It’s been almost two months since I started my TransAmerica Trail walk, so I thought I’d check in with how far along I’ve gotten.
I’m just over 320 miles down the road (an average of 5.8 miles per day, so I’m ever so slightly ahead of schedule), and passing through a little town called Troutville, Va.
One of the fun things about this stroll is that every once in a while I take time to see what the places are all about, and it lets me explore areas in my own country that I’d otherwise never know existed, including this tiny spot of less than 500 people. For instance, one of the first things that struck me was the fact that the town has five hotels, which seemed a little out of proportion for such a small place. But then I discovered that not only does the TA trail pass through, but so, too, does the Appalachian Trail. It’s like a hiking mecca. And, if you wanted to spend a day or two in small town America, they’ve got parks, and golf, and—my personal favorite—an alpaca farm.
It strikes me that my personal fitness quest will likely never get to the point where I can literally walk these trails, but some day—when I’m retired and rich—I might be persuaded to drive them (and do some daytime walks to see the beauty, natch), and I think Troutville would be on my to-do list. Who wants to come along?
