Barb

Well it’s finally going to happen. After lots of dreaming about it and then asking myself can I really do it, I am going to walk a portion of the Camino de Santiago. Initially I was going to do this solo, but when my family heard what I was planning, my son’s wife, asked if she could join me. She thought it was a wonderful thing to do. At first I was a little apprehensive, hmm this was to be a bit of a soul searching, spiritual adventure for me and to also figure out how to accept and welcome the next phase of my life (retirement), so I thought that was best to do alone. DIL are very close and I love her dearly, so after giving it a good thought, I said of course I would love for her to join me. My son and her mother very kindly agreed to be Mom to their two little ones while she is gone.

Then came deciding when exactly to do it and where we would start our walk. Because she only has a limited amount of time to be away, it was agreed to start in Sarria and do it, hopefully in 6 days. Actually, I’m not sure my legs and feet would allow me to go much further than that. So that decided, we then thought about albergues v. hotels. Hotels won out, although we both think it might be fun to stay one night in a albergue. I was able to reserve ahead of time, which I thought would be wise given how many pilgrims are now walking the Camino from Sarria to Santiago. So here is our itinerary:

Oct 1:
Fly from SEA to LHR to Madrid to Santiago (arriving in Santiago at 7:45 pm) on Oct. 2. We will spend that night at Hotel Costa Vella. We will be staying there at the end of our walk as well, so they will keep my suitcase there for me while we are walking.

Oct 3:
Bus from Santiago via Lugo to Sarria where we will be staying at Hotel Mar de Plata, 55€. We will spend the day there getting our credentials and relaxing a bit before our walk the next morning.


Oct 4: Sarria to Portomarin (Hotel Villajardin, 60€, breakf. incl ) 23 km
Oct 5: Portomarine to Lestedo (Casa Rectoral de Lestedo 85€) 21 km
Oct 6: Lestedo to Melide (Hotel Carlos 96, 40€) 19 km
Oct 7: Melide to Arzua (Hotel Casa Theodora, 45€) 15 km
Oct 8: Arzua to Rua (Casa do Acivro, 46€) 19 km
Oct 9: Rua to Santiago (Hotel Costa Vella, 88€) 19 km

We will stay in Santiago for three nights. We plan on taking the bus to Finisterre to complete our pilgrimage. DIL will fly home the same route, very early on the 12th and I will hop on the bus to Porto, Portugal at 11:00 a.m. I will be in Porto for two nights staying at InPatio Guest House, 68€ nt, including breakfast.

I’m then taking the train down to Lisboa, where I will again stay at Hotel Residencial Florescente. Stayed there last year and LOVED it. 43.50 € nt, including a huge buffet breakfast. I will be there until Oct. 24th

Fellow Fodorite Jeff will be in Santiago for a few days, so we will meet up and he will also be in Porto when I’m there. Also, Julia-t will be joining me in Lisboa for four days. Last year she managed a very quick trip to come see me while I was there, so this time we will really be able to enjoy our time together in this wonderful city.

I’ll post my preparations for the Camino and what I’m planning on taking with me so far in the next day or two.

BigAleinstein

Buen Camino. If you have not paid for the hotel iN Santiago please take a look at Tafona do Peregrino, we like it a lot. See if they will hold your luggage.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/a-ta...518466b7414X86

Whatever you planning to take on The Cammino be sure to put it in your backpack and walk around with it get used to it. And buy boots now to make sure they proper for your feet and read up on blisters on your feet.

Again buen camino!

What

Barb

Had a few minutes between jobs, so here's my next installment

Preparation and Packing List:

We’ve both been reading and researching as much as we can about the Camino. There are a couple of very good YouTube videos. One I really enjoyed is Camino Mit Baby. A young Irish couple with their 6 mos baby. I’ve got a pretty good idea about what to take and what not to take. We will be taking backpacks with everything we need for 6 days in them. Obviously, weight and smart packing are the key points here. We both have Osprey 35 packs, mine is a youth size because I have a short torso and most “adult” packs were too big.

http://www.rei.com/product/768244/os...-35-pack-youth

Black Diamond trekking poles;

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/...Mojave#start=5

Moab GTX boots

http://www.rei.com/product/810830/me...g-shoes-womens

I have Royal Robbins black lightweight pants and a REI brand khaki pant that you can roll up and fasten with the snap.

I will take my REI lightweight rain jacket w/hood and also a lightweight zip up jacket w/o hood that I can wear under the rain jacket if it gets cool. One LS microfiber top, 2 SL microfiber tops and one microfiber tank top. Two sports bras, 3 Patagonia undies, 3 rei hiking socks and 2 liners. 1 black/white bandana and one lightweight scarf. Sunday Afternoons hat

http://www.sundayafternoons.com/sprinter-cap.html

I think that’s about it for clothes.

Accessories so far are: spork, Eagle Creek packing sacks, phone/charger. Large safety pins

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packit-sp...t/d/1246_c_213

journal/pen, small first aid kit, which includes blister stuff (needle & thread) toothbrush/paste, face cream, small hairbrush, scrunchy

My best purchase, I think, is this little sit pad. It weighs nothing and I think might come in handy for rest stops, or lunch on the Way.

http://www.rei.com/product/829881/th...est-z-seat-pad

I am trying to decide whether to take my little Nexus 7 tablet. It will be a real luxury item. Obviously I will be doing lots of “practice walks” with the backpack on so I will be able to get a good idea how much I can carry without killing myself.

I walk a lot. I go to the gym and walk on the treadmill every morning before work. I alternate between the “fat burning” and “rolling hills” mode. I do 2 miles. I also use the weight machines every other day and do lots of squats.

On weekends for the last month I have been doing longer walks on the local trails. I live just north of Seattle and we are blessed with tons of great walking trails and hikes, on lots of different terrain with plenty of hills thrown in. So far, I’m averaging between 4-7 miles, without the pack. This is breaking in my new boots also. My goal is to be able walk 10 miles, two days in a row with the pack on. I will go slowly with the pack. First, just the pack, then gradually adding things from my “Camino Box”.

So, that’s about all I can think of for now. Feel free to comment on any of the above and those of you who are old veterans of the Camino, I would love to hear your input.

I am so excited, but also a little freaked out about the whole thing now that it is fast approaching. I keep telling myself there is no shame in taking a bus/taxi if I need to, or have my backpack shipped to the next hotel, but I have to say, I really want to do it the way I have dreamed about and walk proudly into the pilgrims’ office in Santiago and get my certificate. Wow, that would just be about the coolest thing I’ve ever done!

baladeuse

My husband and I have been talking about some day doing the Camino for some time now, but I'm not sure we'll ever really do it - by the time we retire we may not be fit enough. So I will be thrilled to vicariously follow along on your trip. I'm very interested in your preparation and training schedule and how it all works out. Good luck.

BigAleinstein

Sounds good.

StCirq

I am so jealous. I meant to make this a priority, starting from my house in France, a year or so ago, and then I broke my calcaneus...NOT going to happen anytime soon. But we will do it one day. Other than the broken foot and (after 9 months) still some swelling and stiffness, it will all be good I hope in a year or two. Other than the foot, I'm fit, so hope springs eternal that I can one day do this.

Good for you! Report as you can!

Mainhattengirl

Take some duct tape. It may come in handy for all kinds of things. Also, some kind of blister aids.

Good luck!

ribeirasacra

I would also suggest you read the forum dedicated to all of the Caminos.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/

ParisAmsterdam

Take the Nexus! Weighs little and will allow you to keep your fans updated while enroute! ;^)

And wear the heck out of those shoes before you leave... get them broken in.

Good luck on the walk!

Fra_Diavolo

I'd like to do this too, but I think I'd use the luggage forwarding service and just carry a day pack.

Looking forward to the report!

bilboburgler

Keep breaking in those boots, read Pilgrim Snail http://www.amazon.com/Pilgrim-Snail-.../dp/0708947956

whatever weight you have in your day bag, halve it

thursdaysd

Good for you! I've been wondering about doing it, but I'm way out of shape - I'm thinking about the new Channel Islands path as a warm up. That's a long first leg, will you be walking that far as part of your training?

I met a Canadian woman on the train from Santiago to Porto in 2004 who had just come off the Camino - you might find her book interesting (note: she started out with a group....):

Jane Christmas: "What the Psychic told the Pilgrim"

Barb

Thanks for all your comments. Duct tape is a good idea, I've heard some pilgrims wrap it around their trekking pole so they didn't have to carry it in their pack. I will definitely look into those book suggestions. The Camino forum is one I have been reading and is a good source of information.

StCirq, I really hope your foot is in good shape soon so you can walk the Camino too. You are probably way ahead of me in terms of being in shape.

I'm thinking the Nexus will come in handy for many things, including books and that way I don't have to carry a book. I'll have to wait and see if it makes the final cut. I agree about packing the backpack and then taking half out. This is supposed to show me how I can live with much less than I think I can, ha.

julia_t

Barb...

I am filled with admiration for you in this pilgrimage, and as I hope you know I wish you all the very best.

And above all, I am looking forward to meeting up with you in Lisbon afterwards, when I shall happily listen to all your stories over many glasses of chilled wine.

In the meantime, it is nice to catch up with you here.

sparkchaser

Good luck! That is on my bucket list.

sofarsogood

Good luck,

Most important things to consider are:

1) Feet

2) Feet

3) Feet

Don't take anything for "just in case"

Buen camino

lincasanova

How great you are doing part of this.. I'm sure you will have lots of bits and pieces to tell us. You may want to be easy on yourselves that first day or two at least and use the luggage service ( 3E) and just take a day pack and see how you do. The less weight on your feet the better since you have reservations everywhere.

lincasanova

Meant to add "have a great camino":: Buen camino to you both. Such a lovely journey for you two.

cruiseluv

Barb, how exciting to see you post about this!!

I also used the Merrell Moab, but the mid one( I felt I needed the ankle support), that's a great choice!

From what you describe you'll be very well prepared for the Camino. I never thought of training with the back pack (but mine was smaller that yours as I was using it only as a daypack)If you're looking for a guide to take I suggest the John Brierly Camino de Santiago guidebook.

I remember walking by the Rectoral de Lestedo, right on the Camino, it looked very nice.

In Melide make sure you go for pulpo(octopus) to Pulperia Ezequiel. We liked it so much we went twice in two days.

I love the Costa Vella! Hopefully it will not be too cold and you'll be able to enjoy their garden , lovely. Roberto will take good care of you.

I'm so happy you and your DIL are doing this, you will never forget it.

Buen Camino!!

cruiseluv

Oh, I forgot to say , bring moleskin in case you develop "hot spots" on your toes like I did. It came in very handy! I just got one blister which I took care off and no more problems.

yes, the key is to really break in those shoes.

What a great idea to go to Porto afterwards. I was there for a day stop in a cruise a couple of years ago and loved it.Maybe I'll do the same next time I'm in Santiago.