Mike Metras and Petra Wolf call themselves pilgrims on the road of life. They started walking on their mission called 'Walking East" from California and will end in Jerusalem.

I met Mike and Petra on Aug. 7 at the Row House pub and grill, where they were dining during their stop in Ottawa. We decided to meet the next day for breakfast at Marcia's Bed and Breakfast Inn in Ottawa, where Mike and Petra were staying. Ottawa Mayor Robert Eschbach was the guest of honor. After a sumptuous breakfast, we had a small interview.

Mike Metras is originally from Woodstock,, and Petra Wolf from Constance, Germany. They both met in Spain during their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk in 2003, and were married the same year.

Prior to Walking East, they both had walked from Germany to Spain, Germany to Rome, and also around Northern Spain.

Mike Metras, an author, photographer, pilgrimage guide, and retired technical writer, has also studied shamanism and theology. He has written several books including "Germany to Rome in 64 Days: Our Pilgrimage;" "Walking Life: Meditations on the Pilgrimage of Life," "Sicily's Historic Coasts," "Ethiopia: Travels of a Youth," and "Money Meanderings: An Introduction to Numismatics."

Petra Wolf, a workshop and vision quest guide and environmental engineer, has studied shamanism and walked several European pilgrimages. After four years in Europe and India, both Mike and Petra have moved to California to bring some of the joys and insights of their European pilgrimage experience here.

Quite knowledgeable about India, they were glad they met me, a native of India here in Ottawa!

Mike and Petra's Walking East journey started on Jan.15, 2009, from Paso Robles, Calif. Since then they have walked through many parts of California, the historic Route 66, New Mexico, Missouri and Illinois. After a days stop in Ottawa, they are headed towards Woodstock, Milwaukee, Michigan, Southern Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls and New York City. From New York they will fly to Portugal, and then walk again through Southern Europe towards Jerusalem — the land Jesus walked.

They walk about 15-20 miles a day, which equals 15 minutes of car ride! The whole journey covers around 7,000 miles, of which nearly 5,000 miles will be walking, scheduled to be completed by December 2010.

Mike and Petra said the most important gear of their walk is their "running shoes." They both carry umbrellas, which help against rain and strong sun rays. The weather is their main obstacle, and sometimes they encounter small wild animals like deer, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and hares.

Wherever they go and wherever they stop, they are overwhelmed by support and generosity. People give them rides and some provide shelter and food. Mike and Petra were very grateful to Marcia Nelson, owner of Marcia's Bed and Breakfast Inn in Ottawa, for her friendship and kind hospitality, and also for providing a cozy and comfortable staying place.

They agreed Ottawa is "friendly and beautiful," and they liked the local churches, church bells,parks, I&M canal, downtown, and most of all, friendly Ottawans. They intend to spread good news of Ottawa during their whole journey.

Their motto and goal behind this walk is that they like to walk for simplicity, unity and peace, to experience the joys and adversities that make their lives stronger, to explore the world around them and spread the meaning of peace and harmony among human beings.

Their walk is an awesome, almost unbelievable tale about an historical odyssey that shows what can be accomplished by a determined and motivated human being who sets a goal. Many small steps become one giant, global walk of mankind.

Mike and Petra's message to The Times' readers is, "Follow your dreams. Do things that come from your heart. Be curious, give yourself the permission to do what you want to do and accomplish your goals."

For more info on Mike and Petra's mission log on to www.WalkingEast.com.

• ALFIE D"SOUZA of Ottawa is a former Write Team member and can be reached through The Times or by e-mailing paulc@mywebtimes.com.