Camino Starting to Mess with my Head!

[Frank66]

Its official; I am already starting to notice seriously worrying changes in my behaviour.
It started several months ago, when I got in the habit of popping 3 kilos of of rice into my backpack for training walks - to make it up to my Camino weight.
(Down to 2 kg of rice now, but will probably dispense with them altogether as did a 'test-weigh' of my pack to find it came in at over 10.5 kilos). Could be heading for a Lamb Bhuna tonight to start depleting the rice stocks! (Vegetarian options are available).
My longer walks are up to around 14 miles now, and with the exception of a few aching joints I feel pretty good on it.
The latest change I have noticed in myself, however, was weather-related. I had been deliberating for what seems like ages around the ponchos-waterproof jacket discussion and had eventually made my choice, buying a 'Mountain Equipment' jacket and some Burghaus trousers. The morning that I made the purchase, it was lashing down with rain; you know, the sort that comes in sideways. I drove home, clutching my new purchases and couldn't wait to try them out.
I raced into the house, quickly made up a backpack, and got as far as cutting off the labels off the new gear, when . . . the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
I have never before been disappointed to see the sun before ( I live in the UK so we kind of treat the sun as a long-lost friend who only calls around on rare occasions), but as I say, the Camino is already messing with my head!
Can't wait for May next year ( I leave St Jean on May 4th) and hope to see some of you there

 

[SYates]

Seems you joined the elected few that got infected with the Camino virus before their first camino ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[David]

Can't wait for May next year ( I leave St Jean on May 4th) and hope to see some of you there

May the fourth be with you

 

[Frank66]

May the fourth be with you

Believe it or not David, that's exactly the reason I chose 'Star Wars' day to embark! Always room for a little humour don't you think??

 

[Icacos]

Its official; I am already starting to notice seriously worrying changes in my behaviour.
It started several months ago, when I got in the habit of popping 3 kilos of of rice into my backpack for training walks - to make it up to my Camino weight.
(Down to 2 kg of rice now, but will probably dispense with them altogether as did a 'test-weigh' of my pack to find it came in at over 10.5 kilos). Could be heading for a Lamb Bhuna tonight to start depleting the rice stocks! (Vegetarian options are available).
My longer walks are up to around 14 miles now, and with the exception of a few aching joints I feel pretty good on it.
The latest change I have noticed in myself, however, was weather-related. I had been deliberating for what seems like ages around the ponchos-waterproof jacket discussion and had eventually made my choice, buying a 'Mountain Equipment' jacket and some Burghaus trousers. The morning that I made the purchase, it was lashing down with rain; you know, the sort that comes in sideways. I drove home, clutching my new purchases and couldn't wait to try them out.
I raced into the house, quickly made up a backpack, and got as far as cutting off the labels off the new gear, when . . . the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
I have never before been disappointed to see the sun before ( I live in the UK so we kind of treat the sun as a long-lost friend who only calls around on rare occasions), but as I say, the Camino is already messing with my head!
Can't wait for May next year ( I leave St Jean on May 4th) and hope to see some of you there

What ........ ? You were all set to try out your new rain gear when the sun came out ...... and you didn't jump in the shower instead ?? No way is the Camino messing with your head!

 

[Annette london]

Its official; I am already starting to notice seriously worrying changes in my behaviour.
It started several months ago, when I got in the habit of popping 3 kilos of of rice into my backpack for training walks - to make it up to my Camino weight.
(Down to 2 kg of rice now, but will probably dispense with them altogether as did a 'test-weigh' of my pack to find it came in at over 10.5 kilos). Could be heading for a Lamb Bhuna tonight to start depleting the rice stocks! (Vegetarian options are available).
My longer walks are up to around 14 miles now, and with the exception of a few aching joints I feel pretty good on it.
The latest change I have noticed in myself, however, was weather-related. I had been deliberating for what seems like ages around the ponchos-waterproof jacket discussion and had eventually made my choice, buying a 'Mountain Equipment' jacket and some Burghaus trousers. The morning that I made the purchase, it was lashing down with rain; you know, the sort that comes in sideways. I drove home, clutching my new purchases and couldn't wait to try them out.
I raced into the house, quickly made up a backpack, and got as far as cutting off the labels off the new gear, when . . . the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
I have never before been disappointed to see the sun before ( I live in the UK so we kind of treat the sun as a long-lost friend who only calls around on rare occasions), but as I say, the Camino is already messing with my head!
Can't wait for May next year ( I leave St Jean on May 4th) and hope to see some of you there

Brilliant thread. Really made me laugh this morning! As I've said before, we Camino walkers are all a little bit essentric--- the way we dress , the slight obsession (slight!!!) with the Camino,communal sleeping and eating etc etc.i love being a bit essentric---why not! I haven't met many people in uk who have done the Camino but when we met another obsessive Camino walker in Italy, it was like meeting a long lost friend even though we'd never seen him before!!!! Defenitely messed up are we not??? So good luck on your Camino next year and boldly go where so many have gone before you! Best wishes Annette

 

[mountaingoat999]

Good choice on the jacket, Mountain Equipment make high end quality jackets..as for cutting off the labels I would consider waiting till the warranty runs out.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I bought a rain jacket a week ago with my April Camino Frances in mind. I had to wait until Wednesday to try it out -- we had lots of rain and high winds here that day. I'm so excited that the jacket worked well! But my 'water resistant' pants will need to be augmented by full fledged rain pants, sigh.

I do not have my pack yet, and the longest I've walked this fall is around 10 miles (though that was up and down a mountain). By inches, I'm getting ready!

I'm with you on being in 'Camino Head'.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Believe it or not David, that's exactly the reason I chose 'Star Wars' day to embark! Always room for a little humour don't you think??

Air France will be showing it that day as well

 

[JMac56]

I bought a rain jacket a week ago with my April Camino Frances in mind. I had to wait until Wednesday to try it out -- we had lots of rain and high winds here that day. I'm so excited that the jacket worked well! But my 'water resistant' pants will need to be augmented by full fledged rain pants, sigh.

I do not have my pack yet, and the longest I've walked this fall is around 10 miles (though that was up and down a mountain). By inches, I'm getting ready!

I'm with you on being in 'Camino Head'.

Hola Priscilla, Lots of good advice from ladies on this forum re pack selection. A well fitted pack makes all the difference. Think about walking sticks as well. Buen Camino.

 

[Frank66]

Brilliant thread. Really made me laugh this morning! As I've said before, we Camino walkers are all a little bit essentric--- the way we dress , the slight obsession (slight!!!) with the Camino,communal sleeping and eating etc etc.i love being a bit essentric---why not! I haven't met many people in uk who have done the Camino but when we met another obsessive Camino walker in Italy, it was like meeting a long lost friend even though we'd never seen him before!!!! Defenitely messed up are we not??? So good luck on your Camino next year and boldly go where so many have gone before you! Best wishes Annette

Thanks for the positive comments Annette; nice to know my slightly offbeat sense of humour is appreciated . I can't wait for it to start now that I've got most of the kit together.
Probably 'speak' again on the forum sometime soon.
Frank

 

[J F Gregory]

Just purchased my rain pants, all of the clothing line is together. We work out during the week and walk 8-12 miles each week end with out loaded packs, we get closer to March we will extend out mileage. We get to do a lot of rain walks here in Washington state.

 

[sabbott]

Ditto on the head mess. My first Camino is this spring. Instead of working, I have spent the last three days researching packs, trying on packs, buying packs, returning packs, loading and unloading packs, and walking up and down hills with packs full of dirty laundry. Still haven't settled on THE pack, but two more are set to arrive Thursday!

 

[SYates]

Oh the joys of gear nerdiness! SY