It seems like a lifetime ago that I was hiking through this beautiful countryside.  I feel this tug to be out on the trail again… so I decided to continue writing about the journey to remind myself how blessed I was to have this experience and pass on some wonderful memories to those of you who also have an adventurous soul.

I’m so thankful that I am not a realist.  I didn’t really plan exactly where I was going. I had no map but with my new iPhone 6, I was raring to go. I was hoping to do about 15 – 20 miles per day. Being 57, and my pack weighing in at over 44 pounds, I was happy that my first stop was in the south of England, Poole.  From there I hiked to Swanage. Lucky for me a couple took pity on me and stopped to give me a lift to a campground.

I woke early and wasn’t even sore!  I knew all I needed to do was follow the acorns, (little signs on a post letting me know I was on the right trail).  How hard can that be?  I must have been daydreaming because I ended up in the “right” place but not exactly where I was intending to go.  Worth Matravers was a gift from the gods!  I had my first “veggie burger”, (fried mashed potatoes and veggie patty), and a pint (or two ; ) of Kiss Me Kate. After an 8-hour hike, I was too tired to “find the right trail”.  After all, I felt like I belonged here.  So after the delicious food and music, I popped up my tent in the back of the pub.