I have recently had to come to the conclusion that I cannot continue on my hiking route this year. The year started with me being in surgery for a bad hernia. That killed my idea of going hiking for a month in May/June, but I still had hope that I might be able to go in August. Then pandemic happened, which would have killed the May/June plan in any case, and I still don't know whether it would be possible to go in August. Traveling to France is possible again, but some campsites may be closed, and the first part of what I'm going to hike next has very few campsites to start with, so one being closed could mean I have nowhere to sleep. Then there is the problem of having to bring face masks and disinfectant, and I don't particularly feel like having to hike with a mask on.
But most unavoidably, my back hasn't recovered enough yet. Nor have my hips, which for some reason get overtaxed and painful since surgery. I still have to spend a lot of time (like at least 10 hours a week) training to make sure my back keeps up with normal activity. And when I went hiking again for the first time, some 12 km, my hips started hurting in the last hour or so. So, I need more training. I need a slower build-up. Shorter vacations, maybe a week-long hike this fall, if I can take that time off from starting my own coaching practice, which I'm also doing at the moment. If not, it'll have to be long weekends. So that I can get back in shape for real hiking next year. But that means my Rome plan is on hold until next spring/summer. I don't like hiking when there isn't enough sunshine. If the nights are cold, I need warmer and therefore much heavier sleeping gear. And I love long daylight hours. All of these mean I much prefer hiking in summer (my summer runs from May through September).
So, I really hate having to say this, but I will not be long-distance hiking in 2020. Here's to keeping all of my fingers crossed that I can continue on my route in May 2021!

Geschreven door Jewaontheroad