2011-10-04
Who I am and what I discovered about life
I have previously talked about why I was doing this walk, but that changed when on the Meseta, this is a huge straight stretch of white gravel track, no water, it's a very lonely place. Where you are alone with your thoughts. I'm told madness is not unknown here, but for me the Meseta was kind and offered me the chance to reconsidered why I was doing this walk and as I reflected on how lucky my life has been, born in Jersey a wealth island and having two strong and bright sons, who both born premature have recovered from a difficult start to life. So for me from that point onwards my Camino became a journey of thanks, for the life I have and for the lives of my sons.
The lessons learned on my last day, will always stick with me. Firstly I discovered the drive in me that pushed me onwards rather than turning back to an easy day at Arco. This drive or stubborn streak was further displayed when already exhausted I walked pass the last alberge on Monte del Goza, even after LB text me to stop, my exhausted reply was “no can't, too close to give in”.
Lastly when walking through the streets of Santiago, I pondered if this pilgrimage had earned my place in heaven and what would that be, what is heaven? I considered that if it existed it must be perpetually joy. So recalling moments in my life when I experienced moments of joy, for me giving “kangaroo love” to my first very premature son, this is a SCBU (Special care baby unit) term where you open your shirt and the premature baby is placed on your chest, the skin to skin contact helps the parent bond to their child and the baby is kept warm from body heat, also giving my second son his first ever bottle while mother was in still in surgery. With those memories coming to me it did not take long for the tears of joy to well up. Which drew some understanding smiles and knowing nods from the locals I passed.
Would I do it again? yes, but if without my family, two week would be my maximum, my children are the most important thing in my life, two weeks away from them is about my limit. Also if I go again I may start from Porto and head North, get a tan on my right side, the walk from Sarria was too busy to enjoy. Ultimately I still intend to take my lads on the journey and show them all the world on one road in 2020.
Arzua to Arco or so I thought.
Leaving Arzua around 8am not expecting too long a walk, only 19 km, my feet are okay, I've now learned to put up with blisters and accept that for 10 minutes after each break I'm walking like I've been crippled until feet warm up and then I can get some pace again. My morning break was at A Calzada, the usual croissant and cafe con leche. Pressing on I pass the high point of the day Alto de Santa Irene, path leads down into Aroc O Pino.
Something is not right the town should be here yet I'm now walking in woodland, I stop and study my map, I think I've overshot the town. Stopping three other pilgrim I discuss my position, with broken Spanish and English I discover that I should have taken a tunnel under the motorway which would have lead to the town and not continued on the path I'm on. I'm now by my estimate 3km pass the town. The choice is to walk back 3 km or walk another 8 to Lavocotte or even another 20km to Santiago.
As I consider my choice, it dawns on me that I have no choice I must press on, as I admit this to my new friends, stating very honestly “ that there is no going back”, I'm returned a universal thumbs followed by “good choice!”. Moving on I stop at San Payo, where I enjoy a nice pilgrims meal with the usual bottle of red. I'm as rested as I can be, fed and have topped up my water.
I'm not sure when I decided to finish, I think deep down I love a challenge, so deciding to to go for it, meant some serious patch work on my feet, outside the restaurant, with boots off I perform minor miracles with my feet. Several compeed later I start my final stage. The road goes on and on and on, I pass the airfield and the multiple of crosses in the fence placed by those before me. When I reach the top of Monte del Goza, I find a road side vending machine to replenish my water all but drained by this point, I'm alone as all the sensible pilgrims have already found a home and shelter from the heat of the afternoon. Mad dogs and English as they say.
After some serious work I at last reach the outskirts of Santiago, at last after a dodgy bridge crossing over a motorway and them train lines I enter Santiago de Compostelo. The walk into town seems to take an age, I enjoy the smile and waves from locals as another weary pilgrim enter the city, but by 9pm I find a 2 star single room in a central hotel. Exhausted I sleep for 2 hours before I even shower, my feet are some what wreaked by legs covered in heat rash but I'm finished.
It seems apt that what started out as physical challenge, which had became and emotional and spiritual journey, ending with me pushing my body and sanity to the edge with a final physical challenge. My camino has helped me discover many things about who I am and how I'll behave in pressure situations.
2011-09-13
Arzua
Just a around 45 km left now, left Palas de rai at 5am. Using a head torch to find markings can get a little difficult sometimes but stayed on route with the torch, it gets light here about 7:45am. I think I was the first pilgrim on the road so found a place easy enough when I got to Arzua. Had only one break today and that cost me a couple of new blisters, but have stitched them up to drain and so feet should be good to go again to tomorrow.
Also managed to get a spanish sim from movistar, however the pre-paid sim SMS to uk are 0.71 euros per message so have quickly run out of credit, I must practice short form texting. Ive topped up and will have to just use for emergencies for now. I.ll look at getting a better deal in santiago.probably with these chaps ...
http://www.lebara-movil.es/Pre-Pay-Cards?isoCode=en_GB
Met Kiera and Nora again at Aryua, they are doing ok a coupel of blisters but looking forward to next week on the beach. I also ran into Caroline a lovely french Canadian lady who does not speak english so we have broken conversations in my bad french, she will make Santiago on thursday as will I, she however has been walking since Le Puy in france about 1500km. Some of the other people ive met on this trip have been, katerina a german woman that started walking from germany in April, an reallz incredable woman. George a great Dutch man who having walked the Camino Frances 2 years ago, started again this year as an experiment to test his new hip!
Again thanks for all the support, LB your doing a great job Im very proud of you. Finally sorry if these posts are riddled with spelling mistakes, most of the pc.s are locked to spanish, however this one today is a spanish keyboard but set to german, so very much hit and miss what each key does.
Also managed to get a spanish sim from movistar, however the pre-paid sim SMS to uk are 0.71 euros per message so have quickly run out of credit, I must practice short form texting. Ive topped up and will have to just use for emergencies for now. I.ll look at getting a better deal in santiago.probably with these chaps ...
http://www.lebara-movil.es/Pre-Pay-Cards?isoCode=en_GB
Met Kiera and Nora again at Aryua, they are doing ok a coupel of blisters but looking forward to next week on the beach. I also ran into Caroline a lovely french Canadian lady who does not speak english so we have broken conversations in my bad french, she will make Santiago on thursday as will I, she however has been walking since Le Puy in france about 1500km. Some of the other people ive met on this trip have been, katerina a german woman that started walking from germany in April, an reallz incredable woman. George a great Dutch man who having walked the Camino Frances 2 years ago, started again this year as an experiment to test his new hip!
Again thanks for all the support, LB your doing a great job Im very proud of you. Finally sorry if these posts are riddled with spelling mistakes, most of the pc.s are locked to spanish, however this one today is a spanish keyboard but set to german, so very much hit and miss what each key does.
2011-09-12
Palas de Rei
Well down to 65 km left, I'm in Palas de Rei, bagged the last bed in town again. I must admit I've been lucky with the accommodation.
Met a nice French Canadian girl yesterday, Sandra shared a room with her and introduced her to Quentin Tarentino's Pulp fiction, does that make me a bad man? What can I say it was that or Westside story on TV.
Also met up with a couple of ladies just doing the 100km from Sarria, Kiera from Ireland and her cousin Nora from Australia, both cracking girls and fun to be around. It´s been nice to have English conversions again, between the three girls they have helped me reconnect with the journey and pulled me out of my recent isolation.
The route is now clogged with, well tourists, lots of chatting on route stopping at every cafe and making what was 10 minute meal break into 30 minutes of queuing. They also are all reserving the accomidation in the next towns. Luckilly the albourges don´t take reservations so most of the longer term pilgrims just motor on early in the morning to get a bed. I aim to do that tomorrow if i can get out of my top bunk without breaking my legs.
I´m now resigned to the fact that the camino as i´ve come to know it, is over. The next couple of days I will just try and relax and take in all I´ve learnt about the world and what I need in my life. They do say the camino is like "life condensed", so Santiago will be the end, I better enjoy the remainder of the journey.
Joining Norra and Kiera for dinner tonight, so gotta split shortly. I searched for a mobile sim in the last two towns but not found any yet, probably won´t be able to get one now until Santiago, so still out of contact with my family, love to you all, LB text if you like should be able to get them, just won´t be able to reply. Again thanks for the comments, at the moment its the only contact i have with home.
Met a nice French Canadian girl yesterday, Sandra shared a room with her and introduced her to Quentin Tarentino's Pulp fiction, does that make me a bad man? What can I say it was that or Westside story on TV.
Also met up with a couple of ladies just doing the 100km from Sarria, Kiera from Ireland and her cousin Nora from Australia, both cracking girls and fun to be around. It´s been nice to have English conversions again, between the three girls they have helped me reconnect with the journey and pulled me out of my recent isolation.
The route is now clogged with, well tourists, lots of chatting on route stopping at every cafe and making what was 10 minute meal break into 30 minutes of queuing. They also are all reserving the accomidation in the next towns. Luckilly the albourges don´t take reservations so most of the longer term pilgrims just motor on early in the morning to get a bed. I aim to do that tomorrow if i can get out of my top bunk without breaking my legs.
I´m now resigned to the fact that the camino as i´ve come to know it, is over. The next couple of days I will just try and relax and take in all I´ve learnt about the world and what I need in my life. They do say the camino is like "life condensed", so Santiago will be the end, I better enjoy the remainder of the journey.
Joining Norra and Kiera for dinner tonight, so gotta split shortly. I searched for a mobile sim in the last two towns but not found any yet, probably won´t be able to get one now until Santiago, so still out of contact with my family, love to you all, LB text if you like should be able to get them, just won´t be able to reply. Again thanks for the comments, at the moment its the only contact i have with home.
2011-09-10
Last 100 km to Santiago
Today I have arrived in Sarria, so last 100km stretch ahead of me, pushed hard and did about 40km today, legs are a little like jelly at the moment. It´s been a hard day emotionally, I felt I needed to press on as in all honesty I miss my family and feel it´s time I finish this and get home to those I love, every step has taken me closer to them.
I've run out of credit on my mobile and can't top up with the UK short codes, i´ll see about getting a local sim so at least i can text home, but I won´t be able to twitter to the blog at the moment. The route is getting more busy with spanish doing the minimum 100km or 200km if on bike, so the hostels are getting fuller.
So to reduce the burden on local alberges I´ve checked into the Hotel Nh Alfonso IX which is about the nicest hotel in town. A long soak in my bath really made up for the cold shower yesterday in the alberge at celeiro. Such a strange day that was, a hellish climbed to the top of the mountain only to find a huge pikey market going on, bizarre.
I´m now in Galicia. The weather from the atlantic hits these mountains so had first real day of rain, well drizzle the spanish have not yet figured out proper rain yet, but they sure can do mountains.
Thanks for the support, messages etc. Sorry I have not posted more, I´ve met some really interesting people on this hike, there´s been germans, austrians, french canadian, swiss, dutch, belgiums, norwegians, french, south africans, australians, chinese, irish, english and even a couple of spanish! I will write about some of their stories when I can.
Has the experience changed me so far? I did noticed today I´ve learned, to by default walk in the shade. Perhaps my family and friends will be better judges upon my return.
Besides it´s not over yet...
I've run out of credit on my mobile and can't top up with the UK short codes, i´ll see about getting a local sim so at least i can text home, but I won´t be able to twitter to the blog at the moment. The route is getting more busy with spanish doing the minimum 100km or 200km if on bike, so the hostels are getting fuller.
So to reduce the burden on local alberges I´ve checked into the Hotel Nh Alfonso IX which is about the nicest hotel in town. A long soak in my bath really made up for the cold shower yesterday in the alberge at celeiro. Such a strange day that was, a hellish climbed to the top of the mountain only to find a huge pikey market going on, bizarre.
I´m now in Galicia. The weather from the atlantic hits these mountains so had first real day of rain, well drizzle the spanish have not yet figured out proper rain yet, but they sure can do mountains.
Thanks for the support, messages etc. Sorry I have not posted more, I´ve met some really interesting people on this hike, there´s been germans, austrians, french canadian, swiss, dutch, belgiums, norwegians, french, south africans, australians, chinese, irish, english and even a couple of spanish! I will write about some of their stories when I can.
Has the experience changed me so far? I did noticed today I´ve learned, to by default walk in the shade. Perhaps my family and friends will be better judges upon my return.
Besides it´s not over yet...
2011-09-02
Taking a break
Been walking since Sunday, and while my feet are okay, only 3 blisters. I have a sore heat rash almost circling my ankles and also sun or wind burn on my back of my legs. Adding to that a bit of a dodgy belly when walking into the last town Sahagun. I was not sure I’d make it to the alberge...
So I have decided to take today off, rest my legs that are currently smothered in germoline. I also found (eventually) the post office or Corroes as I´ve now found out its called. I sent home 2.5 kilos of stuff home including LB´s broken camera, sorry hun, but I have bought you a nice new Nikon 12 mega pixel camera to make up.
As i have only 3 weeks even on a day off I have to keep moving and 30 € got me a taxi to Mansilla de las Mullas an small wallled town about 20 km from Leon. A was running about 5-10km behind my planned route, this skip ahead puts me back on track.
Back to the daily routine tomorow, up at 6am walk 25+ km, find a bed for the night, shower, wash my clothes, write in my journal, eat a pilgrims meal with my comrades and sleep by 10pm.
I´m not sure if I´ll see Angelica and Marrita again, I wish them all the best and hope they are okay. While I was not with Hans and Roody on Wednesday I texted Hans happy 70th birthday, it is his dream to walk the camino and to do it on his seventy birthday, wow an amazing man. Other characters I´ve met, Dutch George testing out his new hip and the beautiful katerina walking from Hamburg.
In my first 5 days of walking I have already achieved what i set out to do which was to meet and share experiences with interesting and wonderful people. I´m am richer for knowing them. Thanks to to my family for supporting me in doing this, I miss them very much, I love you all.
Tomorrow I walk to Leon.
So I have decided to take today off, rest my legs that are currently smothered in germoline. I also found (eventually) the post office or Corroes as I´ve now found out its called. I sent home 2.5 kilos of stuff home including LB´s broken camera, sorry hun, but I have bought you a nice new Nikon 12 mega pixel camera to make up.
As i have only 3 weeks even on a day off I have to keep moving and 30 € got me a taxi to Mansilla de las Mullas an small wallled town about 20 km from Leon. A was running about 5-10km behind my planned route, this skip ahead puts me back on track.
Back to the daily routine tomorow, up at 6am walk 25+ km, find a bed for the night, shower, wash my clothes, write in my journal, eat a pilgrims meal with my comrades and sleep by 10pm.
I´m not sure if I´ll see Angelica and Marrita again, I wish them all the best and hope they are okay. While I was not with Hans and Roody on Wednesday I texted Hans happy 70th birthday, it is his dream to walk the camino and to do it on his seventy birthday, wow an amazing man. Other characters I´ve met, Dutch George testing out his new hip and the beautiful katerina walking from Hamburg.
In my first 5 days of walking I have already achieved what i set out to do which was to meet and share experiences with interesting and wonderful people. I´m am richer for knowing them. Thanks to to my family for supporting me in doing this, I miss them very much, I love you all.
Tomorrow I walk to Leon.
2011-08-27
Passport is in my hand
Through the haze of travel today, everything came into focus when I looked at my freshly stamped pilgrims passport. I'm still not really sure why I am doing this Camino, I'm not overly religious however I do think it will be good for me, I get too comfortable in ruts and need take a big jump to see the life outside. After flying over Spain today without a cloud in the sky I started to get a understanding of the distance I'm undertaken. Coming from jersey its strange to see endless land without sea or an ocean bordering it.
One day at a time will be my mantra, today was full of worries and doubts, for the most part it was if I was going to see my rucksack again. Perhaps my concern was inflated as the pack contained every thing i needed, or at least what I thought i needed. There was a more relaxed me, saying well "you have money, and your national passport", I could fit myself out with sleeping bag a change of clothes and a few odds and ends for under 100 euros, okay i would not have a camera, and the sundry other gadgets i´ve stuffed my bag with. But I could still do the camino, and without 13.5 kg on my back which was a pleasing thought, then I reminded myself it was my little ladie´s camera so was ultimatly glad to see my bag emerge from the baggage reclaim.
Twitters aside, I would expect Leon will be the next time I will definately post to the site, that´s 177 km away, i should have some interesting things to say by them, aww, ahhh and an Apocalypes Now "The horror !" spring to mind.
One day at a time will be my mantra, today was full of worries and doubts, for the most part it was if I was going to see my rucksack again. Perhaps my concern was inflated as the pack contained every thing i needed, or at least what I thought i needed. There was a more relaxed me, saying well "you have money, and your national passport", I could fit myself out with sleeping bag a change of clothes and a few odds and ends for under 100 euros, okay i would not have a camera, and the sundry other gadgets i´ve stuffed my bag with. But I could still do the camino, and without 13.5 kg on my back which was a pleasing thought, then I reminded myself it was my little ladie´s camera so was ultimatly glad to see my bag emerge from the baggage reclaim.
Twitters aside, I would expect Leon will be the next time I will definately post to the site, that´s 177 km away, i should have some interesting things to say by them, aww, ahhh and an Apocalypes Now "The horror !" spring to mind.
Clock is ticking!
What with packing and repacking, it's gotten too late to sleep, so started watching Martin Sheen's "The Way" again. The film that started this hair-brain scheme of mine to walk the Camino. Great film, it will be interesting to see how the Hollywood view of the Camino de Santiago will differ from reality.
So at 4am I'll make my final preparations and start walking to the airport, for those that have read previous posts I really was in two minds about using planes on this, what swung it in the end was I'll have to loss two days in St Malo not a bad place to spend two days but time is precious for me on this camino, it's taken a lot of effort to have three weeks. I digress as I mentioned the flights could not be avoided without significant impact on my Camino, so I'm going to walk to the airport, start as I mean to continue I guess.
This is the first time since I turned 21 that I've taken three weeks off work, the last time I've taken this much time was for my overseas aid project back in '91 I was in Kenya for 4 weeks actually had my 21 birthday out there, was that really 20 years. I wonder if this as much of a life changing experience. Word of advice kids if you want to remember a special birthday then travel, I have no memory of my 18th, not in that way, I just assume we just did the normal Saturday night stuff drinks club etc, so it's just blended into the theme of my life at that time. But Kenya and my 21st that's crystal clear.
2011-08-26
My Pilgrim passport
The Albergue/hostal is open from 2pm till 10pm and so I should be able to grab a passport or credencial as they are also know. This will allow me to start early on Sunday, which is handy as I have 20 miles to cover that first day.
I should mention that without a pilgrims passport, then I wouldn't be able to get accommodation at the pilgrims hostels, nor would I be able to obtain a compostela at journeys end in Santiago de Compostela.
Last day task
On my list now, is only get a hair cut and buy some Croc's. I am going to pack, repack and repack my bag tonight, really have to be careful with the weight. I like to be prepared so have a tendency to over pack, so going to have to make some difficult choices tonight.
2011-08-25
Slight blog redesign
Previous visitors may have noticed that I've shuffled this blog around again a tad. The map is now at the bottom of the page, scroll down to view. Previously the first thing I would do when opening the blog was to scroll down the page which if my mouse happened to be over the map would just zoom in, just too annoying.
I've also moved the twitter on to the side panel, looked a little untidy at the top. My boys will be checking the site every morning when they get up so I will try and send a message at least once a day, with an update of my location, so they can follow me on the map.
I've also moved the twitter on to the side panel, looked a little untidy at the top. My boys will be checking the site every morning when they get up so I will try and send a message at least once a day, with an update of my location, so they can follow me on the map.
2011-08-24
Last chance for Gas
Okay did my last shopping run today, still outstanding on my wish list is now only a pair of Croc's. They sell a cheap version of them at the beach here, so I'll have to nip down the St. Brelade's bay and pick up some. My almost final purchases today, were a second pair of shorts and another technical t-shirt. With three sets of clothes, I'll have one dirty, one ready to put on and one drying. Hopefully means I won't have to wash clothes every night. I also grabbed a European socket adaptor and a great product from LifeSystems, universal soap, Lifesystems All Purpose Soap 200ml
I have been toying with the idea of a large dry back inside my rucksack but just does not seem worth the bother for one or two time I might be caught out. My paper work and valuables will be in a waterproof bags. The clothes, sleeping bag, liner and bivvy bag can all dry out with no long term ill effects.
My sleeping bag liner and rucksack are drying out today after a thorough soaking with skitostop, one less thing to worry about.
No training so far this week, can't do much tonight either as I'm hosting a games night for my lads and a couple of their friends, running the usual table top wargame loosely based on the Stalker computer games. Tonights mission will be “deliver the package”, what they don't know yet is the package is in fact priest and the local bandit lord, has put a price on the priests head, he dosen't want god getting in the way of business. Can the squad get the package through the zone to the freedom faction training base.
Throw in some zombies and some other random mutants, with a stalker cloth badges for the bravest or most selfless player action at the end of the game (usually about 2-3hrs later) and you have four very happy boys.
I have been toying with the idea of a large dry back inside my rucksack but just does not seem worth the bother for one or two time I might be caught out. My paper work and valuables will be in a waterproof bags. The clothes, sleeping bag, liner and bivvy bag can all dry out with no long term ill effects.
My sleeping bag liner and rucksack are drying out today after a thorough soaking with skitostop, one less thing to worry about.
No training so far this week, can't do much tonight either as I'm hosting a games night for my lads and a couple of their friends, running the usual table top wargame loosely based on the Stalker computer games. Tonights mission will be “deliver the package”, what they don't know yet is the package is in fact priest and the local bandit lord, has put a price on the priests head, he dosen't want god getting in the way of business. Can the squad get the package through the zone to the freedom faction training base.
Throw in some zombies and some other random mutants, with a stalker cloth badges for the bravest or most selfless player action at the end of the game (usually about 2-3hrs later) and you have four very happy boys.
Another year skulks by, like a half-acquaintance on the bus trying to avoid eye contact
Another year older, what have I learnt? I've learnt its takes about 3 years for a son to notice his father in the shadows of his Mother. This last couple of months I've really bonded with my youngest, the boy's coming on strong and I'm very proud of him, swimming without armbands at 3 years old. I've also learnt that love can be expressed in an extra squeezy hug, constant demands for me to finish levels on the DSi or even in an extra special meringue desert.
After a rather turbulent year, my last birthday being the closing date for voluntary redundancy applications and we are still undergoing restructures. I've learnt that loyalty and duty means very little in the corporate world. Actually I watched a film called, “Buried”, spoiler alert by the way! A man is buried, held hostage in Iraq, not a special ops man or super-spy just a contract truck driver, in one scene the company lawyer is on the phone to him, telling the man he was sacked that morning over some minor infringement and so his family won't get any insurance money if/when he inevitability dies. 5 years ago I would not have believe that a company would be so callous, today my reaction was “that's just bloody typical”. All I can say is they'll reap what they sow, I'm a firm believer in karma.
My next career move will most likely be to work for myself, what's that saying “no boss, no loss”. I have plans, well more in the way of pipe dreams right now, but every journey has beginning. I'd like to do work I'm proud of, feel I'm actually achieving something worthy, rather than just working to pay the mortgage. I'm reminded of Douglas Adam's Little green pieces of paper comments.
After a rather turbulent year, my last birthday being the closing date for voluntary redundancy applications and we are still undergoing restructures. I've learnt that loyalty and duty means very little in the corporate world. Actually I watched a film called, “Buried”, spoiler alert by the way! A man is buried, held hostage in Iraq, not a special ops man or super-spy just a contract truck driver, in one scene the company lawyer is on the phone to him, telling the man he was sacked that morning over some minor infringement and so his family won't get any insurance money if/when he inevitability dies. 5 years ago I would not have believe that a company would be so callous, today my reaction was “that's just bloody typical”. All I can say is they'll reap what they sow, I'm a firm believer in karma.
My next career move will most likely be to work for myself, what's that saying “no boss, no loss”. I have plans, well more in the way of pipe dreams right now, but every journey has beginning. I'd like to do work I'm proud of, feel I'm actually achieving something worthy, rather than just working to pay the mortgage. I'm reminded of Douglas Adam's Little green pieces of paper comments.
Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this, at a distance of roughly ninety million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, whose ape descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.
This planet has, or had, a problem, which was this. Most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small, green pieces of paper, which is odd, because on the whole, it wasn't the small, green pieces of paper which were unhappy.
And so the problem remained, and lots of the people were mean, and most of them were miserable, even the ones with digital watches. Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake coming down from the trees in the first place, and some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no-one should ever have left the oceans.
From the radio script for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by the late, great Douglas Adams:
Anyway whatever I do, wherever I go, when I look at my kids, I know I've done something right.
2011-08-21
Sunday lunch
Great lunch, very friendly atmosphere, also Grandpa got to teach the grandchildren ages 3 -10, how to shoot pool. Which was made interesting as he has a broken arm at the moment. All the kids adore him its lovely to watch.
Lunch was at Pontac House, I'm very happy to recommend the place, food was great, superb friendly and quick service.
On a totally different note, tonight I've finally found/settle on my bed bug solution, but I hope it arrives in time, as I have to treat my bedding and rucksack and allow to dry before use. If it's not here by Thursday I'll have to run the risk of being lunch myself. The product I bought was Nikwax Skitostop for fabrics from Amazon.
Lunch was at Pontac House, I'm very happy to recommend the place, food was great, superb friendly and quick service.
On a totally different note, tonight I've finally found/settle on my bed bug solution, but I hope it arrives in time, as I have to treat my bedding and rucksack and allow to dry before use. If it's not here by Thursday I'll have to run the risk of being lunch myself. The product I bought was Nikwax Skitostop for fabrics from Amazon.
Last weekend before my camino
Did 2.5 hours today, with hills, cliff paths and stairs so pretty varied terrain, with about 8 Kilos, taxing but not murderous. Still no blisters which is good, I'm starting to I think I'll be okay on Camino. Tried it again without sticks, missed them a little on the hills but not enough to carry them. On the Itex walk my sticks were great, they took some of the weight but also helped a lot with balance, particularly going down hill when my knees were shot.
It was an almost 50 mile endurance hike so I needed that support. With the camino I may appreciate the use of a stave on the slopes but I guess I can pick one up as required. The First few days will be flat as a witch tit, as I'll be going across the Mesata, so no real need for sticks until I'm well into my camino perhaps after Leon.
Anyway we're all off out for a family lunch today, should be nice.
It was an almost 50 mile endurance hike so I needed that support. With the camino I may appreciate the use of a stave on the slopes but I guess I can pick one up as required. The First few days will be flat as a witch tit, as I'll be going across the Mesata, so no real need for sticks until I'm well into my camino perhaps after Leon.
Anyway we're all off out for a family lunch today, should be nice.
2011-08-19
Friday night walk, 14 Kilos on my back
Here are a few pictures from my walk home tonight.
A good 3 hour hike tonight, feet are good no blisters, I feel a little more confident abour the camino next week. Tonight i had 14 kilos on my back, if i get it down to 10 kilos for the camino, I think I will survive it. Also walked without sticks, it was good so I'm now considering leaving them behind!
A good 3 hour hike tonight, feet are good no blisters, I feel a little more confident abour the camino next week. Tonight i had 14 kilos on my back, if i get it down to 10 kilos for the camino, I think I will survive it. Also walked without sticks, it was good so I'm now considering leaving them behind!
2011-08-18
Less than 10 days now...
Finished the doors in the lounge, they look great. The lighter colour makes the room feel larger. The older doors also seemed to age the room. She's now planning on getting new carpets while I'm away I wouldn't be surprised to come back and find the locks changed, just kidding.
Anyway lunchtime today I popped into town and bought a larger first aid pouch from trek plus. I know I have way too much to carry. I will find time next week to pack & weight, then repeat until I can get as close to the magic 10 kilos target with 2 litres of water as my “be prepared” scouting background will allow me.
On the phone front she suggested a wind up charger, not a bad idea and as it happens a mate at work has one so I'll try that out. It should save me having to beg borrow or steal power time at various auburges along the way.
2011-08-17
Scouts
Just added a link to the Jersey and Guernsey Scouts Jamboree blog. looks like they had a good time, I also spotted this picture on the Austrian's blog.
http://austria.simplyscouting.se/files/2011/08/LOTJamboreen8162726014864796627.jpg
Certainly gives an idea of the scale of the event, patience it may take a while to download.
http://austria.simplyscouting.se/files/2011/08/LOTJamboreen8162726014864796627.jpg
Certainly gives an idea of the scale of the event, patience it may take a while to download.
Training worries
Training at a standstill again, this is starting to worry me. On the brighter side I did manage to hang one door last night but the next one needs quite a bit of planing down, so deferred the work till tonight.
So no training yesterday or today going into work as I'm meeting my new CEO today so made the effort an put on a shirt and tie. Also I need to pick up some new locks for the doors, so no training after work today again.
Starting to worry that I could fail this task due to injuries, I'm sure I have the willpower but with so little training I might just do too much damage to my feet and lose too much time. After I finish getting the doors done tonight and if it's not too late, I may don the rucksack and walk to town and back, perhaps going via the sea as a little salt water is good for toughening up the feet.
Tomorrow is definitely a training day, I'll take the long way there and back from work with breakfast and tea on the trail. Movie night on Friday with the kids but will do at least 3 hours to and from work again as well.
I should be upping may pack weight a little too, get it to around 7 or 8 kilo through to Sunday. I'm fixing my mother router on Saturday and installing some lights for a friend in the afternoon, so Saturday evening need to do 3 hour at least, and then another 4 hours on Sunday. Going out for a big family lunch on Sunday, 6 adults and 5 kids so will split training before and after. That would leave the evening for me to put my feet up drain my blisters and enjoy a decent movie.
Today’s Spanish word is “la puerta“ which means door, well there you go surfing the net, it's an education.
2011-08-16
Work pressure and communications
I think perhaps my family and friends are starting to realise that I'm going for 3 whole weeks. I seem to be beset by requests for help. In much the same way as at work on my last day before any kind of leave I usually end up working quite late, tying off all the loose ends that my substitute would not notice.
Requests range from fitting lights, installing routers and hanging doors. Could not do any training today, the kids wanted breakfast and then I realised that I need the car go buy a decent set of wood chisels to hang the new doors.
I still have an array of thing to do for the camino, trivial things like source a bigger first aid bag to more important items like make sure I have sufficient medical insurance in place.
One tip I picked up from various forums was to take an small album and fill it pictures of your family and friends, it has the duel purpose of being a source of comfort and also being a nice “show and tell” item when getting to know new people on the camino.
The jury is still out on the communication front, options are
- Use this blog as my communication method, assume that not much will happen at home in the next month, and accept that if something did there would be little I could do about it.
- Take a PAYG phone and get a Spanish sim card, use the cheap Spanish SMS to communicate, this makes me contactable in case of emergency.
- Accept a blackberry from work, upside it would be free to me and I could email posts to the blog, downside work often would intrude on my camino.
- Finally set up a contract phone with a decent smart phone that I could use to blog and communicate with family only, take pictures etc.
I'm inclined to get a Spanish €10 sim card, more for the peace of mind of my partner than myself.
A good tip, add an In Case of Emergency number under the name ICE into your contact list, if your found unconscious ambulance services would check your phone and call the ICE number.
I've replaced the “starting point last poll” with a list of good blogs, its a mix of literature, bush-craft, hiking and camino blogs that I've found interesting, I'm sure the I'll adding to that list. I may be somewhat late to the party, but I'm getting quite into blogs and blogging.
2011-08-15
Hmm plane tickets, this just got real.
No that's not me, but it is time to at least to make some effort towards training. So I've been doing at least 10 km each day since Friday with some weight in the pack, I had a nice walk into work today via the coast of Jersey with about 6.5 Kilos on my back. I'll increment the training up to 10 kilos and 20 km a day, then take a day or two break before the camino starts.
Already had my first blister from Saturday morning, so much for "1000 miles" socks. Initially used blister plasters but found it better to use the needle and thread method. Essentially you pass a sterile needle and thread through the blister, leaving the thread in place which then acts as a taper to drain the fluid out from the blister.
I know in a previous post I was keen to go via land. Ultimately I decided it was too complicated to synchronise ferries, trains & coaches. It would only take one delay to mess it all up. I think the more parts there is to a plan the greater the possibility of failure. The land route would also have required overnight stays in France at start and finish which was the last straw really. My goal is the walk the camino not explore France and its rail network.
With the flights plus a coach I can get to Burgos on the same day I leave Jersey and then when returning I take an overnight coach from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid saving the cost of accommodation on my last day and also allowing a few hours to explore Madrid, then back home to Jersey just in time to see the kids before bedtime.
Leant a new Spanish word for today “Ultraya” apparently it means “onward”, often used as encouragement for flagging pilgrims. I expect to hear it a lot!
2011-08-02
What's a 100km between friends.
Bugger, just checked the distance for traveling from Burgos looks like it would add another 100km to the journey even if jumped on a coach back to Santiago from Muxia. Got my first vote on the poll, swine voted for Burgos...I know who you are !
On a brighter note, I'm loving the Groove Shark music app, scroll to bottom of the page and hit play you may have to give it a 20 seconds to start to stream the music but very soon you'll be enjoying a selection of my musical taste. I've spend most of the night exploring their database of music.
I still haven't sorted out travelling to the start line, options are fly to UK and then to Madrid, then coach up to Leon or Burgos. Or boat to France train to Rennes, TGV to Bayonne, then coach/train/taxi or combination to Burgos or Leon.
While flights would be simple to organise, I'd start my trip traveling in the wrong direction. I have this nagging feeling that planes should not be part of a pilgrimage, and that my journey should start from home. It feels like I'd be cheating if I flew and also I would be missing out on a part of my journey.
On the flip side I don't speak french or spanish, I have no firm idea of how to get into the heart of Spain from France and at the moment I don't even know where I'll get my first stamp in my pilgrims passport.
My partner would be having kittens if this was her holiday but to me this is fun!
On a brighter note, I'm loving the Groove Shark music app, scroll to bottom of the page and hit play you may have to give it a 20 seconds to start to stream the music but very soon you'll be enjoying a selection of my musical taste. I've spend most of the night exploring their database of music.
I still haven't sorted out travelling to the start line, options are fly to UK and then to Madrid, then coach up to Leon or Burgos. Or boat to France train to Rennes, TGV to Bayonne, then coach/train/taxi or combination to Burgos or Leon.
While flights would be simple to organise, I'd start my trip traveling in the wrong direction. I have this nagging feeling that planes should not be part of a pilgrimage, and that my journey should start from home. It feels like I'd be cheating if I flew and also I would be missing out on a part of my journey.
On the flip side I don't speak french or spanish, I have no firm idea of how to get into the heart of Spain from France and at the moment I don't even know where I'll get my first stamp in my pilgrims passport.
My partner would be having kittens if this was her holiday but to me this is fun!
2011-08-01
The 21st Century Pilgrim
Well here I am, making my first post on my first blog. My plan is to post updates here so that I can keep my family informed of my progress on my first Camino. Lots of firsts happening!
If you're a friend or one of my family members that I've already bored stupid with my plans, then feel free to skip forward a few paragraphs. If you happen to have stumbled onto this blog, then perhaps I should explain.
What's a Camino, well I think the word Camino is actually Spanish for Path, but in this context it's a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I have enough time to complete about 500 km, I'm still undecided if I should start in Leon, walk to Santiago and then on to Fisterre and Muxia then back to Santiago, or start from Burgos and walk to Santiago and Fisterre and Muxia then bus is back to Santiago.
Feel free to vote on the poll to the right, I'm not saying I will comply with the Poll results, but I would be interested in people views. If you ask my Mum she would say that I would definitely go against the poll results but hey what do mothers know?
I'm a 21st century Pilgrim, with a trade of electrician and a career as a technical designer. My mind set is fairly aligned with science and logic. I'm not really the religious type, but as a father the loving bonds my son's have given me have fostered a spiritual side.
Why do I walk, I'm not sure, I joined a days organised walk of 48.2 miles, around the island last year, and I was amazed at the walkers sense of community and generosity of spirit. I'd like to reconnect to that mindset, where everyone you meet along the journey is not an enemy or competion but a potentual supporter or walking buddy. So that's my reason for now but it will probably change as I walk.
I'm hoping that my Camino will be the same just on a greater scale, the Camino Frances had a 1/4 of a million people finish in last year, 27,000 of which were september 2010, I intend to be to one of that number in september 2011.
Anyway there's plenty of information out there about Camino's, look it up and perhaps start walking yourself.
Finally this year I will set out on this journey alone, it will be my first reccy of the camino, in 2020 I will walk with my sons.
If you're a friend or one of my family members that I've already bored stupid with my plans, then feel free to skip forward a few paragraphs. If you happen to have stumbled onto this blog, then perhaps I should explain.
What's a Camino, well I think the word Camino is actually Spanish for Path, but in this context it's a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I have enough time to complete about 500 km, I'm still undecided if I should start in Leon, walk to Santiago and then on to Fisterre and Muxia then back to Santiago, or start from Burgos and walk to Santiago and Fisterre and Muxia then bus is back to Santiago.
Feel free to vote on the poll to the right, I'm not saying I will comply with the Poll results, but I would be interested in people views. If you ask my Mum she would say that I would definitely go against the poll results but hey what do mothers know?
I'm a 21st century Pilgrim, with a trade of electrician and a career as a technical designer. My mind set is fairly aligned with science and logic. I'm not really the religious type, but as a father the loving bonds my son's have given me have fostered a spiritual side.
Why do I walk, I'm not sure, I joined a days organised walk of 48.2 miles, around the island last year, and I was amazed at the walkers sense of community and generosity of spirit. I'd like to reconnect to that mindset, where everyone you meet along the journey is not an enemy or competion but a potentual supporter or walking buddy. So that's my reason for now but it will probably change as I walk.
I'm hoping that my Camino will be the same just on a greater scale, the Camino Frances had a 1/4 of a million people finish in last year, 27,000 of which were september 2010, I intend to be to one of that number in september 2011.
Anyway there's plenty of information out there about Camino's, look it up and perhaps start walking yourself.
Finally this year I will set out on this journey alone, it will be my first reccy of the camino, in 2020 I will walk with my sons.
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