Robert, while I've never gone on a pilgrimage (despite my last name ) or walked more than 3 or 4 miles at a time, I used to walk regularly from my 20s to my 60s - at the National Mall and the National Arboretum in DC and on a beach in windward Oahu. But I got out of the habit in the last 5 or 6 years. Your story is inspiring me to start again. Thanks for sharing your experience.