What have I forgotten?

[Gaenhart]

After six years of planning, I'm ready and there's just over a week to go before I hear the announcement "Will the last passenger to Madrid PLEASE board at gate..." So what have I forgotten? I've fine-combed the forum for hints, tips, wise advice (and a few laughs) and have all the right gear with the right amount of 'told you so', and I'm color-coordinated with stripes AND polka dots. Hablo Espanol un pocket; I can trip the light fantastic (it's the shoes) and there's a spring in my step (still these dang shoes). I've got my pack weight under the recommended duration through a culling process called "does it plug into the wall? Yes? Okay either take two or throw it out" and have done long walks around my television. I've even gained a pack mule to aid my travels, though my son doesn't like to be called that, so I'll just call him "Cloppalong" to be safe. Paperwork, check. Travel arrangements, check. Pawn to King's Bishop three, oh you're playing that kind of game, are you? So all that kind of thing is prepped for surgery. And I've packed the most essential bit of kit - the willingness to go with the flow and let it all fall apart so it can be the Camino I wasn't expecting i.e. an adventure. But surely there's something that has to be sorted out. Maybe it's just excitement or a lack of things to plan. Any clues, recommendations, advances on wages, etc gladly accepted.

 

[Waka]

Looks like you've got it all covered, have a wonderful journey.

 

[Robo]

Sounds like you're all ready !

Only tip I can give is............

On Day 1, take a deep breath...........and start walking, but not too fast!
Start slow and easy and don't try to keep up with faster walkers. You'll probably see them again later anyway.

And enjoy every minute...............it's over all too fast.
And you might have to wait 6 years for the next one!

Buen Camino.

 

[stratophile]

Do you have a spare pair of those shoes that I could borrow?

 

[Iriebabel]

3 days for me. Buen Camino to you
Call me cyborg turtle (kneebrace) I promise to enjoy every minute.
Hmm do I seem excited? Just a little just a little

 

[Robo]

Hmm do I seem excited? Just a little just a little

You think you are excited now ?
Wait till you start out on Day 1

Buen Camino.

 

[Iriebabel]

You think you are excited now ?
Wait till you start out on Day 1

Buen Camino.

I will let you know how it goes

 

[VNwalking]

Maybe it's just excitement or a lack of things to plan. Any clues, recommendations, advances on wages, etc gladly accepted.

3 days for me. Buen Camino to you
Call me cyborg turtle (kneebrace) I promise to enjoy every minute.
Hmm do I seem excited? Just a little just a little

I LOVE this time of year.
The posts like yours start, Gaenhart and Iriebabel...many excited first-timers, second-timers, tenth-timers.....
@Gaenhart , given how long it's taken to get to this point, excitement is a given.
So is anticipation. And there's nothing more to do, but get the body there, and then one foot in front of the other. But watch out for the anticipatory imagination - the real Camino experince is like nothing you can imagine. It's both more mundane and more amazing, at the same time.

 

[Robo]

I - the real Camino experince is like nothing you can imagine. It's both more mundane and more amazing, at the same time.

How true.

Go with No Expectations..........but be open to anything and everything.........

 

[Iriebabel]

No expectations just experiences to inhale

 

[Iriebabel]

I LOVE this time of year.
The posts like yours start, Gaenhart and Iriebabel...many excited first-timers, second-timers, tenth-timers.....
@Gaenhart , given how long it's taken to get to this point, excitement is a given.
So is anticipation. And there's nothing more to do, but get the body there, and then one foot in front of the other. But watch out for the anticipatory imagination - the real Camino experince is like nothing you can imagine. It's both more mundane and more amazing, at the same time.

I think I am excited because many people said I couldnt do it. Not interested in proving them wrong. Just interested in proving myself right.
Yearning for
room to breathe and room to grow
Room with a view in the windows of my mind
Room to live and experience all
Expect nothing , give everything
Longing to feel free

 

[VNwalking]

I think I am excited because many people said I couldnt do it. Not interested in proving them wrong. Just interested in proving myself right.

You go, girl.
A gazillion likes.

be open to anything and everything

Even the things you don't like. This is the camino secret and the camino 'higher teaching.'

 

[Robo]

Even the things you don't like. This is the camino secret and the camino 'higher teaching.'

Triple Like!

That's why this year we're trying Albergues !

 

[VNwalking]

That's why this year we're trying Albergues !

Wonderful.
Now you'll know what we're all yammering on about, both bad and good.

 

[Robo]

Wonderful.
Now you'll know what we're all yammering on about, both bad and good.

How many do you think we need to try to represent a fair trial ?

 

[VNwalking]

@Robo, I sent you a PM.
And since you're a businessman, you understand about statistics, right? N-1 degrees of freedom...the bigger the sample size, the more robust your conclusions will be.

Edit...But seriously - there's a lot of variability, so one challenging experience isn't cause to say 'Never again.'

 

[Gaenhart]

Iriebabel - good luck young turtle; may your cyber parts assist you to leap those tall buildings with all the rooms you're looking for We shall watch you fly by and we shall wave regally while enjoying the scenery.

To all the others - Waka, Robo, VNWalking - thanks for the encouragement. Breathing will be optional as will cafe con leche and associated vida dulce, pasteles, y roncando en sintonía.

stratophile - your shoes are being constructed as I type - the welds are tricky beasties and I'm assuming you want the pink ones. No cost associated, for someone as discerning as yourself, but can you advise your shoe size and next week's Lotto numbers so we get everything right. Thanks.

 

[VNwalking]

stratophile - your shoes are being constructed as I type - the welds are tricky beasties and I'm assuming you want the pink ones. No cost associated, for someone as discerning as yourself, but can you advise your shoe size and next week's Lotto numbers so we get everything right. Thanks.

What's with this Forum recently?
A (delicious!!!) explosion of tongue in cheek humor seems to be happening all over the place, and not only on the 'NOT a Serious Thread' thread. Thanks, @Gaenhart. You and @andywild (in particular) are cracking all of us up and brightening our days. Keep it up, please.

EDIT~See what I mean?:

@Gaenhart sounds like you have on your red shoes with the diamond heels! Ready to trip the light fantastic. I hope your camino is the best experience ever.

@Kanga, I rest my case.

 

[Kanga]

@Gaenhart sounds like you have on your red shoes with the diamond heels! Ready to trip the light fantastic. I hope your camino is the best experience ever.

 

[Gaenhart]

@VNwalking [QUOTE="Thanks, @Gaenhart. You and @andywild (in particular) are cracking all of us up and brightening our days. Keep it up, please."[/QUOTE]

Wild Andy definitely is entertaining the crowd. I'm just holding out the hat and collecting the coins while he's busy.

 

[Gaenhart]

@Gaenhart sounds like you have on your red shoes with the diamond heels! Ready to trip the light fantastic. I hope your camino is the best experience ever.

You should see the rest of my outfit, Kanga! Salmon ballgown, puce boa and maroon fascinator. To die for. (Or because of.) My wife is jealous.

 

[VNwalking]

Wild Andy definitely is entertaining the crowd. I'm just holding out the hat and collecting the coins while he's busy.

And I trust not running off with them....?

maroon fascinator

Wait, wait, I can't imagine it: for starters what's a fascinator?

 

[tahitiwahini]

It's something on the frivolous end of the hat spectrum. In the picture below, from left to right: hat, hatinator, fascinator.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe..._royal_family.JPG/1024px-The_royal_family.JPG

 

[Shalaw]

The only advice I would give, is to be open to all the experiences each day will bring, because it rarely goes to plan.

 

[VNwalking]

In the picture below, from left to right: hat, hatinator, fascinator.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe..._royal_family.JPG/1024px-The_royal_family.JPG

OMG, what is that poor woman doing with a blue and white frisbee on her head?!?
Thanks, @tahitiwahine. You learn something every day. (Obviously I am not a royal. Thank God.)

@ShaLaw, exactly. That says it all.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Wild Andy definitely is entertaining the crowd. I'm just holding out the hat and collecting the coins while he's busy.

He is certainly a one of a kind on this board......never a dull moment with him here......

Buen Camino !

 

[tpmchugh]

After six years of planning, I'm ready and there's just over a week to go before I hear the announcement "Will the last passenger to Madrid PLEASE board at gate..." So what have I forgotten? I've fine-combed the forum for hints, tips, wise advice (and a few laughs) and have all the right gear with the right amount of 'told you so', and I'm color-coordinated with stripes AND polka dots. Hablo Espanol un pocket; I can trip the light fantastic (it's the shoes) and there's a spring in my step (still these dang shoes). I've got my pack weight under the recommended duration through a culling process called "does it plug into the wall? Yes? Okay either take two or throw it out" and have done long walks around my television. I've even gained a pack mule to aid my travels, though my son doesn't like to be called that, so I'll just call him "Cloppalong" to be safe. Paperwork, check. Travel arrangements, check. Pawn to King's Bishop three, oh you're playing that kind of game, are you? So all that kind of thing is prepped for surgery. And I've packed the most essential bit of kit - the willingness to go with the flow and let it all fall apart so it can be the Camino I wasn't expecting i.e. an adventure. But surely there's something that has to be sorted out. Maybe it's just excitement or a lack of things to plan. Any clues, recommendations, advances on wages, etc gladly accepted.

One little tip, dont be the person who is the last passenger You dont want to be the pilgrim who forgot to get on the flight Buen Camino