Well, we’ve done it. My sister TB and I have officially booked our next hiking adventure. In October 2026, we’ll be heading to Japan to walk sections of the famous Shikoku Pilgrimage, an incredible trail that winds its way around Shikoku Island, connecting 88 temples through mountains, forests, coastal villages and bustling towns. It’s a journey steeped in history, culture and spirituality, and one that’s been on our radar for some time.

Now that the flights are booked and the countdown has begun, it feels real. And that’s where this new blog series comes in.

Why “Like the Hike”?

Over the coming months, I want to share the lead-up to our adventure, not because I’m an expert hiker, but because I’m not. I’m just an ordinary person with a fulltime job, a husband, two slightly spoiled dogs, a calendar that always seems fuller than I’d like, and a goal that’s just audacious enough to be exciting.

I don’t spend every weekend climbing mountains.

I don’t own every piece of the latest hiking gear.

I don’t have unlimited time to train.

Like most people, I have to fit adventure around real life. And maybe that’s why I love to write this blog.

Come Along for the Journey

This won’t be a polished travel guide or a “how to” from someone who’s conquered every famous trail. Instead, it will be an honest look at preparation, planning, training, gear decisions, the inevitable overthinking about what to pack, and, hopefully, a few laughs along the way.

I’ll be sharing things like why we chose Shikoku, how I’m training around work and everyday life, the gear I’m upgrading, and the gear that’s staying home, how we’re planning to travel carry on only (!), food, accommodation, and budget, the mistakes we’ll probably make even before leaving home and eventually, what it actually feels like to walk the trail itself.

If you’re planning your own adventure, I hope some of it helps. If you’re simply curious, I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

And if you’ve ever looked at a hiking trail and thought, “I’d love to do that one day”, maybe this series will show you that you don’t have to be an extraordinary trail athlete to enjoy an extraordinary adventure.

You just have to take the first step.

So…welcome!

We’ve got 11 weeks until we depart (eeeek!). Lots to prepare, lots to learn and a long walk waiting for us in Japan. The next blog will break down our training plan to make sure we are trail fit, along with stress-testing our gear (and our bodies!).

Until then, see you out on the trails.

PJ.