The Lexington (MO) Daily News article

Fame is Fleeting!

Lexington Daily News article by Joe Parmon on 10 June 2009

Mike Metras and Petra Wolf - who are in the midst of a coast-to-coast walk which will be followed by a walk across Europe - say they are following a dream.

In the process, they're encouraging many others to chase after their dreams as well.

The couple, who began their trek in Paso Robles, Calif. on Jan. 16 - Mike's 66th birthday - stopped in Lexington last week, spending a couple of nights at the Ryland House bed and breakfast before making the trek to Waverly on Thursday morning.

Walking between 15 and 20 miles a day, the couple started out walking through the Mojave Desert. They also followed the famous Route 66 and wanted to hook up with the Santa Fe Trail. They plan to walk across Missouri along the Katy Trail.

The self-described "pilgrims on the road of life" will continue on to Mike's home state of Illinois, then walk to a port along the east coast and hop a freighter to the east coast of Portugal. Their pilgrimage will continue across southern Europe and the Middle East and wind up in the holy city of Jerusalem.

The trek is expected to take about 18 months covering roughly 7,500 miles.

Mike and Petra both have experience on long walks, albeit not as lengthy as this one. The couple, who met on a walk across Spain six years ago, are on a journey of discovery - about themselves, other people, and history.

"We're following a dream," said Mike.

Both Mike and Petra say they've apparently stirred something inside many of the people they've met along the way.

"We've enjoyed meeting people, hearing their personal stories and sharing ours with them," said Petra.

"Often they tell us about their dreams. We're following a dream to walk long, and we're bringing out that same thought in other people.

They'll say to us, I want to write a book, or I want to go to Cancun, or I've always wanted to go to Italy."

Petra added that many are inspired by Mike's undertaking such a leg- wearying journey in his mid-60s.

Mike remarked, "We've become ambassadors of people following their dreams. I feel honored that the Universe is using me to poke people a little bit. So many people have put their dreams in the back seat."

Mike said that although terming their venture a peace walk "was the last thing I wanted to do," that's exactly what it has become - at least in a way.

"We feel that in a very real sense this is becoming a peace walk," said Mike. "This walk is demonstrating that people are peaceful. The people we've seen and met along the way have been wonderful. (Before the walk) people would ask us if we were worried that it would be dangerous, but we haven't seen a remote piece of danger."

Mike said their favorite part of the journey so far has been meeting Native Americans at reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. Mike recalled one Native American who greeted the couple with Coke bottle- bearing arms extended.

"They were very friendly," said Mike.

Mike said the couple spends plenty of time each night poring over maps as they plot out the next day's route. Walking about three miles an hour using strollers to transport their gear, they find shelter overnight in the tents they carry with them, while often staying at local B&Bs or as invited guests at someone's house. They also thumb rides occasionally because of the weather or terrain.

Petra said walking across the country has given them a chance to learn about the "personality" of each state and its residents - something that's hard to do by car.

Mike and Petra added they enjoy the different scenery that each region offers. Mike said that their route also represents somewhat of a backwards walk through history.

"We started out in California, where everything is fairly recent, then as we come east we get earlier and earlier into history," stated Mike.