Walking for a Living

I met Tyler Burgess at a bookstore reading/signing event. Tyler walks for a living. Since she's very, very good at walking, it's great she can also make enough money to support her odd habit.

Here's how she does it. She arranges walking tours of places all over the world. I just received a note that she just got back from her fourth walking trip to Morocco. Here's a link to her flickr picture site for that trip.

Do you like to walk? Well, Tyler is your go-to gal if you'd like to tour the world. Check out her website Walk With Me. In 2008, she has walking tours scheduled for Italy and England, then she returns to Morocco in 2009.

Not in condition for walking through Europe or the Middle East? That's okay, 'cause Tyler has a few books that will get you in shape for an unusual vacation where you can really see the countryside up close and personal.

If you're inclined to really take this walking thing seriously, Tyler also teaches classes in walking. Okay, you might think, but I already know how to put one foot in front of the other. Yeah, sure. That's like saying you can play pro football because you managed to play a tag game at the local park.

Check out Tyler's website and consider the training regimens she offers (marathon walking, for example). She was an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon, which is track town USA. Now, she's working on her own. Walking her ass off and, if you join her, you can walk your ass off, too.

However, if you can't get to Eugene for a personal class, check out Tyler's inexpensive and informative books to get in shape and WALK! By the way, she illustrates her walking guides with sketches she makes while on the road (or sidewalk if you fear European or Eugene drivers). The drawings are both cute and informative.