95 DAYS TO GO

I keep at it, the training that is.  I've increased the distance hiking and slightly reduced the miles on the bike. Christmas helped as it fell on a Thursday, a normal bike day.  So for December the mileage was, 87.2 hiking and 370 on the bike.  Starting at the first of the year I'll be doing some back to back hikes to see how my feet hold up.  As I walk along I feel different parts of my body reacting to my hike.  OUCH, a twinge in the knee, OH, my hip hurts, or pain in the ball of my foot.  Several years ago I was diagnosed with Metatarslgia, which means, "Pain in the Ball of the Foot".  That's why at times my feet hurt. Anyway I intend to keep moving forward as I expect that because of the mileage traveled, I will always have some pain.  That's what they make Ibuprofen for, which is known on the Camino as "Camino Candy".

I continue walking on trails around my home, and have started putting some hills in the mix.  Here's some photos of the scenery along the way.

Typical Southern California brown.  We did have some rain this past month, so I was able to finally test out my rain jacket.  A little rain jacket history first.  A couple of years ago I bought a Marmot Precip jacket.  It leaked.  Big time.  Then in England a couple of years ago, I bought some inexpensive rain pants.  On the same trip and while in Germany I bought an Icepeak  rain jacket, which was made in Finland and came highly recommended.   With the recent rains, I took out the rain gear for a test.  The cheap rain pants preformed well, keeping the bottom half dry.  The Jacket started out fine, but after 40 minutes of steady rain, I was pretty much soaked through.  So, back to the drawing board.  Actually, back to REI, where I've been spending much of my free time, not to mention money.

This time, with the help of the fine folks in the store, I selected a Outdoor Research Foray Jacket, made with Gore-Tex, so we shall see.  I should mention that my Tilly Hat worked well.  Shading my face, ears and neck in the sunshine and keeping my head dry when in rains.

So, you want to know more about the Camino?  Just mention it in my presence and I'll be happy to fill you in on all the details.  It some how enters many of the conversations I have.  It seems that it occupies most of my thoughts as of late.  Now if you don't want to know about the Camino, then it's best not to start a conversation with me.

Training Begins While the Countdown Continues

126 days and counting, so the training has begun in earnest. For the month of November, 54 miles walking with my pack and just shy of 540 miles on the bike. The walks for the most part are on recreation trails near my home in Bonita Valley. I've been carrying my pack with some of what will be in it on the Camino, about 15 to 18 pounds. For the first time I have a pack that has been fitted for me thanks to the folks at REI. A Osprey Stratos 36 liter with a hydration bladder. Currently I'm carrying a 3 liter bladder, but will downsize to a 1.5 liter for Spain. Anyway I've been testing my gear, packing it in different ways trying to find the best fit.

I have yet to be able to test my rain gear, something I must do before leaving for Spain. The problem is that here in Southern California, it rarely rains. The other morning I woke up with it pouring so I thought I would get the chance to test it out. I had planned on hiking in the mountains and that's the direction the rain was heading. Cathie and I drove in the rain to Cuyamaca State Park for our planned hike up Cuyamaca Peak and as soon as we arrived, the rain stopped. So, no test in the rain, but I did wear my rain jacket over my fleece for warmth. The route to the peak follows a fire road gaining 1725 feet in elevation in 2.75 miles, so it's pretty steep. With the workout climbing to the top, perspiration collects on the inside of the rain jacket, so I guess you could say it was raining on the inside as I was pretty wet upon gaining the summit.

Cuyamaca was decimated in the 2003 Cedar Fire and it shows. It will be many years before the forest recovers. I read somewhere that the fire was so complete that the pine trees will never regenerate without the planting of seedlings.

CATHIE IN THE CLOUDS

The 540 miles on the bike is nothing new for me as I've been riding it 3 times a week for about 4 years now, riding from my home to Coronado and back. The only new wrinkle is that I'm pushing myself more, trying to get my heart rate up and keeping it there for longer periods of time.

There seems to be a theme developing in the blog. I keep writing about the reasons as to why I'm doing this. I suppose it keeps showing up in these pages because I spend a lot of time thinking about my reasons for walking. When I talk to people about my walking 500 miles across Northern Spain, they usually ask two questions. First, "Why?" and second, "Are you crazy?"

There is no compelling reason as to why. Because I want to, because I can, or I have no idea. I suppose the idea appeals to me because it's a challenge. It's not a religious journey, and I don't have any spiritual reasons for walking, I just decided that it was something I wanted to do. Will it change me in some way? Perhaps, a little change will be a good thing. I'll just have to wait and see. Am I crazy? Could be. But aren't most of us just a little bit mad?

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THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

The countdown has begun, even though it is still 6 months before I leave for Spain.  So, what to do in the meantime?  Prepare.  One of the biggest issues for people that walk 500 miles across Spain is their feet. Blisters are the norm for many, as are shin splints, sore knees and backs.  Walking day after day for over 30 days will take a toll on you body no matter how much one prepares.  I hope to minimize these ailments by conditioning my body before I start walking.

I have been pretty active before starting my camino training, riding my bike, walking and hiking when there is somewhere to hike to.  I'm just getting started with my training and in goes something like this:

120 miles a week on my bike.  This usually consists of three rides a week on mostly flat terrain.  On occasion I ride a fourth day by riding to the USS Midway Museum where I volunteer a couple of days a week.  My walking includes carrying my backpack weighted with what I will be carrying in Spain.  8 miles a week, which I will increase over time.  The bike gives me the stamina I will need and the walks with the pack hopefully will prepare my feet and legs for what lies ahead.

People talk about the "Call of the Camio".  Those who have heard it will know exactly what I mean. It's a whisper at first, a fleeting thought which is easily dismissed.  But soon it is incessant.  It starts to fill you mind. Invariably conversation turns to it.  You read books about it, seek out other pilgrims.  You dare to call yourself a pilgrim.

There is a sense in which we are all pilgrims the moment we decide to leave behind a life of certainty and start a journey of discovery into the unknown.  One source describes a pilgrimage as "a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance".  I know that in the strictest sense it is a physical journey to a real place of significance, but I think that the journey starts long before your feet hit the dusty roads.  It starts inside your head.

I wish I had the talent to make a video like this one.  It was made by a woman who walked the Camino in 2005 and when I came across it, it hit home for me.  For me it says, "This is the reason I'm walking".  The music is, Time by Chantal Kreviazuk

I MUST BE GOING, I PURCHASED THE PLANE TICKETS

Well, I guess this means I'm really going to do it.  I've been watching the cost of airfare every week or so and hadn't looked for a while because we're currently traveling in the RV.  But two days ago I had an Internet connection and checked.  It had dropped $300.  Cathie and I talked and she has agreed to meet me in Madrid after I complete the Camino.  Unfortunately her ticket price did not come down, but the two different tickets at two different times would probably never be the same.

So, I leave on April 5th, Easter Sunday and fly to Madrid.  I will make my way to Saint Jean Pied de Port in Southern France where I will start walking.  I have given myself 39 days to complete the 500 miles, which should allow me some rest days along the way.  Then on May 18th I will meet Cathie in Madrid and we will spend 3 weeks in Spain and Southern France before making our way to Germany to visit friends.  Our return flight leaves from Mulhouse, France on June 8th.  Guess I better start training.

A DECISION MADE, A WALK POSTPONED

After giving it considerable thought and weighing the positives vs the negatives I've decided to postpone my Camino till next year.  I had intended on walking starting in May, but several things have led me to the decision to postpone for now.  My left shoulder is in pain most of the time.  I've been to the doctor who says it's bursitis and has given me an injection of cortisone.  I'm thankful that surgery is not needed.  I still have pain but not as severe and in a couple of months we'll see if another injection is necessary.

Another factor in my decision is that I've lost some of the drive that it takes to make such a trip.  After returning from a two month trip to Europe I was traveled out and I had no desire to head out for  a six week trip.  I figured that if I waited to make the decision the drive to go would return, but it hasn't.  Weighing on my mind is the nagging pain I'm experiencing.  I would hate to be mid Camino and have the pain get worse causing me to end my walk.  In an effort to get back in the zone, so to speak, I will began training for the Camino as though I was going in May, minus the backpack.  I am currently riding my bike about 140 miles a week and  along with some weight training I will start walking again.

So I will take care of my shoulder, do what the doctor says and hopes that the desire to walk returns.

SO, WHAT IS THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO?

The Camino de Santiago or The Way of Saint James, is a network of ancient pilgrimage paths though the Spanish, Portuguese and Continental European countryside, that end at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, believed to be the burial site of the apostle St James the Greater who was martyred around 44AD.

The medieval Christian world had three major pilgrimage sites, Rome in the south, Jerusalem in the east and Santiago de Compostela in the west.  Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Santiago de Compostela was the most popular route.

The route has been walked by thousands of pilgrims and is often referred to as El Camino which literally means, The Way.  The first pilgrims were recorded around 950 AD and over the centuries accommodation, churches, roads and whole towns were built to cater to the growing number of pilgrims or peregrinos as they are known.  Pilgrims on the pilgrimage routes reached their peak numbers in the 12th century and continued at a lesser rate into the late 17th century.  From then on it was mostly devout Spaniard who undertook the pilgrimage, but the 1900's saw a revival in the Camino.  In 1937 Santiago (St James) was officially declared the patron saint of Spain and in 1987 the Camino was declared a World Heritage Site.

In 1986, 2491 pilgrims received the officIial certificate of completion - The Compostela.  Last year over 190.000 completed the Camino.  The most popular route, which starts at Se Jean Pied de Port (St John at the foot of the pass) in the French Pyrenees and ends at Santiago de Compostela, is known as the Camino Frances.  There are many other routes in Spain and 5 in France, all leading to Santiago.  The majority of those who complete the Camino  Frances start in the town of Sarria which is about 100 kilometers from Santiago.  Those who start here and finish are able to get their Compostela.  Others start a various towns and cities along the path and many take several years to complete the walk, walking during their vacations.

CAMINO de SANTIAGO



I've been considering walking the Camino Frances from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain for sometime now.  A 500 mile pilgrim's route over the Pyrenees and across Northern Spain.  Most people who complete the trek accomplish the task in 30 to 35 days, carrying only the minimum on their back.  Staying in Albergues, (think hostels) in villages and towns along the way.  I've been reading about the Camino, also known as The Way, both in books and on-line and asking questions of those who have gone before me.

The plan thus far is to do it.  That I am sure of.  If everything goes according to plan I will go next year most likely in the fall.  Ok, so you ask, Why?  Well if you know me you know I like to hike and travel.  This way I'll be combining two of my passions.  Also, I like the challenge of the walk and meeting new people from different parts of the world and backgrounds appeals to me.  Last year almost 200,000 people completed the Camino so I'll have lots of company.  Many only walk the last 100 kilometers and others start at various places along the path.

As I prepare for my Camino I will be posting my progress and more information about the Camino.  I may start a new blog just for the Camino, but I haven't made a final decision about that.

Since have you asked, why in the world would I want to walk 500 miles across Spain?  Besides those reasons I stated above, this video I found on YouTube answers some of the deeper reasons as to why.  It was made by a man who along with his daughter walked the Camino in 2008.  Take 5 minutes and watch the video HERE