Oh how the miles fly by!

Thanks to a huge start in July, I crushed out 120 miles and now I am sitting pretty at 733.6. I can almost smell that magical 1,000. Ann, on the other hand, has blown by that number some time ago, having totaled 1,105.3 miles to date. That’s what power walking 10 miles a shot does for your totals. To date, I am averaging 3.5 miles per day, while Ann is cooking along — literally on some of these 90-plus degree days — at an awesome clip of 5.25 miles per day. At our current rates, I will have traveled 1,258 miles by the end of the year, while Ann is at a pace to go a mind-boggling 1,900 miles. Alas, she is behind what she needs to make it to San Diego, but her alternate route in Phoenix, which she set for herself early on after telling me I was nuts for trying to make her walk to San Diego, is well in sight.

The other day we were walking a 10-mile course north of Benton, which winds along some awfully pretty landscape. There is one point in which we crest a large hill, and before us lay this vast expanse of stunning landscape, complete with newly mown hay, lush farmland, woodlands, blue sky with billowing clouds and all kinds of flora and fauna. The colors in the plants and flowers along the way, whether they were perennials or wild flowers, were so rich and vivid.

It is nice to have a treadmill at home when weather gets foul, but you just can’t compete with the beauty of nature.

You also don’t get the smells that come with walking outside. Whether it is the aromatic pleasure of lilacs or roses, honeysuckle, fresh cut hay or heck, even some the local farms produce a bouquet of fragrance that at least keeps your sense of smell alert.

As for the sense of sound, they are everywhere. No, it isn’t the constant noise that the TV, radio, iPod or whatever electronic device we use much of the time, but good old-fashioned nature and life itself that keeps the sense of hearing at peak performance. Every farm we pass provides a cacophony of sounds, from the animals, to the tractors, to running water and even the sound of Pennsylvania Dutch being spoken. Wildlife, from crickets and locusts, to birds on a wire provide music that Sony can’t truly capture.

Then there is the sound of the wind, which is always a welcome sound because it always brings with it the ever-pleasant feeling of the breath of God. On a 90-degree day, there is nothing that feels better than when that wisp of air comes wafting past you, whispering in your ear only the sweet sound of relief from the heat. The feel of the cool air is one of the true treats of walking outside on a hot day.

So, aside from the obvious benefits of health when it comes to walking, if you allow it to, nature and the great outdoors can provide an ample arena for the renewal of the spirit. Just taking in everything that God has provided through nature can energize you, and take you places that no amount of walking inside on a treadmill can ever do.

*****

So where are we now?

Ann motored into Amarillo, Texas, having staved off the boredom of Kansas to get to a new state. She also has gone far enough now that she would be in Lamar, Colo. if she would choose a more northerly route. Meanwhile, I lag behind, but still on schedule to pull into Denver come Jan. 1. I have arrived at Topeka, Kan., and now get the joy of traversing through the lengthy, flat state.

Thank one and all who have encouraged us along our way on the walk. Many of you have been following along, and it is encouraging to hear that you are rooting for us.

What I wanted to talk about today is how walking outdoors connects with all five senses.