A British "community pilgrim" who planned to walk from the UK to India penniless and in the name of peace was forced to turn back in Calais after locals accused him of being a "freeloader".In other words, they judged him on his actions and not his intentions. There's a lesson there somewhere but I don't think the pilgrim gets it.
Mark Boyle, 28, a "free economy" campaigner who believes in bartering to replace money, set off from Bristol in January with the lofty ambition of reaching the birthplace of his idol, Mahatma Ghandi, some 9,000 miles away.
The plan was for Mr Boyle and two followers he picked up on the way to offer physical work and their friendship in exchange for accommodation, sustenance and general good will.
But the love-in came to an abrupt and very premature end when it became clear that there was a language barrier and that the French didn't quite get the point.
"Not only did one not speak the language, they also see us as just a bunch [of] freeloading backpackers, which is the complete opposite of what the pilgrimage is really about"
Eh bien, soit: Qui bête va à Rome, tel en retourne.
