Hiking Adventure Update #1

Since I posted my first post about our Hiking quest, my husband and I have gone on 3 hikes to build our endurance.  We hiked 3.25 miles through forested trails that are part of our local University property.  The next day we hiked over 4 miles which actually wound through our neighborhoods  for a long way, so the terrain was smoothe, but quite hilly in spots.  Our latest hike was again through the trails but we added on 2 loops of the long one, plus doing the short one.  Our total mileage was over 5 miles and it took us around 2 hours.  Meanwhile, we researched hiking gear and ordered our boots, rain jackets, etc.  I was thrilled to talk to a fellow-hiker (perhaps hikers don't want me calling them "fellow-hikers" just yet...) and found out she loves and owns the same boots I researched and ordered for me and my hubby.  They were great for my first hike in them.  I keep reading excerpts from my book, "It's Not About the Hike" and I must confess that when it's evening and I'm tired, I really wonder if I'm crazy to be on this mountain-hiking quest.  Of course when I'm well-rested and it's morning, my outlook is completely different.  The good thing is that we'll actually be ascending these mountains in the morning, so "not to worry."  We get our trial run in March when we're being hosted by our friend who is taking us on a 12-miler (round trip) in North Carolina that she promises has a beautiful view at the top.  Oh my, that sounds exciting and daunting at the same time, so I'm preparing for it as best I can.  We're hoping to get up to 8 miles before we go on that trip.  Guess it's time to get on the treadmill and crank the incline up.  I'll try to include a picture in my next post of some of my gear.  I don't think hiking gear is the most fashionable stuff one can wear, but it fits the needs of the task, so I'm not complaining.  I'm sure future updates will be more brief.  Thanks for taking the time to read and follow.