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Founder and president of the C.S. Lewis Society of Frederick , he thought spending time with others who love "all things Lewis" would be a great experience; but it always seemed "just out of reach."

All this changed 10 months ago when Kinna decided to devote four weeks of his life to make his dream a reality.

"The opportunity to be where Lewis was as he carried out his very normal, yet extraordinary life, was one I could not pass up," said Kinna.

The C.S. Lewis Study Centre at The Kilns is one of the principal initiatives of the C.S. Lewis Foundation in Redlands, Calif. The foundation, whose mission, inspired by the life and legacy of Lewis, is to "advance the renewal of Christian thought and creative expression throughout the world of learning and the culture at large," has full ownership and financial responsibility of The Kilns. The residence and grounds were fully restored, thanks to the labor of over 200 volunteers and sponsors. The center was formally dedicated in July 2002. The foundation provides summer seminars-in-residence for avid readers of Lewis -- like Kinna.

On Friday evening, July 11, his journey began with "just another flight." However, Kinna was impressed by the diversity of passengers headed for London -- passengers who represented various languages, countries and cultures. He also began to understand the British accents of the flight stewards.

Arriving Saturday morning at 10:03 London time, five hours ahead of the U.S., his first observation was of the "big airport" followed by the thought, "I need to sleep." He took a bus to a hotel in Oxford to catch up on jet lag.

When he awoke on Sunday, July 13, Kinna began the three-mile walk from Oxford to The Kilns in the "footsteps of C.S. Lewis," who would make this walk several times a week while lecturing at Oxford. The walk was uphill with luggage and a backpack and much traffic. He noticed the sign "Headington Quarry," the town where Lewis lived, and saw the Parish Church. After a bit of a rest, he found the grave of C.S. Lewis.

"I started my pilgrimage at his graveside," said Kinna.

Next he searched to find The Kilns on Lewis Close, a narrow street. Happy to finally reach his destination, Kinna rang the doorbell and was greeted by one of the American staff who live there. He was shown to his room, the bedroom of Warren "Warnie" Hamilton Lewis, the older brother of C.S. Lewis.

The room was furnished as an English house of the 1940-'50s. It had a wardrobe, coal fireplace, writing desk, reading chair and photos of Warnie. The window curtains were army blankets to represent the blackout during the World War II blitz.

At 3 p.m., the 11 seminar participants, representing almost as many U.S. states, met for welcome, introductions and lunch, followed by a tour and slide show. The evening included a visit to Holy Trinity Church and a buffet dinner at The Kilns. By 10:30, "quiet hours" began.

"That first night, lying in bed and looking around the room," said Kinna, "that's when the reality of the 'dream come true' sunk in."

The Kilns had no television, no radio, and only one shower and one bathroom.

A typical day for Kinna started at 5 a.m. with a shower or bath, followed by breakfast. Kim Gilnett, who has lived at The Kilns for more than 15 summers and is known as the "Bishop of The Kilns," would share a "morning thought" with a Lewis theme and including Gilnett's own personal experiences. Gilnett teaches at Seattle Pacific University in the fine and performing arts.

Following Gilnett, Dr. Devin Brown, known as the "scholar of the week," would share a Lewis theme each day which lead into small group readings and discussions. Brown is a professor of English at Asbury (Ky.) College, and devotes many of his classes to the writings of C.S. Lewis. Kinna describes Brown as a "regular guy" who showed a keen interest in the C.S. Lewis Society of Frederick .

By 11 a.m., the group would get in a van and head for a local pub for lunch. For Kinna, this was his favorite part of the day.

"It was cool to hang out, eat and have discussions around the table," he said.

Kinna, who has a personal interest in cooking, found fish and chips (thick cut french fries) or a round meat pie his English lunch of choice. He did, on occasion, try the "Ploughman's lunch" as a special taste treat. The cold plate included a meat (often sausage), crusty bread, thick cheese, pickled onion, salad and fruit.

After lunch, there would be a planned group outing. On July 13, the group went to the crematorium and placed flowers near the plaque of Joy Davidman Lewis, wife of C.S. Lewis, on the anniversary of her death.

Dinner each day would either be at The Kilns or at a another pub, with an evening activity rounding out the day.

One day, Kinna saw Peter Cousins, an Oxford cabbie and tour guide who happens to look like C.S. Lewis. Kinna shook his hand before the tour began. Cousins told "great stories about Lewis."

At the farewell banquet, Kinna sat beside Walter Hooper, who was Lewis' personal secretary. Hooper, along with Roger Lancelyn Green, wrote the definitive C.S. Lewis biography published in 1974. Kinna owns a copy and brought it to read at The Kilns. Hooper signed it and the connections affected Kinna deeply.

"It was touching the hand of the man who touched C.S. Lewis," he says. "Then reading the Green-Hooper biography at The Kilns brought to life the times of Lewis."

Any expectations Kinna had for this pilgrimage were far exceeded, he says. The foundation's goal is to make The Kilns a "living house," not a museum. Ministry goes on there. The experience, according to Kinna, is like "living in community with strangers who become friends."

The foundation also sponsors the C.S. Lewis Summer Institute at Oxford and Cambridge universities, called "Oxbridge," where Kinna listened to speakers and learned more about C.S. Lewis and his writings. He found the diversity of Christian expression of specific denominational differences that weren't divisive created a "mere Christian" experience -- especially so in such historical cities where men died for their religious convictions.

Kinna also had free time to see the sights and shop. He enjoyed lunchtime concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square, London. Shopping included a stop at the historic Heffers book store in Cambridge. His suitcase had 10 books to bring home, including four older Lewis books.

He arrived home on Friday, Aug. 8, wearing a tweed hat and carrying a pipe. He says it was a "once in a lifetime experience."

Would he go again?

"Yes, to stay at The Kilns; but not for a summer program," he answered. Perhaps another "dream."

(For information on The Kilns or Oxbridge, go to www.cslewis.org.)