Well, I will start by filling in a little more on the big day to Pamplona the other day. I made a mistake and took another camino for about 3 km (total) - I had to backtrack. That made up my mind - Pamplona was my destination and not just straight on through. The refugio in the centre was magnificent. They all have bunks stacked in like sardines but this was unreal. There were glass floors above to see the feet of the ´pilgrims´ on the next level. The centre was a big of the building was a big open space with a gallery of photos of the camino. In the courtyard was sunshine and down the side next to ancient walls and all alone I did my yoga. Thanks goodness for that mat - I never dreamed that I would need to stretch so much. In the refugios you have to be in by 10 and wake up about 6 so...its early to bed and early to rise.
I am averaging about 22-25 km per day with quite a weight. Yesterday was overcast and great for walking, today brilliant sunshine and great for walking. I am aware of so many muscles in my body. A couple of blisters on my baby toes - I pierce one every day and it is getting better. Sure hurts the first couple of minutes after every stop as the liquid builds up and I don´t take off my shoes to puncture them.... I developed another one today. Oh well, release the liquid and the problem goes. The shoulders are feeling the weight and I still rest, stretch and snack every hour. Hopefully I will be in shape enough soon so that won´t be required. I have the afternoon to shower, wash clothes, do yoga, enjoy the sunshine and so on
to be contd
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Buenas Dias ...Pampolona, April 26
Today has been magnificent. From listening to the streams and rivers, the birds, the brilliant yellow flowers of scrub, fruit blossoms, green fields, homes with red shutters, more tended flower beds with intensely colored flowers. So much to see and hear when you walk alone... the sunshine to feel and the clear blue sky with lots of jet streaks (but no noise).
I am feeling strong - I walk faster than most (not all that much) and I take a break every hour and stretch. Thank goodness for my yoga, I have never wanted or needed to do it more for the muscle stretching part than I do now. It feels so good to stretch the tight muscles - and I do feel fit. The pack did not seem as heavy today - it fits beautifully and so many options to pull on various straps. I love it. And of course, the camelback so I drink my 2 liters without thinking about it.
Speaking of stuff - of course I have too much - it is getting much hotter. I am glad to have a little (or not so little) cloth bag that I was planning on throwing out after arriving. It holds everything including a change of clothes for the shower. The important things that you think of and do every day!
I was totally moved - well moved to tears today as I came around a bend with a cute biggish house there was a teen girl and boy playing a violin and accordion. I nearly danced to the music - pack and all. Just a few feet beyond was a small old cement bridge with a small river underneath. I leaned against the bridge wall and was overcome with emotion. The intensity of it all hit today. I feel so fortunate to be here doing this - the challenge, the time to be here - everything. I feel so glad to be alive and to be here. I did think of the poem that Bob had put on the plaque - a curve in the stream, the sky, ...and with it the realization that you are never alone. I know heavy stuff....
I am excited to be in Pamplona. Will go out and explore now as the sun is still shining and hope to catch a drink and a look at the town walls and the cathedral. Time to mix with the others. The faces are becoming familiar though most still don´t have names for me.
I am feeling strong - I walk faster than most (not all that much) and I take a break every hour and stretch. Thank goodness for my yoga, I have never wanted or needed to do it more for the muscle stretching part than I do now. It feels so good to stretch the tight muscles - and I do feel fit. The pack did not seem as heavy today - it fits beautifully and so many options to pull on various straps. I love it. And of course, the camelback so I drink my 2 liters without thinking about it.
Speaking of stuff - of course I have too much - it is getting much hotter. I am glad to have a little (or not so little) cloth bag that I was planning on throwing out after arriving. It holds everything including a change of clothes for the shower. The important things that you think of and do every day!
I was totally moved - well moved to tears today as I came around a bend with a cute biggish house there was a teen girl and boy playing a violin and accordion. I nearly danced to the music - pack and all. Just a few feet beyond was a small old cement bridge with a small river underneath. I leaned against the bridge wall and was overcome with emotion. The intensity of it all hit today. I feel so fortunate to be here doing this - the challenge, the time to be here - everything. I feel so glad to be alive and to be here. I did think of the poem that Bob had put on the plaque - a curve in the stream, the sky, ...and with it the realization that you are never alone. I know heavy stuff....
I am excited to be in Pamplona. Will go out and explore now as the sun is still shining and hope to catch a drink and a look at the town walls and the cathedral. Time to mix with the others. The faces are becoming familiar though most still don´t have names for me.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Day 3, Zuibri
Hi guys,
Well, who knows if I will figure this out again with a spanish keyboard and Spanish blog instructions. Kudus to me for getting here once.
After a drizzly morning the first day, the weather has been terrific. I guess that the past couple of weeks have been very wet for the people here. As backpackers, weather is of prime importance. First its more comfortable and then prettier to hike in the sun and for breaks and lunch are more pleasant in the sunshine. Day 1 was a gentle - no rather short walk to a great spoot half way up the mountain. A bit like extended family dinner - lots of talk, people all at the same table and lots of fun. Day 2 was 17 km and my introduction to a refugio. 100 people sleeping in the same room. All very clean though somewhat cramped. Still getting over jetlag though it seemed pretty quiet. I am pretty lucky as not much bothers me in the way of sound or beds. Today was great and up to 22.5km. I thought of going on another 5 but changed my mind. After all, I arrived at a great little town with a nice creek and sunshine. So I got a nice dorm room, managed some yoga by the creek, did my washing, read one of my newspapers (have to get rid of them soon as my pack is twice or at least 50% bigger than everyone else´s. Maybe I should have left those last couple of things out rather than adding them in.
I have walked alone for 3 days and I am totally loving it. Keep your eyes on the signs to keep on the route - a thing that we did with the kids in Brittany many years ago on the GR43. I tended to do the disciplined things today - walk one hour and rest (and stretch) for 10 minutes. It is wonderful and it is physically challenging. I am lucky because I can keep a reasonable pace and carry a pretty heavy pack. So as I relaxed this pm people were arriving all afternoon. Everyone does get here and most of them are older. So kudus to all of them. So many fit people in this world and so many travelling alone. I may choose to walk alone and then I choose to eat dinner with others. Always interesting and an international mix though I am surprised at how many Canadians there are. Met a flight attendant from Calgary tonight - plus a minister from England, a couple from Gatinaux, Quebec and an Australian German. Every day is different so far but I expect as time goes on that the faces will start to repeat.
Tomorrow I am off to Pamplona or beyond. Depends what I see and how I feel. Hey, one day at a time and enjoy every minute.
Well, who knows if I will figure this out again with a spanish keyboard and Spanish blog instructions. Kudus to me for getting here once.
After a drizzly morning the first day, the weather has been terrific. I guess that the past couple of weeks have been very wet for the people here. As backpackers, weather is of prime importance. First its more comfortable and then prettier to hike in the sun and for breaks and lunch are more pleasant in the sunshine. Day 1 was a gentle - no rather short walk to a great spoot half way up the mountain. A bit like extended family dinner - lots of talk, people all at the same table and lots of fun. Day 2 was 17 km and my introduction to a refugio. 100 people sleeping in the same room. All very clean though somewhat cramped. Still getting over jetlag though it seemed pretty quiet. I am pretty lucky as not much bothers me in the way of sound or beds. Today was great and up to 22.5km. I thought of going on another 5 but changed my mind. After all, I arrived at a great little town with a nice creek and sunshine. So I got a nice dorm room, managed some yoga by the creek, did my washing, read one of my newspapers (have to get rid of them soon as my pack is twice or at least 50% bigger than everyone else´s. Maybe I should have left those last couple of things out rather than adding them in.
I have walked alone for 3 days and I am totally loving it. Keep your eyes on the signs to keep on the route - a thing that we did with the kids in Brittany many years ago on the GR43. I tended to do the disciplined things today - walk one hour and rest (and stretch) for 10 minutes. It is wonderful and it is physically challenging. I am lucky because I can keep a reasonable pace and carry a pretty heavy pack. So as I relaxed this pm people were arriving all afternoon. Everyone does get here and most of them are older. So kudus to all of them. So many fit people in this world and so many travelling alone. I may choose to walk alone and then I choose to eat dinner with others. Always interesting and an international mix though I am surprised at how many Canadians there are. Met a flight attendant from Calgary tonight - plus a minister from England, a couple from Gatinaux, Quebec and an Australian German. Every day is different so far but I expect as time goes on that the faces will start to repeat.
Tomorrow I am off to Pamplona or beyond. Depends what I see and how I feel. Hey, one day at a time and enjoy every minute.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The reflection the night before
I may or may not write much after I get started but a few thoughts as I get started on an adventure that was a seed a very long time ago and it has gradually germinated until now. Initially it was thinking about who I would do this with. A few special people may really have wanted to do this and I would have loved their company. However as time passed, I realized that those individuals would not be able to come in my time frame. So I then wrestled with the decision of going alone - after all time passes and I feel that one must take the opportunity now as who knows what is around the next bend. It was last September that I mouthed the words that I would be doing the Camino this spring - recognizing that I might go alone. And so in my mind I became committed.
Why am I doing this and why alone? I am doing it for the physical challenge, to be in the outdoors, to meet people, to eat out, to spend time with myself, and as a spiritual and personal growth experience. I figure if you want to do a trek 'alone' that this must be 'the one'. After all tons of people do it and I expect to be alone mostly in the sense that I went alone. I will meet lots of people. I will make my choices and decisions.
Also last summer 7 days of backpacking with Georgina and Jamie made me realize that more days out in the mountains are even better than less. It was not a rush to get to the shower or to have real food and a beer after 7 days - though it was much appreciated but on previous shorter trips I was always more anxious for those things. Seven days seemed to establish a real rhythm.
I 'trained' more for this than most things that I do. I actually have walked with a pack on my pack for the past couple of months and the tight muscle that I have had for years in my shoulder is totally relaxed. I always said that I would never walk in the community with a pack on my back. So never say never.
I want to thank all the family and friends that have wished me well on this exciting venture. I will think of you often - its always great to go away and its always great to come back home.
Why am I doing this and why alone? I am doing it for the physical challenge, to be in the outdoors, to meet people, to eat out, to spend time with myself, and as a spiritual and personal growth experience. I figure if you want to do a trek 'alone' that this must be 'the one'. After all tons of people do it and I expect to be alone mostly in the sense that I went alone. I will meet lots of people. I will make my choices and decisions.
Also last summer 7 days of backpacking with Georgina and Jamie made me realize that more days out in the mountains are even better than less. It was not a rush to get to the shower or to have real food and a beer after 7 days - though it was much appreciated but on previous shorter trips I was always more anxious for those things. Seven days seemed to establish a real rhythm.
I 'trained' more for this than most things that I do. I actually have walked with a pack on my pack for the past couple of months and the tight muscle that I have had for years in my shoulder is totally relaxed. I always said that I would never walk in the community with a pack on my back. So never say never.
I want to thank all the family and friends that have wished me well on this exciting venture. I will think of you often - its always great to go away and its always great to come back home.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Getting ready for the Camino
Every now and then take a look at something not made with hands; a mountain, a star, the curve in a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience, and above all the assurance that you are not alone in the world. Sidney Lovett
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