How Is The Idiot Training In NorCal For His Imminent MedTrek Around Cyprus?

The Idiot is spending the last two weeks before his MedTrek around Cyprus (he’ll circumnavigate the Mediterranean’s third largest island, with a 648-kilometer coastline, between April 17-June 8) training in Northern California.

One of his most frequent conditioning hikes is a 10-20 kilometer stroll along the Sacramento River Trail between (and often beyond) Keswick Dam and the Sundial Bridge in Redding, CA.

Looking north on the Sacramento River towards Mount Shasta.

Looking north up the Sacramento River towards Mount Shasta.

His MedTrekking son Luke, 30, set the pace after they left the Diestelhorst Bridge. Luke MedTrekked with The Idiot in France, Morocco and Italy. (Photo: Samantha Dunnachie)

His MedTrekking son Luke, 30, set the pace after they left the Diestelhorst Bridge. Luke has MedTrekked with The Idiot in France, Morocco and Italy. (Photo: Samantha Dunnachie)

Signs on the path not only indicate where to park and hike but also provide lessons about local history, wildlife and the environment.

It's always better to walk to the trail than come in a car.

It’s always better to walk to the trail than arrive in a car.

There's no shortage of directional signs for paths along the Sacramento River.

There’s no shortage of directional signs for various trails along the Sacramento River.

Historical sign: The old Waugh Hotel might have still been standing in the 1920s but it's gone today.

Historical sign: The old Waugh Hotel might have still been standing in the 1920s but it’s gone today.

Wildlife sign: After regularly hiking the river trail for six years, The Idiot has yet to see a ring-tailed cat.

Wildlife sign: After regularly hiking the river trail for six years, The Idiot has yet to see a ring-tailed cat.

Environmental sign: And to think that The Idiot thought he smelled a rat.

Environmental sign: And to think that The Idiot thought he smelled a rat.

The Idiot, who’s philosophy while walking around the Mediterranean Sea is “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it!,” uses Sacramento River Trail bridges for photo ops.

Crossing the Ribbon Bridge on the Sacramento River Trail with his daughter-in-law Samantha Dunnachie. (Photo: Luke Stratte-McClure)

Crossing the Stress Ribbon Bridge on the Sacramento River Trail with his daughter-in-law Samantha Dunnachie. (Photo: Luke Stratte-McClure)

Naturally even a short training hike merits a celebratory lunch on a cliff overlooking the river.

Lunch above the Sacramento River at View 202 in Redding, CA.

Lunch above the Sacramento River at View 202 in Redding, CA.

Posted on by Joel in Cyprus, Featured, Follow The Idiot, Idiotic Musings, MedTrekking, PR

About Joel

Joel Stratte-McClure has been a global trekker since the 1970s. He lived in France for over 30 years, working as a journalist, before he turned his attention to a unique life-time-project of walking the shores of the Mediterranean. The first 4,401 kilometers are explored in his inspirational and entertaining first book "The Idiot and the Odyssey: Walking the Mediterranean." The next 4,401 kilometers are covered in the gods-filled sequel, "The Idiot and the Odyssey II: Myth, Madness and Magic on the Mediterranean,” published on Valentine's Day 2013. The last 4,401 kilometers will be discussed in the last book of the trilogy currently entitled "The Idiot and the Odyssey III: Alexander the Great Walks the Mediterranean."

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