Walking Lessons

and how I manipulate time

I received two gifts from training for and walking the Camino. The first one is that I now love to walk. I love the feeling I get from walking, knowing I can walk long distances and being able to walk uphill without cussing Barry (how is it his fault?) and just feeling strong. Strong enough to take the stairs two at a time, which I haven’t done in years.

High Point Lake in June

The other gift is walking without something in my ears. Not once did either of us walk with earbuds on the Camino. And I expected to - all that time walking would give me the chance to listen to so much: books, music, podcasts. But I never felt the need. Who knew I could be inside my head and looking outside for three weeks without being needing to be entertained or distracted.
I don’t want to be distracted by anything other than the sunlight or turtles or a turtle and a duck hanging out together on a log jutting out from the lake. Or a gnarly tree branch, big bugs, or sunlight filtered through branches and leaves. I love podcasts and music but walking outside is for walking and hearing the outside. Being present.
Fandamntastic!

The one thing better than a good walk is a good walk beside someone you love. (this is the ideal way to have honest, deep, meaningful conversations - for real)

Intention. Walking is an intentional event. I can walk at home. One loop around our yard, the south pasture to the mailbox and back by Mom’s house is a quarter mile. That’s significant. But if I want to step away from everything, I have to be intentional and drive to a trail or walking path like Salem Lake, Guilford Courthouse, High Point Greenway. Stepping away gives a perspective shift.
Even one mile will do it. A quick walk by the lake or through some trees - even if it’s a quick 20-30 minutes. We are worth it.

The ability to step outside my back door and take off on a walk - is a luxury.

Turtle beach - Salem Lake - in April

Our last walk was in High Point. We started at High Point Lake and went a little ways past the Piedmont Environmental Center. We each go at our own pace most days and meet back at the truck in an hour. I am walking 3 miles an hour maybe a little faster. It’s soupy out - even at 7:30 AM. When I’m almost to my turnaround time - 29 minute/1.5 mile mark I see a turtle and a duck hanging out on a log. Hooray! I haven’t seen any turtles since we’ve been home from Spain. They were everywhere in the spring, warming themselves on logs and rocks. Now it’s hot enough outside and in the water so they don’t need to warm their cold blooded bodies. I have missed them so. They always made me smile. Okay - back to that walk. I was “ahead” so I decided to stop, get closer and take some pics of the duck and turtle. Of course I did - y’all knew that was coming.
It took approximately one minute to get closer and snap a few pictures. And not one minute after I started back I hear Barry behind me. He immediately accused me of frolicking. Yes there was some frolicking but I was moving fast and efficiently. So he marched on, taking the car key with him because he knew he would be the first one back. But I was confident in my abilities - I knew I could manipulate time a bit. I sped up on the straightaways and took the steps (yeah there are steps on this trail) two at a time.

Turtle and Duck at High Point Lake

I made it back 15 seconds early (59:45) with a 3.02 mile finish.
Success is so sweet. Sweeter with the frolic/turtle/duck photos.

Thanks for following along, showing up for A Shiny Girl’s Blog and being cool.
Take care of yourselves.

Sending you buckets of love and wishes for a good walk, a frolic and/or time manipulation.

P.S. Today is my Daddy’s birthday. He would have been 91 years old.
Henry Holt Caudle passed away in 1991. I like to think of him sitting in his heavenly recliner, listening to Mike sing and play the guitar, with Snowball and Bingo at their feet.

You can listen to Mike sing “Walking in the Sunshine” here.