It is time for me to sign up for the Class of 2013. I am a moderately fit 64 year old from the Vancouver BC area, still working full time, but fortunate to be able to take time off fairly easily.
I have long been interested in the Camino and my Spanish is quite functional, but I was a little uncertain about my physical ability to do the Camino. So, in November 2012 I walked from Astorga to Santiago with my sister-in-law, taking 13 days. It was an excellent warm-up or practice walk, and now I am more confident.
My tentative plan is to start in St. Jean in mid-October 2013 and allow 6 weeks to get to Santiago. That means an average of 20 km/day. I am prepared to change plans in case of injury, exhaustion or terrible weather. I will go officially "alone" this time as I am looking forward to the social-solitude that the Camino provides so well. That said, I hope to meet up with other walking companions for portions of the journey, especially through some of the mountainous stretches.
On a few controversial points, here is my plan:
•6 kg in Osprey Talon 33 pack.
•Two Black Diamond collapsible walking sticks.
•Sleeping bag rated to 0 degrees C.
•Salomon lightweight boots (sooooo comfortable but not fully waterproof, in spite of Goretex)
•Rain jacket and pants rather than poncho.
•Smart phone plus
Brierley's guidebook
•Bedbug encounters are likely, so organize things to make laundering/cleaning easy.
•Mixture of accommodation types, but travelling alone this time will make casa rurales expensive.
I am really looking forward to the trip. I am just as fascinated by this forum, the preparation process and the different opinons now, as I was before my trial walk.