September 2013-December 2013: In preparation for the Camino walk in the summer of 2014, we began a series of near-weekly walks and hikes to get ourselves accustomed to walking at all, and then walking with our equipment. We wore our Asolo hiking boots, carried our Leki trekking poles, and carried the pack and hydration system we plan to take to Spain.

Our initial hikes were of the two-mile variety, which seemed more than enough given how hot the fall was in Southern California. It seemed hard for us to get going on the trail much before 10 or 11. I take responsibility for much of the lateness, not being an early morning person.

Gradually we increased the mileage per hike as well as the elevation gain and loss. We hiked in the hills above Claremont, in the Griffith Park area and in the Santa Monica mountains. In late November, with our priest friend Kelli Grace Kurtz, we put in a full "Camino day," walking some 15 or so miles down and back on the Santa Ana River Bicycle Path.

With arrival of the holidays and family time and travel, we went on hiatus, to pick up again in January.