Why would anyone want to walk 1000 miles?

Well - the EASY answer is because I can - or at least I think I can. I may be deluding myself. I mean the last time I did any long distance walking was a few years ago in 2009 and that was half this distance! Did I mention I'm older than dirt? Like everyone else, THAT happened when I wasn't looking!

Certainly most of my friends and acquaintances think I'm at least a little bit crazy - and maybe I am. I'm overweight, parts of me hurt, my metabolism is so slow I'm not sure I even know where the 'go' button is anymore and my blood pressure is creeping up! Getting out of bed in the morning sometimes seems like a big accomplishment - but strangely - after I've been walking for 2 or 3 kilometers I start to feel GOOD! And I'm so grateful for that. So this is my GRATITUDE WALK. As I look around at the restrictions many people live with, I thank my lucky stars that I'm able to do this - or at least I think I'm able. Time will tell.

This picture was taken on top of a mountain somewhere in Spain along the Camino Frances in 2009. That's in the last half of the journey of a 1000 miles I hope to complete this spring (2013). You can't really see my expression I guess, but my grin is from ear to ear. I LOVE being outside all day. I love meeting people from lots of different countries and I love being in a situation where I have to push myself to communicate in another language. I love talking with people I may never see again - there's something different about it. Especially on the camino where people are taking a hiatus from their normal lives and seem to feel much more open and free than they may in normal life. Of course I see a lot of people do that in Mexico too - after too many coco locos!

The physical journey will start on APRIL 2, 2013.  At that point I will try to post regular blogs that may be helpful to others who choose to walk this way.  The mental, emotional and spiritual journey began when I prepared for my first camino in 2003.