I have started on my training for next year’s long walk (about 825 km – 512 miles) across France from Le Puy en Velay to Pamplona via the Pyrenees. I have a plane ticket from Ottawa to Paris, departing 13 April 2011, so I plan to start from Le Puy somewhere between 16 and 18 April, depending on weather (and whether my backpack arrives this time). For the past 4 months, I have averaged 250 km each month, with backpack and boots. I need to increase this slightly, but more importantly, I need to get in longer distances … and hills. I have a plan.