taking the long way

Resigned to taking the long way, they set out in spring 2010, climbing the mountain from the south, spending the night there, then summiting and reaching their destination the next morning.

Leaving from Seattle, you’ll first head toward Spokane, Washington — taking the long way.

When she got outside, instead of taking the long way she usually took and walking the way most of the walkers went, which was up to the corner where Ms. Post was, orange-vested, waving cars by, blowing her whistle until her face looked like it would pop, Cynthia walked through the grass and headed around the back of the school to take the shortcut.

It changed the course of their career — paving a path for their 2006 Grammy-sweeping album, “Taking the Long Way” — and influenced countless other country acts.

They swapped stories of how they modified their behavior when heading home at night: walking with keys facing out, changing into athletic shoes in case running became necessary; taking the long way back because it was well lit; crossing the road when heavy footsteps approached from behind.