16 DAYS TO GO

Well, I've been continuing my training at a more relaxed pace, cutting back on the miles.  I feel that I'm in pretty good shape and have learned to live with most of the annoying aches and pains that go with walking 12 to 15 miles a day.  My shoulder has been the exception, so yesterday I paid a visit to my doctor who gave me an injection of cortisone.  Seemed to do the trick as last night was the first time in weeks that I have been able to sleep on that shoulder.

The other day my Pilgrim Passport or Credencial del Peregrino arrived. The credencial is a document that identifies the bearer as a pilgrim, with space for stamps from accommodations and sites along the Camino.  A pilgrim passport is required in order to use the Camino's system of albergues and serves as proof of completing the pilgrimage.

The Compostela is a document of completion awarded to those who walk at least the last 100 kilometers to Santiago.  One presents his completed credencial at the pilgrim office in Santiago de Compostela in order to get your Compostela, written in Latin and personalized with your name and date of completion.

I'll also be carrying this guide book with maps and a description of the route.  It also gives the pilgrim information on places to stay, eat, where to get water and information about sites along the Camino. There are other guides, but I liked this one the best as the maps had more detail than the others.   You could get by just following the yellow arrows which mark the route.

A app developer read my blog and offered me a download of an app he developed called A Wise Pilgrim Guide At first glance it looks pretty good and with the exception of the GPS feature, it works without internet, so I've loaded onto my iPad Mini which will be going along.

I've been watching the weather along the beginning of the Camino, especially over the Pyrenees. Right now the Napoleon Route, or the high route is closed due to snow.  There is a lower route one can take, but most of the off highway trails are impassable, so one must walk on the road.  Currently the weather reports call for rain and snow for the next week.  But a pilgrim must be flexible, so depending on the conditions when I arrive will go into my decision on where to begin my Camino.

Here are some photos of the current trail conditions.