On The Right Road

“When we are sure that we are on the right road, there is no need to plan our journey too far ahead. No need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears as to the obstacles that may bar our progress. We cannot take more than one step at a time.”

  Orison Swett Marden

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Georgia. The thermometer registered 27 degrees when we awoke and it was 31 degrees when we got into the car to head to Sweetwater Creek State Park. It’s a fairly short drive to the park and it was 35 degrees and sunny when we stepped onto the yellow trail. It warmed up to 61 degrees by early afternoon and I got a little sunburn on my face.

Our packs were light (12 lbs. and 10 lbs.) – nice !  Compared to the approx. 30 lbs. Buddy held on the Appalachian Trail, I hoisted him with ease. Now all I have to do is remember how good today felt with just 10 lbs. and not stuff him full when the time comes to walk the Camino across northern Spain …

I’ve been upping my mileage when walking around town but yesterday was a better test of the healing of my right foot plantar fascia. Walking on uneven ground, roots, rocks, and tons of slippery leaves covering everything put my feet through the paces. There was a slight difference compared to my left foot which has never suffered an injury, but all in all (for an old gal), I was able to go 10 miles on the trails at Sweetwater Creek and enjoyed all 23,000 steps.

It’s cloudy and rain is on the way but we’ll walk around town today between rain showers or head to the gym.

This is my first attempt using iMovie to make a video. It’s a practice video because I’d like to record our walk across Spain. We are planning and dreaming ...

Pilgrims Plan

In November and December of 2012 I contemplated whether to head for Spain to walk the Camino or stay in the U.S. and walk the Appalachian Trail. It seemed that God was leading me to the Appalachian Trail and so I began that journey in February of 2013. I walked 415 miles. Even though I was unable to walk the entire trail (2,185 miles and summit Katahdin), those miles profoundly affected my life - in a good way.  If you are interested in reading about my journey on the Appalachian Trail, please take a look at my AT blog.  Walking the Appalachian Trail whetted my appetite for more.

My husband's cup of tea doesn't include sleeping in a tent in the woods but he does enjoy walking and I'm delighted that we will walk the Camino together -- no tents just albergues/hostels. "If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together." ~ African Proverb

We plan to walk the Camino in late Spring/early Summer and arrive in Santiago de Compostela on our wedding anniversary to celebrate 44 years of marriage.  Our walk, our pilgrimage will be one of giving thanks to God for the good times, the difficult times, and whatever awaits us in the future. God has blessed us and we are grateful. 

The Camino will be a challenge for us in more ways than one; my husband laughed when he read this and said that may be an understatement. He likes to walk fast and get it done; I like to walk at a decent pace, take pictures and "smell the roses" or enjoy the poppies which should be in bloom on the Camino in May. 

Remember the old expression "opposites attract." I was a psychology major so you might want to skip this paragraph because what follows may bore you. It is said that we are naturally attracted to individuals who are different from ourselves and, therefore, somewhat exciting. Research has concluded that it is very true when it comes to love relationships. However, it's not just the exciting differences which attract us to our opposites, it is a quest for completion. We are drawn towards those who have strengths which we are missing. So, when two opposites function as a couple, they become a more well-rounded functioning unit. There is also a theory that our natural attraction to our opposite is a subconscious way of forcing us to deal with the weaker aspects of our own nature. Two opposites involved in an intimate relationship have significant issues and communication barriers to overcome. In a sense, our attraction to the opposite personality can be seen as our subconscious mind driving us towards becoming a more complete individual by causing us to face the areas in life which are most difficult to us.  I am an ENFJ and my husband is an ITSJ -- except for the Judging/Perceiving scales on the Meyers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, we are direct opposites. 

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I hope that in 44 years of marriage we've learned enough to walk 44 days together; time will tell. We are asking St. James to pray for us as well as our family, friends, pilgrims who have gone before us to Santiago, and those who discover this blog. 

"We are all pilgrims on our own quests, like it or not, deny it or not. The structure of life is so." ~ Robert Stone