Peace and Tranquility Step by Step
This Monday morning I woke up and I was not thrilled with the weather at all. The prevailing grey skies and dampness were not making me want to go out and walk. I decided to make the most of it, be positive, and headed out for a hike despite the weather.
It had turned out to be a great morning to walk along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. My start was slow, but once I got going, I became totally absorbed in my immediate surroundings. This is what happens every day when I go hiking. I get totally absorbed in being outside and discovering my environment. I don’t know how or why this happens when I am walking, but I get so energized by the calmness of the walk. I usually prefer the days I walk alone too. Don’t get me wrong, walking with others is great, but I don’t get that same feeling as when I go at it alone. Some days the lone time is what I need.
I passed by some familiar scenery this morning. I went down to the lake and so enjoyed the rocky shore. I did this walk two days ago and decided not to re-take the same photos that I had previously taken. How many of the same photos can you have?
Something Didn’t Belong
I found this golf ball among the many rocks by the shore and laughed at just how out of place it was. In the end it isn’t very humorous because don’t we all feel out of place at times?
Driftwood’s Beauty
This piece of small driftwood reminded me of a bicycle seat. It was very delicate and beautiful. I spent much time looking at it again today.
The Texture of Rocks
These are not the easiest things to walk on as your footing gets a good challenge, but the colours and textures are stunning…for rocks!
Everyday when I walk, I never really know how far I will go. I don’t pick a distance, I just walk until I decide it is time to head home. I usually find myself restricted by time. I think some days I’d be gone for 5-6+ hours without even thinking about it.
Today I was thinking about how this love affair I have developed with hiking all started.  I think it began as I was preparing for hiking El Camino.  I hardly ever walked/hiked any distance at all before that. I actually didn’t really enjoy hiking. How funny is that?
In April 2015, I had decided to hike El Camino de Santiago (800 Km across Spain). ” Go Big or Go Home”!  I chose to go very big. I am not sure what was drawing me to do it, but it was a very strong obsession that consumed me. I am a guy who had never really walked more than 10 Km per month before booking that trip, never mind 15 – 20 Km per day over 35-40 days in a row. Once I make up my mind, it is made and failure is NOT an option!
The training I did last year to prepare was scary. I was unfit, stressed out, recovering from knee surgery, and had a torn disc in my back. Those were PERFECT body conditions to hike 800 Km!
One year later, I find myself walking great distances as often as I can. I have NO back or knee pain, I am down at least 9 Kg (20 pounds), and I am also at the gym 2-3 days per week. The best part of it is that I am not stressed. My mind is clear and I enjoy taking photos as I walk, no matter where I am doing it. Hikingdan is a totally different man all due to hiking El Camino! I find myself feeling like I did when I was gym fit and athletic ( which was most of my life except for th last 5 years).
Today ended up being the best day ever. The funk I woke up with was gone after my hike…10Km. My mind was at peace, my energy was high ( I even hit the gym afterwards), and I was so appreciative to live in such a great place full of trails and scenic beauty. One thing I learned was that grey is a beautiful colour too. You just have to get out and experience it.
Keep Walking!
Hi Dan,
My wife has been telling me about your blog for a while now. She is a teacher at Champlain Trail (Mary Ann Brown). She mentioned this morning about how you had knee and back issues before you started hiking. I finally took the time this morning and read your blog. It was very inspiring and also somewhat like my own story.
If you dont mind I would like to share my story. When I was 44 I was also out of shape, gaining way to much weight, experiencing back problems and pain going down my leg. It was so hard to get in and out fo my car. My depression and anxity was getting worse.
My nephew kept asking me to start running with him. At the time he had recently joined the running room with his wife.
For six months I kept saying I am to old to run. Finally I agreed to go out with him and give it a try. Something magical happened and i became hooked and addicted to running. I remember how amazed I was when I was able to run 3km without having to walk. Eventually I got to 5km then 8, 10 etc. Without realizing it my back wasn’t bothering me anymore, the pain in my leg was gone and instead of going into a 3 week depression my sad times were very minimal.
I ended up loosing 20 pounds and feeling awesome. I have ran 4 full marathons, lost count of all the half marathons, and 2 Hamilton Around the Bay races (30km). I was enjoying the happiest time of my life.
During this time, my visits to my doctor had gone from 3 or 4 visits a year to 1 for a yearly physical. Now although I was feeling confident , very healthy and strong my doctor kept asking me about the shaking in my left hand. We had talked about it in the past and I gave her the same answer every time, “I feel great and I have had this going back to my mid twenties”.
Something changed in January 2014. I was now dropping things, having a hard time with my shoulder, feeling off balance and the shaking had now gone from my hand to almost my entire arm.
I went to see my doctor to talk about some vitamins because I had a big year planned with 2 marathons. When she seen me her response was what is going on with you? She sent me to a neurologist. After 2 visits with him I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinsons Disease.
This was like walking into a brick wall. After 1 1/2 years since being diagnosed I’m still adjusting. There continues to be progression. The tremors have now gone from left hand to right hand, my mouth, and ocassionaly my legs. Slowness gets to be a problem when meds start wearing off.
I am still running but not at the pace of before. My left leg drags on the ground which has caused 1 fall. Even though I run almost 2 mins. per km slower I keep going.
I agree with what you say about getting outside and experiencing nature and fresh air. Your walk of the El Comino is very inspiring and I would love to do this. I think I will have to try and find a way to make this happen.
I am always looking for inspirational stories/blogs to keep me motivated so I look forward to reading more from you.
Enjoy your hike today. Its almost time for me to go for a run.
Gary..