A Step in a New Direction

I've let this languish for better than a year, having spent my time in the trenches looking for work, mostly unsuccessfully, then realizing that the work I was looking for was not what I wanted to do. I have reinvented myself as a freelancer. It is a frightening, exhilarating, frustrating and incredibly rewarding experience and while it is not the most lucrative job, I'm doing okay and having fun.

But what brings me back here is the chance to make this about my next big adventure. I am going to walk the Hadrian's Wall trail in the borderlands of Northumberland. I will be doing this a year from this coming July and I needed a place to keep track of my progress. Because, you see, I need to get in shape for this. It has been a hit or miss project for the last three months; the whole project hasn't seemed real. A nice dream, a great idea, really someone should do this someday; just not real to me.

So as I was out walking yesterday I thought of this spot. The name fits, the very next step, sounds like something to do with walking, right? It has served as a travel blog in many ways - travel to Europe, travel through the landscape of job hunting, now it will see my journey to fighting form and hopefully through the journey along the ancient wall.

In that spirit - info on Hadrian's Wall from the UK National Trails:
National Trails UK

And some information on the region:
Hadrian's Wall Country

And now on to my walking program.

My first goal is to hit the 10,000 steps a day that we are all supposed to get. For the last week I have been averaging about 8000, so I am a bit short. By March 10th I want to have hit the 10k mark consistently for four days. A modest goal, but it is the equivalent of five miles a day. Most of the itineraries for this walk average about nine miles of country walking - across fields, over stiles (those lovely little steps up and over field fencing), with a variety of changes in elevation. But for now, for March, 10k or five miles is the goal. I intend on updating this every evening with my step count. I also will be talking about the other preparations - who is going, what tour companies I am looking at or if I will try to put my super travel powers to the test and arrange it all myself.

Comments are appreciated, especially if you have done this walk or have your own adventure in the making!

Update 11:04 pm: step count for the day reached 8378. Getting closer!