I’ve always enjoyed hiking and walking. In Springfield, I kept up with my mother as dad usually sauntered with the distance between us growing greater and greater. During my college and graduate school years, I loved working at Zion National Park. So many trails to enjoy! Even at 73, I enjoy walking, most of the time.

As I walk, I’m aware of others. As I’ve mentioned in my posts, I’m amazed at the number and the variety of walkers along the South West Coast Path. Some days, I meet somebody every fifteen minutes. Youngersters to the elderly!

Walking at 73 can be both anxiety producing and freeing. During approximately the first week of the South West Coast Path last fall, I had to detour upon leaving my BnB one morning because a person had committed suicide 100 feet up the street. On the last day this spring as I’m walking near Old Harry’s Rock and into Poole, I had to walk around several police and rescue vehicles. I learn later that a person has either committed suicide or been murdered.

The walking can be anxiety producing. I’m in decent physical shape; however, accidents happen. Last fall, I scramble over “the rocks from hell.” The rocks block the path which meant that I have to find my way over very large boulders. Later the next day, my BnB host tells me that a woman trying to get through that stretch of the SWCP had to be transported because she injured her head. Ouch! This spring, I trip over a solitary tree root. I find myself hitting the ground, but fortunately, I roll on my shoulder to prevent any serious injuries.

The anxiety stays with me. I try to walk where I step. I keep one foot on the ground before moving my other foot. I grab a hold of fences or stones when climbing up and over a style.

There are other anxious moments. Since there are hundreds of dogs, I am cautious as I approach dogs. Fortunately, almost all are leashed and seem quite good natured. No rabid dogs barking ferociously.

The walking can be freeing. I’ve met older folks with so many motives and goals. Some want to prove to themselves and others that they can still accomplish a major physical activity. Some walk because they want to forget something from their past or get over something such as the recent death of a spouse. Some simply want to get away and be anonymous. Some want to “see the world” and check off another location from their bucket list.

I’m aware of those motives, but, by and large, I’m free from those motivations. While I’m aware that I have probably a “window” of a few years of pain-free walking, I walk because of the desire to continue to learn about myself and the surrounding world.