Saving my Camino gear....

[CarlaH]

I walked my first Camino last year May... and am thrilled to be going back again this year May... planning, buying, weighing, packing, unpacking, weighing my backpack and all contents took months of over analytical planning last year... I am so happy I don't need to repeat this process this time around...

I live high up on the mountain in Noordhoek Cape Town... a fire had been raging on another mountain 6miles away.. fanned by 80km (50 mile) per hour winds the fire crept over to 'my' mountain - I was evacuated from my home at 2am on Monday 2 March... living in a largish house (650sqm or 7000 s ft) I grabbed my dogs, passports and photo albums of my daughter when she was little (this is pre digital age) and abandoned my home ... then realised with horror that all my Camino gear was still in my house... I argued with the fire fighters to get back into my house - I told them there was very precious stuff that needed saving... I walked out 4min later with my Backpack, all my special camino clothing, my camino walking shoes and poles... other than this, my passports and my dogs... the rest could burn...

I had to share this little story on this forum as my friends and family at home cannot believe I came back for a 'simple backpack and stuff'.... I thought 'my' Camino family may understand...

ps... the fires in Cape Town burned for 6 days....a number of houses burned down, firemen died... my house survived...as did my Camino Gear... rock on May

Re the video clip - it's written and composed by Verity Price - with the following message: The images of the devastating fires raging across the Southern Peninsula and the heroic efforts to control them are almost too much to fathom. I wrote Devastation about the Tsunami back in 2004, but it feels incredibly relevant as Cape Town pulls together to fight this disaster as one

 

[stratophile]

Wow! That should make this year's Camino all that much more special for you!

And yes, I for one can definitely understand your insistence on going back for your Camino gear!

 

[cher99840]

Words fail me. Your experience is beyond my comprehension. Rather like a Camino in itself where you had an opportunity to decide what is important and what isn't. Perhaps I should say "forced to decide" rather than "opportunity", but as I did say, words fail me.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

I loved reading your words.

 

[Mike Savage]

I'm so happy thing worked out well for you. I feel bad for the others who didn't fare so well.

 

[SYates]

So glad to hear you and your dogs and, yes, your Camino gear, are safe! SY

 

[JohnMcM]

.............. I thought 'my' Camino family may understand...

We do.

Buen Camino

 

[Tia Valeria]

We keep a 'grab bag' in some places. Yes, if possible we too would grab our Camino gear, including putting our feet into our boots if in a simiar situation. Glad you are safe and your home was OK. Very sad about those who have lost their homes or lives