Monday, April 14, 2014

Awakenings....September 2013

"So, Linda, what would you think about taking another long distance hike in 2014?"


"How long is long" Linda asks cautiously..


"Oh, not too far, perhaps six or seven hundred miles" I reply hopefully.


"Mike, why don't we just go to a resort?!  We can hang around a pool, you can play golf, rest and relax.  My body still hurts from the 500 mile hike across Spain.  Why do vacations need to be such a big production?"


Well, that's a damn good question....indeed we could go to a resort.  We had a great time last year at the Great Barrier Reef with our daughter Allison and her husband Damien.  And certainly the year before when we took our family to Hawaii to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.


But still....the walk across Spain in May and June was like no other vacation for us.  First, at six weeks, it was by far the longest vacation we have ever had.  The opportunity to visit with old friends from Spain and make new ones along the trail was fun and interesting.  And, the feeling of accomplishment from walking 500 miles over mountains, through rain, snow,and in storm force winds was very fulfilling.  At the end of every day, your body is beat to hell, but somehow, you find the strength to get out of bed the next morning and do it again.  


Ok, I think I will just let this idea sit with Linda for a while.  In the meantime, I will do some research on the possibilities here......