear altogether.

After reaching Calais Mr Boyle made the decision to quit his trip because as he could not speak French people thought he was an asylum seeker or a freeloader and would not give him food or board.

The 28-year-old kept an online diary of his adventure, where in one of his final entries he wrote: "…they had also seen us as just a bunch of freeloading backpackers, which is the complete opposite of what the pilgrimage is about".

Mr Boyle, who was joined at Dover by two companions, apologised to his supporters and said that he was unable to find words to express his disappointment at having to quit.

But he also revealed that his dream is still alive. He now plans to learn French while walking round the British coast in preparation for a renewed assault on his passage to India next year.

He said: "Whilst walking in the UK, I intend to learn French and to hit the continent again as soon as we feel we are ready.

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