LESSONS FROM THE TRAIL - PART 1

My brother Thom and I have decided to re-trace the steps of our Camino pilgrimage from 2011.  We're not going to travel back to Spain - we're going to walk the same distance of 800+ kms right here in our own "backyard", so to speak.  Our plan is to hike about 20 kilometers a day along the trails and back roads around our home; we'll take an occasional day off to recover (and for me to work in Milton) and we hope to finish the distance by Thanksgiving.

To prepare for this physical challenge, Thom and I have been walking regularly in the early morning.  We've been testing out various routes and loops so that we have a variety of scenery to occupy our time on the trail.  Unlike the Camino experience when the terrain changed daily, our pseudo-Camino in North Sydenham will feature a fair amount of retracing of steps along familiar roads.

One thing that will not change from the Camino will be the opportunity to learn lessons while on the trail.  It is a bonus of long distance hiking to have the opportunity to observe and think about what you are experiencing.  In the preparatory stage of the last two weeks, I have already noted several "lessons from the trail" that I think are noteworthy - or, they seemed that way at the time.

Last Saturday, we walked the rail trail from Shallow Lake to the Owen Sound marina - a jaunt of about 13.5 kms.  The moment we stepped out to begin the trek, the skies opened and a deluge of biblical proportions followed us for the first half the journey.  We were quickly soaked from head to toes and I learned two new lessons.  Lesson # 1 - if you are wearing water-proof boots, but it's raining so hard the water is running down your legs, your boots will quickly fill up and stay full of water...because they are water-proof.  An advantage can quickly turn into a disadvantage on the trail.  Lesson # 2 - insect repellent applied before the deluge quickly got washed away once the downpour started.  If the hard rain keeps up, it will act as a natural repellent and most biting insects will stay away.  A disadvantage can quickly turn into an advantage during a long hike.

I don't understand why, but long distance hikes have the capacity to make life simple and obvious; it must have something to do with our mind and body getting in sync with each other while we are covering the distance.  I think that is one of the attractions of being on the trail; who doesn't wish for a simpler life?

 May your ups outnumber your downs.

Pat

Take This Thought Away With You

"You are now free to pursue learning that doesn't take a linear path,

that meanders, that finds joy in the unexpected"

~ Carol Barnier ~