Relaxing is not my thing.  I can’t think of anything I’d rather NOT do than lie on a beach all day.  Call it a character flaw, or simply think of me as uptight, but I much prefer the opportunity to be active, even when I’m on vacation.

What initially appealed to me about doing a walking tour was that I could see a part of the English countryside that I’d heard about, but had never seen.  But what sold me on the idea was that I wouldn’t just be sitting in a chair LOOKING at it.   That would bore me to tears.  Even if its cold, or raining, or the road is bumpy, I’d rather be out IN the elements than just observing.  Last winter at Lake Tahoe I took Paco on a nice long walk on a bitterly cold sub-freezing morning in the snow and I think loved it almost as much as he did.

But not quite.  After all, he has a drip-dry fur coat.