VIA: 10,000 Steps and Counting

Nothing like a goal to get one's commitment, well, fired up. So when the Divina Cucina, aka Judy Witts Francini, asked if I'd like to lead a hike along the Via Francigena, I immediately said: YES!

Image of Judy Witts Francini from her Facebook page

Yep, that's how I roll. My heart usually answers before my head has time to think about things. And I must say, it's never steered me wrong.

What's the Via Francigena, you ask? Well, there will be so much information making its way under the heading VIA on this site, you'll practically feel as if you've visited there. In short, it's a pilgrimage route from France to Rome. A portion of the trek was recently reopened.

Image by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Judy, in her infinite wisdom, knew a journey needed to happen. After all, she lives in Tuscany and knows of the beauty to be discovered there. As evidenced by this photo...

Photo of Judy Witts Francini from her Facebook page

So... I've laced up my hiking boots. Training time. Right here, on VIA.

I've started logging in my miles, in Los Angeles and on the road. I'll be bringing you along each step of the way.

Photo by Bekah Wright

Lao Tzu's proverb says, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." We're beginning with 10,000. Why? Blame it on my friend Bill.

I saw the following in the backseat of his car. "What gives?" I asked. "You know I'm in training."

Nonplussed, he replied, "My niece and I are following the trails in that book as a way for her to get to know Los Angeles."

I'm crashing their party and have my own copy of the book. Not only that, I hit up the book's author, Paul Haddad, to learn more about his own hiking experiences. Tune in for that tomorrow.

In the meantime, pull on your blister-proof socks, strap up those shoes and join us as we beginning training for Judy's Via Francigena trek -- The Pilgrim's Way, Summer of San Martino -- that's coming up November 6-12!