Helllllllo World!
It’s been a long minute since I last posted. Guess what? I’m off on another adventure. Just hopped aboard a flight to Spain. Well,
Philadelphia first, then Spain. That’s right. Spain. Arriving in Barcelona at
9AM, Wednesday, March 29. Amber is flying in from Dallas and arriving within 10
minutes of me. Wahoo. The excitement didn’t really hit me until I arrived at the
airport. But now it’s full on heeeeere!
I would call this trip a “last minute” decision. Amber has been theoretically
planning an El Camino trip for about 2 years. Never had the thought to join her.
Firstly, because Spain has never been on my radar of places to travel (so
strange, because it’s appears to be a beautiful country) and secondly, because
who in his/her right mind chooses to walk 580 miles? Day after day after day
after day of walking.
But I heard the call of the mountains. The mountains
always pull me towards them. So, when Amber mentioned that she starts the 500+
mile trek with a hike up and over the Pyrenees Mountains, my interest was
piqued. Started toying with the idea mid February on our trip to Boise, then
committed February 28 by buying a plane ticket (because, as the theme has become
with friends, family, and clients alike, “why not?”).
When I booked my flight,
literally 1 month ago today, I decided 15 days was an excellent amount of time
to visit Spain, giving me 9 days to explore Spain and 4-5 days on the El Camino.
Enough time to explore those mountains and get a feel for what Amber will be
doing for 30+ more days. However, in the past 4 weeks, I’ve done a bit of soul
searching and questioning, and now I’m feeling more like 6-10 weeks in Spain
will be sufficient. :)
Although, not 100% committed to doing the entire 500+
miles with Amber. I’ve started imagining writing remotely from a villa in Spain.
With breathtaking cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks below. Nature hikes.
Fresh, delicious, healthy food. My brain went there… to fantasy land. And the
perhaps crazy aspect is that it doesn’t seem like a fantasy. It feels like it’s
going to be my reality in a few days.
But before I arrive there, let’s jump
back. What exactly IS the El Camino? It’s a pilgrimage that’s been occurring all
over Europe for over a thousand years. The route we are taking is the Camino de
Santiago Francés or The French Way. Google it. So many fascinating photos and
stories. Martin Sheen also starred in “The Way” if you want a visual of what
Amber (and maybe me) will be doing.
Here are some Camino facts:
Towns (start-finish): Saint Jean Pied de Port (A) to Santiago de Compostela (or Finisterre if you want to go to the “end of the world”)
Estimated time to
complete: 34 days (hah!)
Distance trekked: 936.4 KM (581.852 miles)
Elevation
changes: 17,772 ft Gain - 17,772 ft Loss
Elevation Min/Max: 5m Min (16 feet) -
1,525m Max (5,003 feet)
People walking the Camino start as acquaintances, then
become friends, and soon after meeting, family. A big theme of the Camino is
that everyone walks the Camino their own way. Some do 100 miles. Some come from
France or Italy or Portugal. Some have done multiple paths. It’s a journey. A
soul awakening. A connection to people and to self. And it varies based on the
seeker.
The Daily Trek
Daily Goal: walk 15 miles per day (on average so maybe 20 miles on some days, 10
miles on others, or maybe a full day off every 4-5 days).
Uff. Da.
Rereading
that high number makes me want to plant my feet like a toddler and refuse to
move.
So, 15 miles. Let’s put this in perspective of steps, since so many people
own fitbits or Apple Watches. The daily recommended step goal is 10K. That’s
roughly 5 miles for most people. So, we’ve chosen (yes chosen, because no one is
forcing this potential torture on us) to walk 3x that amount. Some days, 4x.
Anyone want to pick one day during each week and reach 30,000 steps with us?
C’mon, you know it’d be fun.
Most people prep for months, if not years. Practice hikes. Then progressing to
hikes with your pack. Testing shoes, gear, how everything fits when it’s
raining, when it’s hot. Do your wicking clothes actually wick? Is your rain
jacket weatherproof or just water resistant? Me? Ehhh, I’ve done two pack hikes
(5.5 miles and 7.25 miles). I haven’t worn or used the new stuff in my pack and
the old stuff I’m not sure it’s still “good”. So, there will be a learning curve
and perhaps a little abandoning of gear or buying of new.
Being able to walk 15
miles while carrying a 15 pound pack? Well, I’ve done the following since buying
my plane ticket:
Houston - Buffalo Bayou & Memorial Park - 5 hikes that were a
quick pace, 1.5 hours long, and at BB, did stairs sets maybe…6 sets each time.
Austin - River Place Nature Trail, 5.5 miles RT, 2,736 steps (one way), 1700
elevation change with 15 pound pack
Sam Houston State Park - 7.25 miles, slow
pace with 20 pound pack
And that’s it. 👀
The Austin river trail was great. It’s the trail that made me want to stay longer in Spain, because I enjoyed the hike so much. Meeting people on the trail, being out in the sun, challenging my body. So wonderful. We also took the obligatory blue bonnet photo as one is required to do during the two week peak season.
The Sam Houston Trail - that 20lb pack … Oih vey. Irritating. But
added incentive to reduce my pack weight. 💪🏻
A side note: I’m a professional
home organizer and generally work 4-8 hours each day, on my feet, moving up and
down stairs, carrying heavy bags of donations or moving boxes around a house.
While not in training shape, I have a fairly decent foundation and excellent
recovery abilities (or so I think now).
My Vision: My Way on the Camino will be
to get into Camino shape as I go. :)’
(Or I take a shuttle to that villa with a
view and wait for Amber).
——
So…two months off…away from work…away from friends
and family. Intense. But feels so good. I love my work. I enjoy my clients. But
I’ll be honest with you, just allowing myself to imagine not working for two
months caused a weight I didn’t know I was carrying to start sliding off my
shoulders.
My vision for this trip (whether it lasts two weeks or 10) is that I
go inward. I want to experience spiritual awakenings, break my fast with kind
souls from all walks of life, watch the sun rise and set, and just breathe as
one with Mother Nature.
I don’t want to be on my phone (other than the
occasional journal entry or writing inspiration), no checking emails, no
constant ding ding ding alerts, no mindless scrolling. Phone remains in my pack
in airplane mode.
The past few months have shown me that Life is about the people, the connections,
the environment around us. It’s time to break away from the routine and see what
Creator has planned.
So take a walk with me…along the El Camino - French Way, as
I traverse with little to no training, a pack of supplies that hasn’t been
tested, and a mind that is my strongest and greatest attribute.
No idea when
I’ll post next. The joy of “checking-in” is that I’m following the dictates of
all my selves (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and social).
I’ll leave
you with the St Francis of Assisi Prayer, which allowed me to surrender to
Creator and accept that all will be well and as it should be:
Lord, make me an
instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is
injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where
there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant
that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to
understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to
eternal life.
Amen. Aho. And so it is.
❤️ Steph
p.s. your thoughts, prayers, and
any loving vibes sent our way will be greatly appreciated as we embark on this
journey.
Hugs and love!
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