I am leaving for Ireland tomorrow, May 13th.  The distances we will have to walk each day make me a little nervous. On the Camino I could decide each day how far to go depending on how I felt. Although I did a 20 mile (32 km) day, I averaged about 10 miles (16 km) per day. In Ireland our bed and breakfasts are set so we have to walk the distance and will be averaging about 13.5 miles (21.7km) per day.  Well, I still believe that each moment is a unrepeatable miracle so step by step we will do this.

I thought I would let you know a bit about how I have been training.

• Weekly hikes with Trails Club of Oregon of about 4 – 6 miles each.
• Weekly hikes with Cascade Prime Timers (mostly in Forest Park) of about 4.5 miles each.
• Several days on the treadmill averaging 3 – 6 miles each.
• About 7 hikes with my friend, Ann Pickar.  Thank you, Ann, for helping me train. We walked between 9 and 13 miles each time.  Some of them were:
  • Multnomah Falls – almost to Larch Mountain – Waheenah Falls and back
  • Dry Creek Falls to Herman Creek
  • Wilson River
  • Banks/Vernonia Trail
  • Upper and Lower Sandy River Trail
  • Eagle Creek
  • Upper McCord Creek Falls, Elowaa Falls – Eagle Creek and back

I didn’t take many photos on these hikes, but here are a few from the last one.

Upper McCloud Creek Falls

Elowaa Falls

View of Columbia Gorge from near Elowaa Falls

I love Oregon.  We have so many beautiful places to hike.  I know Ireland will be fantastic and I am looking so forward to walking with my friend, Mary Riverstone Williams, who I met walking from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre and Muxia in October of 2015.  We had such a wonderful time on the last leg of my Camino and I know our time in Ireland will be rewarding.  Walking in Ireland will also give me the opportunity to quietly process and grieve for the loss of my brother, Bob.  My walking the Camino Frances taught me the healing power of quietly walking step by step.

We will be walking 6 days on the Kerry Way, 8 days on the Dingle Way, 8 days on the West of Ireland Walk including a trip to the Aran Isle, and 6 days on the Burren Way.  I hope you enjoy following me on my new adventure.