Angie94
Active Member
- Oct 2, 2015
- 307
- 1,270
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances - 2016 www.angie-carter.com/camino
https://youtu.be/PtE_hvREZc4
Time to go is drawing near. Seems a bit unreal. I just learned about the Camino de Santiago last fall and very soon I will board a plane for Spain. Life is interesting with all it's twists and turns...
Actually it has already been a wonderful journey with all the planning, researching, meeting new people on forums, training, more researching...learning what albergues are, figuring out how to use my iphone in Spain, how to get from Madrid to St. Jean, and ordering Euros from my bank and so on.
It was an adventure in buying gear, testing gear, buying different gear to replace the stuff that didn't work out. Had no idea what merino wool was, or zip off hiking pants, or how to use trekking poles, or how to buy a backpack so that is rests on your hips, deciding whether to use a bladder or a water bottle with a smartube, getting a lightweight sleeping bag, and figuring out to get that darn poncho while on a walk and it starts raining hard!
Also having to work through physical issues. Ugghhh.. Problems with 'stiff big toe' Painful. Took several months and trying numerous things to get that resolved. When I first started training hikes (no pack) I had trouble with my sciatica nerve and my knees would swell up pretty bad after 3 to 5 miles. Ice packs for sure when I was done! Then an old injury on my shoulder (from an improper weight lifting episode back in the day) decided to revisit. Took it easy and began lifting and gradually increased weights in order to strengthen the muscles around that area. It worked. The more I trained the stronger I got and all of these issues resolved themselves, not to mention my sleep improved significantly!
Then....a little more than two weeks to go and a long ago "pest" decided to revisit me. Plantar fasciitis. Crud. Struggling with this one. It gets better - then flares up a bit.
Bought new boots and doing my stretches, and using ice.
No matter, I am leaving in 10 days and that is that.
People have done this trek with a lot more problems, issues, concerns and obstacles than I. They inspire me and I will be fine. Sides I am taking God with me - what better walking buddy than that!!
Actually it has already been a wonderful journey with all the planning, researching, meeting new people on forums, training, more researching...learning what albergues are, figuring out how to use my iphone in Spain, how to get from Madrid to St. Jean, and ordering Euros from my bank and so on.
It was an adventure in buying gear, testing gear, buying different gear to replace the stuff that didn't work out. Had no idea what merino wool was, or zip off hiking pants, or how to use trekking poles, or how to buy a backpack so that is rests on your hips, deciding whether to use a bladder or a water bottle with a smartube, getting a lightweight sleeping bag, and figuring out to get that darn poncho while on a walk and it starts raining hard!
Also having to work through physical issues. Ugghhh.. Problems with 'stiff big toe' Painful. Took several months and trying numerous things to get that resolved. When I first started training hikes (no pack) I had trouble with my sciatica nerve and my knees would swell up pretty bad after 3 to 5 miles. Ice packs for sure when I was done! Then an old injury on my shoulder (from an improper weight lifting episode back in the day) decided to revisit. Took it easy and began lifting and gradually increased weights in order to strengthen the muscles around that area. It worked. The more I trained the stronger I got and all of these issues resolved themselves, not to mention my sleep improved significantly!
Then....a little more than two weeks to go and a long ago "pest" decided to revisit me. Plantar fasciitis. Crud. Struggling with this one. It gets better - then flares up a bit.
Bought new boots and doing my stretches, and using ice.
No matter, I am leaving in 10 days and that is that.
People have done this trek with a lot more problems, issues, concerns and obstacles than I. They inspire me and I will be fine. Sides I am taking God with me - what better walking buddy than that!!
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