WHAT'S IN THAT PACK? 
& OTHER QUESTIONS

I've been asked many questions about this upcoming pilgrimage.  The questions include: 

"What clothes are you taking?"
"Are you taking food?"
"Where will you sleep?'
"How will you shower?"
"Who's going with you?"

Here are some answers to those questions:

My backpack will have most of what I need for the journey.  It is recommended that one carry no more than 10% of their body weight in their backpack.  Though I will not divulge my weight to even you (my family and close friends), I'll say my goal is to keep my backpack weight at no more than 11 lbs.  Everyday, I'm working to eliminate things I think I might need, for what I truly will need.  Currently, my backpack contains the following:

1 pair of convertible pants
2 underwear
1 sports bra
1 short sleeve dri-wick shirt
1 linen roll-up long sleeve shirt
1 sleeping/cold weather leggings
1 sleeping bag liner
1 pair socks
2 pair sock liners
1 lightweight jacket w/hood
1 rain poncho
1 pair Teva sandals
1 comb
3 toe cuffs (have issues with bruised toe nails)
2 packets antiseptic wipes
1 sm nail clipper
1 travel-size bottle Dr. Bronner's Lavender soap (for body wash, clothes washing and shampooing)
1 pkg facial cleanser/wipes
1 wide-brimmed foldable hat
1 pocket daypack (for evening)
8 safety pins
10 corded ear plugs
1 2oz. sunscreen
8 bug wipe packets (I'm a bug magnet)
1 pkg blister medic
1 pkg moleskin
1 sm. bottle Ibuprofen
1 sm bottle clip-on hand sanitizer
1 sm deodorant
10 Q-tips
20 Band-aids (for toe cushioning, injuries or blisters)
5 cotton balls
1 toothbrush
1 travel-size toothpaste
1 travel-size lotion
1 microfiber bath towel
1 microfiber wash cloth
1 Sarong (for evenings, etc.)
1 outlet converter
1 phone power cord
1 Freshette (for emergency use)
1 mini roll of TP
1 mini roll of duct tape (for repairing things or for protecting blisters)

And of course, I have the clothes / shoes I'll be traveling /walking in.

Weight of loaded pack = 11.5 pounds

I also have a front-facing lumbar pack for:

2 water bottles
Snacks (replenished daily, to energize while walking)
Daily money
Lip balm
Sun glasses
Reading glasses
Ibuprofen
mobile phone

So, what about food?  There is no need to carry food.  There are markets and restaurants in each town.  Also, some of the albergues (the places along the Camino, where you sleep) provide breakfast, dinner or both.  For more info about albergues, use this link http://www.caminoforums.com/albergues-hostels/1239-albergue-system-spain.html . The albergues also provide showers.  Many also provide wifi (pronounced wee fee, in Spain) and laundry facilities.

In answer to the last question, this is not a group trip.  I will be traveling alone and though I know of other people traveling at the same time, we may or may not have the opportunity to walk the Camino together.  Everyone walks at their pace and some want to linger in towns for longer periods.  Therefore, each person has their own Camino and must travel it at the pace that works for them.  Along the way, pilgrims meet people from all over the world.  The people I am meant to travel with will come along as I travel. Each of us will get what we're supposed to receive from the experience.  Then, we'll travel on. There is a saying, "The Camino provides." Meaning, whatever we need, the Camino provides.  We may not always be aware of what we need, but The Camino knows.

The Best Laid Plans...

We plan, God laughs...

Well, this past week kinda went that way.  My two days walking, one day off schedule was a good plan.  However, it didn't work out that way.  Last week I walked:

Sunday - 7.67 miles

Monday - 10.17 miles

Tuesday - Rest

Wednesday - Household projects (was supposed to be a walk day)

Thursday - Household projects (was supposed to be a walk day)

Friday - Household projects (was supposed to be a rest day)

Saturday - Household projects (was supposed to be a walk day)

This week so far:

Sunday - Errands & other stuff I needed to do (was supposed to be a rest day)

This week is scheduled as three days walking and one day of rest.  That means I need to walk Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, rest on Thursday and walk Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Getting all of my itinerary paperwork in order (hotels, air, sights, etc.) and my backpack weight managed (shouldn't be more than 10% of body weight).  I have my 2 credentials.  The credentials identify a person as a traveling pilgrim (on foot, bicycle or horseback) and it must be shown when registering in the albergues in which one sleeps along the Camino. 

  

On the physical side, I've been experiencing some heel pain after the long walks, but stretching the heel and calf seems to help.  Enjoying the walking and each week I see improvement in stamina and pace.

NOT EXCITED YET

I'm about five weeks out from when I leave for Spain.  Daily, I read the Facebook page for American Pilgrims on the Camino and people are often writing about how excited they are because they'll be leaving for the Camino in 60, 40 or 30 days.  I'm not feeling that excitement yet.

The lack of excitement could be due to my focus on trying to get the new house in order, before I leave.  Nearly every day, I have one or more projects (or aspect of an already started project) to complete.  I want to be sure Eddie won't need to worry about anything during my absence.  Maybe, once I've completed the projects on my lists, I can exhale and begin to feel the excitement of my impending journey.

I'll let you know when the excitement kicks in.

GA AT DONE, CAMINO de SANTIAGO BOUND

As some of you know, each month, from September 2013 through June 2014, I hiked a section of the Georgia Appalachian Trail.  Last month, I completed the last section and received my certificate of completion and my GATC patch.  It was extremely challenging, but I got it done.

With that done, I'm now concentrating my energy on the Camino de Santiago.  This is a 500 mile walking pilgrimage from St. Jean Pied de Port, FRANCE, over the Pyrenees, across Northern SPAIN, to Santiago de Compostela, SPAIN.  I'll walk an average of 16 miles/day, 6 days/week.  I'll carry a backpack weighing approximately 14 lbs and sleep each night in a different town, in an albergue (kinda like a hostel, only a little nicer). Here and there, I will be treating myself to a few nights in hotels.


So what is the Camino de Santiago?  From Wikipedia, "The Way of St. James, St. James's Way, St. James's Path, or St. James's Trail (commonly known by its name in Spanish: El Camino de Santiago) is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it, that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a form of spiritual path or retreat, for their spiritual growth."

If you want a better idea of the journey, rent or purchase a copy of the movie, The Way, starring Martin Sheen.  

Many of my friends and family have asked me to keep them abreast of the journey.  So, I've started this blog.  I'm schedule to leave for Spain in August of 2014.  In the meantime, I'm preparing for the many days of walking.  My training walks are increasing in distance and frequency.  Since I'll be walking an average of about 16 miles/day, it's important to prepare my mind, body and especially my feet, for the trek.  Many people suffer with feet issues during this trek.  Multiple blisters, plantar fasciiti, heel spurs and more.  I'm hoping my system of Injinji toe socks, under Wright Socks (a 2-layer sock designed to maximize moisture management and minimize friction) will keep the blisters away.  Only time will tell.  I've also heard, coating your feet with Vaseline each morning can help.  I may try the Vaseline.

I did a 13.25 mile training walk yesterday and this evening, I'm doing a shorter 7.75 mile walk.  This week, will be two days of walking, one day off and repeat.  Tuesday will be a rest day.  I'll try to post at least once/week.  Next week, I increase to three days on, one day off and repeat.