Hello fellow Pilgrims!
This is my first thread, having lurked around for a bit and posted a few replies to others - I thought it only fair to contribute something myself.
So a quick back story on me....I first heard about the Camino journey about 6 years ago after my Mother and her Husband completed in one go (and several previous staged sections) then an ex told me about a book she had by Paulo Coelho....I didn't get to read it before we broke up though! I then met a girl at the gym who loaned me The Alchemist by Paulo and I eventually stumbled across a second hand copy of The Pilgrimage for £1 at my local National Trust site. I was hooked!
I met a new GF and we started planning and scouring the net for routes, upgrading some of our tired gear. Getting in better shape. We even ate some scallops so we had some shells!!!
With my GF being out of work money was a bit tight and the plan to Camino this year was put on hold. However almost 2 months ago now, I found out she had cheated on me and the relationship was over it was a complete shock an hit me really hard. Suddenly all the future plans we had made were gone. I didn't know what to do or where to go next in life. Then the Camino called to me (in the form of an old friend suggesting to watch "A Walk in the Woods" about 2 old guys going on a hike) despite the poor reviews... I enjoyed the film and it reawakened my passion for travel & adventure. I knew this year would be my first Camino
So I spoke to the Boss and booked 5 weeks off work....I booked my flights out for mid July....I ordered the customary Brierly guidebook...and I researched the hell out of the journey that lies ahead of me.
This site has been a hotbed of information to help me prepare (though being a Scout Leader I should already possess that quality!) and I hope to be able to contribute more once I have been on my own journey.
I've just returned from a weekend charity trek round the Isle of Wight (UK) hiking 106km non stop round an island with no sleep. It has taught me a few valuable lessons:
1) leather hiking boots were the wrong choice - too much road walking caused severe blistering!
2) never underestimate the route / course
3) train, train & train some more - injury hampered my previous training plan
4) having the right person by your side can get you through anything - I met and walked with what can only be described as an angel and she got me to the end after 33hrs of gruelling hiking!
5) a good sleep is magic - those that stopped at night passed us the next morning looking refreshed
6) fuelling the body is vital - choosing the right food and drinks to keep the body going makes a massive difference (apparently I looked green at one point due to lack of food)
7) adding on an extra 5km for some sight seeing may not have been the best idea (and your walking buddies will remind you of this when they are in pain!)
Now I've got that small challenge out of the way, I'm focussing everything on the Camino (I was pleasantly surprised to find how many people had heard of it over the weekend!) passport is off for renewal, still need a new sleeping bag, will invest in some lighter footware and need to keep saving for my Camino Costs. I'm funding by taking on a second job dressing as superheroes at kids parties straight up win-win right there!
I'm also in the process of writing my first novel which will be based on my journey (I can hear the groans already - another writer documenting travels on The Way! It does seem to be an inspiring journey for us creative types) This also explains the long long long post
Question time.....
This is my first thread, having lurked around for a bit and posted a few replies to others - I thought it only fair to contribute something myself.
So a quick back story on me....I first heard about the Camino journey about 6 years ago after my Mother and her Husband completed in one go (and several previous staged sections) then an ex told me about a book she had by Paulo Coelho....I didn't get to read it before we broke up though! I then met a girl at the gym who loaned me The Alchemist by Paulo and I eventually stumbled across a second hand copy of The Pilgrimage for £1 at my local National Trust site. I was hooked!
I met a new GF and we started planning and scouring the net for routes, upgrading some of our tired gear. Getting in better shape. We even ate some scallops so we had some shells!!!With my GF being out of work money was a bit tight and the plan to Camino this year was put on hold. However almost 2 months ago now, I found out she had cheated on me and the relationship was over
it was a complete shock an hit me really hard. Suddenly all the future plans we had made were gone. I didn't know what to do or where to go next in life. Then the Camino called to me (in the form of an old friend suggesting to watch "A Walk in the Woods" about 2 old guys going on a hike) despite the poor reviews... I enjoyed the film and it reawakened my passion for travel & adventure. I knew this year would be my first Camino So I spoke to the Boss and booked 5 weeks off work....I booked my flights out for mid July....I ordered the customary Brierly guidebook...and I researched the hell out of the journey that lies ahead of me.
This site has been a hotbed of information to help me prepare (though being a Scout Leader I should already possess that quality!) and I hope to be able to contribute more once I have been on my own journey.
I've just returned from a weekend charity trek round the Isle of Wight (UK) hiking 106km non stop round an island with no sleep. It has taught me a few valuable lessons:
1) leather hiking boots were the wrong choice - too much road walking caused severe blistering!
2) never underestimate the route / course
3) train, train & train some more - injury hampered my previous training plan
4) having the right person by your side can get you through anything - I met and walked with what can only be described as an angel and she got me to the end after 33hrs of gruelling hiking!
5) a good sleep is magic - those that stopped at night passed us the next morning looking refreshed
6) fuelling the body is vital - choosing the right food and drinks to keep the body going makes a massive difference (apparently I looked green at one point due to lack of food)
7) adding on an extra 5km for some sight seeing may not have been the best idea (and your walking buddies will remind you of this when they are in pain!)
Now I've got that small challenge out of the way, I'm focussing everything on the Camino (I was pleasantly surprised to find how many people had heard of it over the weekend!) passport is off for renewal, still need a new sleeping bag, will invest in some lighter footware and need to keep saving for my Camino Costs. I'm funding by taking on a second job dressing as superheroes at kids parties
straight up win-win right there!I'm also in the process of writing my first novel which will be based on my journey (I can hear the groans already - another writer documenting travels on The Way! It does seem to be an inspiring journey for us creative types) This also explains the long long long post
Question time.....
