Mon May 13, 2019 @ 20:07

So, two months ago my mom and I did this thing.

And today once again, I walked from my house to Mukilteo Beach.

It’s about 8 miles one way.

Last time I did this was six years ago in preparation for hiking a section of the Pacific crest Trail. At that time, it was the longest I had ever walked on foot.

I had come close once, when my sisters and I with my mom did the Seattle half marathon.

Walking to Mukilteo Beach, in another town, seemed like such a big accomplishment back then. Of course, that was before I knew I was capable of hiking 33 miles in the mountains on one day. Or 75 miles in three days.

Now I know there isn’t a whole lot I can’t do that I set my mind to.

In less than two months, my mom and I will get on a plane to fly to Spain to walk one of the El Caminos. Yes, one of them, El Primitivo. It’s about 320 km or 195 miles.

I have wanted to go to Spain since my first high school Spanish class.

I have wanted to experience Spain by walking across it since my sister gave me the movie The Way to watch about four or five years ago.

Since I had hundreds of miles under my belt at that time, it only seemed like another great adventure to add to the bucket list.

I was going to do it when I was laid off in 2016 but it didn’t materialize because darn it, I went back to work.

In 2018 when I quit my job, my mom started talking about wanting to hike the El Camino, too.

Now, two years later after telling my mom we weren’t getting any younger, we finally bought our plane tickets.

Not only am I going to Spain, not only am I going to hike across Spain on a pilgrimage, I’m going to do it with my mom.