bystander
Veteran Member
I had thought, originally, to post this in the Class of 2015 thread but that now looks rather over optimistic so I shall give it its own thread.
OVER-PLANNING, UNDER-PREPARING AND THE UNEXPECTED
I am five months shy of my supposed start date and already a victim of the above.
Some of you may have noticed my occasional interventions on this forum with such things as packing lists, proposed staging points and lastly a start date in Spring of 2015.
However lets start with a preamble to my intended Camino.
It’s not as if the Camino is something new to me for I have known about the pilgrimage to Santiago for nearly 60 years and with it have had the desire, at sometime, to undertake the journey.
The Camino then stayed dormant nestling in some corner of my subconscious until about 12-15 years ago when for some unknown reason it bubbled to the surface. This was a nascent time in the internet world without the present day number of sites and contributors and there was little to be found about the various pilgrim routes.
However I then discovered the Confraternity of St James and later was soon an avid reader of the contributions of Grant Spangler and Annette Raunsbjerg both of whose words/journals/photos only served further to fan the flames of that desire.
However with a young family and the pressure of work it could not be seriously contemplated at that time.
Time passed and in 2013 I began to plan properly because I could see a window of opportunity in 2015. And the planning was made possible in detail because of all that you that have contributed to this, Ivar’s, website – an invaluable resource.
This website was scoured and plundered for information. Routes researched, accommodation ditto, books bought, clothing with weights, volumes and prices researched, listed and evaluated. Purchases were made from afar as New Zealand and California. My family were warned that next Spring I would going for a “walk” (ho-ho) to Santiago de Compostela. I then even went so far as to book a date at Corazon Puro. All was falling nicely and neatly into place.
Time again passed.
And then life decided to play a Joker.
I am, or rather was, a not unfit, albeit with slight asthma and low hypertension, normal 68 year old.
However in September this year and out of the blue I was hit by an ailment called bullous pemphigoid – full-blown worst-case bullous pemphigoid – consequently and subsequently I spent nearly the whole of October in isolation in Intensive Care in hospital. Nasty disease bullous pemphigoid – Google it and in images. Not pretty!
Observation.
It has been said many times by many of you that the Camino throws up unanticipated quirks and problems but the Camino (or is it St James?) will provide.
I now feel that my “problem” – this ailment – was not “life” but the Camino chastising me for feeling complacent and smug in my organisational skills. Cheers Camino!
I am now home from hospital but weak as a kitten. I can barely walk more than 100 meters without have to stop for two to three minutes to get my breath back. How can I be contemplating walking just under 800 kms next spring (this is the only time of the year I can do)?
Am I mad (maybe St James will rescue me?) or should I be posting on the thread “Class of 2016”?!!
Anybody out there come back from zero-fitness to being up to the full SJPdP to SdC in 5 months?
Words of encouragement much appreciated!
Bystander
OVER-PLANNING, UNDER-PREPARING AND THE UNEXPECTED
I am five months shy of my supposed start date and already a victim of the above.
Some of you may have noticed my occasional interventions on this forum with such things as packing lists, proposed staging points and lastly a start date in Spring of 2015.
However lets start with a preamble to my intended Camino.
It’s not as if the Camino is something new to me for I have known about the pilgrimage to Santiago for nearly 60 years and with it have had the desire, at sometime, to undertake the journey.
The Camino then stayed dormant nestling in some corner of my subconscious until about 12-15 years ago when for some unknown reason it bubbled to the surface. This was a nascent time in the internet world without the present day number of sites and contributors and there was little to be found about the various pilgrim routes.
However I then discovered the Confraternity of St James and later was soon an avid reader of the contributions of Grant Spangler and Annette Raunsbjerg both of whose words/journals/photos only served further to fan the flames of that desire.
However with a young family and the pressure of work it could not be seriously contemplated at that time.
Time passed and in 2013 I began to plan properly because I could see a window of opportunity in 2015. And the planning was made possible in detail because of all that you that have contributed to this, Ivar’s, website – an invaluable resource.
This website was scoured and plundered for information. Routes researched, accommodation ditto, books bought, clothing with weights, volumes and prices researched, listed and evaluated. Purchases were made from afar as New Zealand and California. My family were warned that next Spring I would going for a “walk” (ho-ho) to Santiago de Compostela. I then even went so far as to book a date at Corazon Puro. All was falling nicely and neatly into place.
Time again passed.
And then life decided to play a Joker.
I am, or rather was, a not unfit, albeit with slight asthma and low hypertension, normal 68 year old.
However in September this year and out of the blue I was hit by an ailment called bullous pemphigoid – full-blown worst-case bullous pemphigoid – consequently and subsequently I spent nearly the whole of October in isolation in Intensive Care in hospital. Nasty disease bullous pemphigoid – Google it and in images. Not pretty!
Observation.
It has been said many times by many of you that the Camino throws up unanticipated quirks and problems but the Camino (or is it St James?) will provide.
I now feel that my “problem” – this ailment – was not “life” but the Camino chastising me for feeling complacent and smug in my organisational skills. Cheers Camino!
I am now home from hospital but weak as a kitten. I can barely walk more than 100 meters without have to stop for two to three minutes to get my breath back. How can I be contemplating walking just under 800 kms next spring (this is the only time of the year I can do)?
Am I mad (maybe St James will rescue me?) or should I be posting on the thread “Class of 2016”?!!
Anybody out there come back from zero-fitness to being up to the full SJPdP to SdC in 5 months?
Words of encouragement much appreciated!
Bystander