We just read a recent article on walking that is really fitting for us on this hike. It talked about how walking someplace where nature is more evident relieves tired brain cells. According to this research, memory and focusing abilities will be improved when you are surrounded by nature. At the gym we substitute music, audiobooks, and television or DVD’s, but it is the sense of openness, the feeling of the sun, the small details of color, texture, and shape that make a walk outside truly invigorating.

As we have learned many times in the 700+ miles we have walked so far, there are days where our inspiration level is so high that the miles seem to melt away and other times the distance seems to grow. The difference can be the weather. A grey, cloudy, misty, cold day dampens the spirits as well as the ground and we work harder to cover the distance, especially me. Kate does not get affected by the lack of sun, the way I do in the summer. For me, the sun is warmth, beauty, and energy. I do understand the difficulty for the people who have to have sun lamps in the winter (and this does include Kate).

It also has to do with the surface we are walking. For the most part road walking is uninspiring. We are here to see the lake and when it is not available we are not as inspired, plus the sound of waves and the freshness of the air on the beach is much nicer than exhaust, the sound of vehicles coming by, and the feeling of blacktop under our feet.

For generations, going back to Emerson and Thoreau, Americans have realized that nature is good for the soul. We hope people today understand that nature needs to be added to the routine of your workouts.