January 19 - Motivational Walking

As I write this, there are only two more days of the modified health restrictions in Alberta. Will this never end? Lyle and I continue to do our part and we hope and pray that others are doing the same. Isolating and sanitizing have become the norm. It is a long time since we have seen the rest of our family but we know that they are healthy and so we count our blessings. There are many others who aren’t as fortunate.

It is difficult to keep a positive outlook in such trying times. Lyle and I have found that regular exercise is really helpful. Lyle walks every day regardless of the weather and uses a fitbit to record his steps. This isn’t a new thing for him. He has been walking every day for about fifteen years now. In fact, he has already completed the distance from the north to the south pole and is currently making his way around the equator. Of course, while the walking is in real time, the distances are virtual.

Way back, I began the daily walks with Lyle but he began walking more quickly and often I found myself skipping days here and there. Last summer, I found a new program to keep myself motivated. I know that I have mentioned this in previous posts, but today I thought I would give you an update on my progress.

To date, I have completed two virtual walks – the Great Ocean Road in Australia and the Alps to Ocean Road in New Zealand. From the many walks that were offered, I chose these two because we had been to both places before and it was a good way to relive some travel memories. I have now decided to branch out from the familiar to the unknown and currently, I am walking along Hadrian’s Wall in England.

Hadrian’s Wall was admitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage sites list in 1987. Shame on me that I needed to look up my old tour book to find the exact location. The wall, of which only remnants can be seen, runs from east to west near the English Scottish border. In real time, there are several walks and hiking trails in the area but my virtual walk is approximately 90 miles along the length. I am enjoying reading about the various forts, turrets and small towns along the route.

It feels quite strange to be walking along this northern section of England when the rest of the UK is in such dire straits with the coronavirus. While most of the country is in lock down, I can enjoy the peace and quiet of my solitary virtual walk. One day, I hope that Lyle and I will be able to visit this area in real time and space. The thought is a further motivation for my walks.  

In case you are interested, the site that I am using is:

www.theconqueror.events