To Walk It Is to See It

1 Couple, 98 Days, 1400 Miles on Europe's GR5

By: Kathy Elkind

Narrated by: Kathy Elkind

In 2018, Kathy Elkind and her husband decided to take a grown-up “gap year” in Europe and walk the 1,400-mile Grande Randonnée Cinq (GR5) across The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.

At 57, Kathy has chosen comfort over hardship: she and Jim get to indulge in warm beds and delicious regional food every night and croissants in the mornings. But the GR5 is not all comfort. Walking day after day for 98 days brings sickness, accommodation struggles, language barriers, and storm-shrouded mountains in the Alps. As the days unfold, however, she discovers her own wise strength and comes to the gratifying realization that a long marriage is like a long trail: there are ups and downs and it takes hard work to keep going, but the beauty along the way is staggering.

Written with raw honesty and compassion and rich with dazzling scenery, To Walk It Is to See It will inspire you to lace up your walking shoes and discover your own path.

©2023 Kathy Elkind (P)2023 Kathy Elkind

Critic reviews

“Showing us the importance of adventure and wonder throughout our lives, Elkind's wise and funny book will have you reaching for your bootlaces and backpack." (Kerri Andrews, author of Wanderers: A History of Women Walking)

"Full of profound personal insights and sharp observations of the world around her, Elkind's journey is a joy to follow." (Ben Shattuck, author of Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau)

Engaging

I’m always drawn to books on adventure and this one didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed listening to the author’s insights into herself and her husband and life in general.

Gorgeous Worldbuilding

The landscapes of the GR5 come to life in vivid technicolor. Her lush descriptions pulled me onto a trail that I now crave to hike.

Eeyore goes to Europe

Boy, this story was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be of a couple traveling/walking thru Europe and the stories they gathered. Nay nay.... It reminds me of a pretentious Eeyore complaining and trying to elevate herself throughout the book. To be honest, I couldn't get through it.