Take Me to The El Camino

Still not sure exactly what I expect to get out of this journey. For sure, there is a great deal of excitement about getting started, and seeing if I can actually do this, but am I expecting a great epiphany??? Don't know. Of the seven or eight books read about the walk, discussions with people who completed it previously,  and second hand tales from friends of friends; there is a certain consistency in as much as they achieved some sort of self discovery. But I am not so sure in most cases it was what they went looking for, or expected to find. I like that.

As noted in an earlier post, my approach will be one of an open heart and an open mind. And that will include my expectations . No expectations, other than there is some expectation. Maybe it will be life changing, maybe not, but whatever it ends up being, I am OK with that. Worst case  scenario will be as one of the boys said   " five weeks away from the office and one friggin long walk". 

With all that said, I have started a new song about the journey; one which I hope will write itself step by step. So goes the journey, so goes the song. Wonder what that last verse will say when all is said and done? 

Take Me to The El Camino

First heard about it in the movies

A mystic place so far away

The path that you could walk

To save your soul

Ease your mind and find your own true way

     Take me to the El Camino

     St Jean Pied de Port to Finistere

     Santiago Compostella

     The way of Saint James

The List

Finished packing for the second time, and I expect there will be one more go at before leaving. I am beginning to understand this is more about what you leave behind, than it is what you take with you. There is a lot of information out there, and opinions, about packing for the Camino.

The core items are pretty much the same on everyones list, but even that leads to much debate on what style or brand of a particular item is the best, for example; hiking boots vs trail runners; pancho vs rain suit; electronics or no electronics, etc. In the end, the best way to do it is read the advice of others, then decide what suits you and "the way you roll".

There is one consistent recommendation: CARRY AS LITTLE WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE. Many a pilgrim sheds little used items as they walk on, with every ounce counting. In the end, one should pack in the range of 10-15% of their body weight.

 The decision making process for me was a simple one. What can't I do without, what will be used daily, what is readily available on the Camino, and on an item by item basis evaluate what is the down side of not having it. So here is my list:

  Clothing

• long cargo pants with zip off legs 
• knee length cargo shorts 
• quick drying golf shirts (2)
• thin long sleeve undershirt
• jogging pullover
• lightweight fleece pullover
• light windbreaker
• high quality pancho
• thick wool trecking socks (2)
• travel underwear (2)
• buffs (2)
• shemaugh
• ball cap
• bathing suit
• flashy pair of trail runners
• pair of jesus sandals
• knee brace(2)

Gear and Sundry

• Gregory trecking knapsack
• graphite walking sticks
• silk sleeping bag liner
• money belt
• gaiters
• wet bag
• sandals
• Pac Safe chord lock
• clothes rope
• clothes pin 
• safety pins
• universal sink stopper
• business cards
• spare reading glasses
• glasses repair kit
• travel mug
• spork
• swiss army knife
• duc tape
• sewing kit
• flahlight
• emergency whistle

Toiletries

• toilet paper
• all purpose wash detergent (clothes, hair, dishes, body)
• deodorant
• sun screen
• bug spray
• tooth paste
• floss sticks
• tooth brush
• kleenex pack

Health Products

• Benedryl
• Aleve
• Volataren
• eye drops
• first aid kit
• vaseline
• tiger balm
• bag balm
• lipsyl

Books and Such

• Spanish phrasebook and dictionary - pocket version
• Four Yogas of Swami Vivekananda
• Michelin Camino de Santiago guide maps
• Small hardcover journal

Electronics

• ipad
• iphone
• Power Monkey Extreme solar charger
• Canon Powershot camera

There were a few items that I struggled with, and will have to resist the temptation to add them to the list. 

• I simply can't imagine spending five weeks away without a guitar. The little travel guitar I hauled during my two months away last year was the most used item . However, there is no easy way to pack the guitar and carry it with a knapsack strapped to my back.
• My Nikon D90. Still actually struggling with this one. I know that the iphone takes decent pics, and the compact digital does the same, but it ain't like the big SLR. The downside of taking the Nikon is the weight, possibility of theft and potential for damage during the walk. We will see.

• No sleeping bag. Some say take one for sure as the nights can be cold, others say you don't need it as the refugios usually have blankets and it gets hot in the rooms with 20+ people sleeping away. I settled on the liner for sanitary reasons, and if thats not enough the pancho can double as a blanket

The list looks like a large one but it all fits into the pack, and the total weight is 22 lbs which is less than 10% of my weight (but not by much!!!)

The Time is Near

Here we are down to the last two weeks and a bit before Mary Lou and I head out on our little Camino adventure. It's actually hard to believe that the time has come. The plan was hatched well before taking off on my two month wander through Mexico and Belize last November and December. Seems like forever since I started reading everything I could get my hands on about the Camino and doing the requisite planning. But in the end, it will be the same as most everything else I do. Over plan, then completely ignore the plan, winging it from the moment it starts. 

One of the most amusing aspects of this has been the reaction of people when they find out we are walking the Camino. It ranges from " are you friggin nuts" to " I wish I was going with you", with the most common response being one of interest in what exactly this is all about, but an acknowledgement that it is not for them. I was surprised though, of the number of people that I met who have walked it, or had a family member walk it. From Paul our friend and real estate agent, Steve Hart our family physician from days in Fredericton, to the blind aunt of one of the bartenders at one of my regular haunts. One thing that all people have in common is the same question...." Why". A very good question indeed.

At first blush, it does seem like a bit of an odd thing to do; travelling 800 km by foot along a route walked by religious pilgrims for over a 1,000 years; considering I am not much of a fan of walking and my religious views run somewhere between atheist and agnostic. But nevertheless, ten minutes into the movie The Way, I knew I would be going. And I don't mean that I might do it someday, I mean I knew I would be going and going soon, as the burning desire would not leave me until I did it. That happens to me every so often, never really knowing what it is that will pull me, but I have learned to not bother fighting it. Learned to set things in motion. 

So here I am. Packed and ready to go. Have done enough training to know that physically I can do this, am stubborn enough to know the mental challenge will be the easy part; with the only worry two bum knees (nothing that braces and pain killers won't handle). 

And here is my commitment to myself. 

" I will undertake this journey with an open mind and heart. I will remove all the blocks that steer me away from those things in life I have no interest in, those that prevent me from opening doors to places  that don't follow my path.  I will participate in ceremonies I avoid with a passion at home,  I will follow every thing and opportunity that passes in front of me.  And over the 33 or so days of walking and reflecting, I will find what it is in life I was meant to do."

 Well there, maybe that in fact is the answer to the question.