I keep checking the calendar at work, every morning, knocking off one more day. It's hard to believe that today is 27 days and awake up from our Camino! We have our tickets. Rooms are reserved at the beginning and at the very end in Santiago. Backpacks have been purchased and every item weighed and checked and weighed again before it's packed. For myself, I know I'm kinda, just kinda going over the edge when I found myself obsessing over the weight of the Creamer packets for the coffee "bags" Adrianne and I are bringing. (small aside, those who know me well, know that I do not move until there is caffienne in the system. I am the only one in a class of 12 to 15 people at the gym at 6am clutching a coffee cup instead of the obligatory water bottle! Just don't know how they do it!) The packet declares a weight of 3 grams....my scale said 4 grams...apparently the fools at the company didn't take into account the packaging! Had to make myself take a really deep breath and remind myself I was only bringing 10 of these damn fool things therefore it was only 10 grams total. And then as I use 'em, the weight will drop considerably! Not obsessed at all! (Did you know the strap that holds the tag for my luggage actually weighs in at 4 grams!)
Now there is only the final prepping of the body...both working out muscles and working out the kinks! Some of us, specifically Adrianne and myself, are having serious foot issues. Apparently we both have something called a neuroma (?) a painful pinching of a nerve in the foot, between the metatarsal bones. Until we find the right combo of padding and meds...each practice hike is quite painful! Earlier it was Rays ankle bone being rubbed horribly by his left boot. That seems to have subsided and he's ready to roll. Joe seems to be the least bothered by these complications...so far! Damn young whippersnapper!
Here comes the Rain
Apparently the Beatles never spent much time in Galicia
My Personal Favorite!
Even the scarecrows wear raingear in Galicia!
Three Pilgrims hit the road again
One of many bridges leaving Caldas da Reis
Santiago Stigmata
It's beginning to fade...but there is an arrow below the bruise...a perfect replica of the arrows we followed for 120k
SINGLE DIGIT DANCE
This is what happens when pilgrims finally see single digits on the markers...spontaneous dancing!
Our Monto de Gozo, Mountain of Joy
This was our first view of the Cathedral and the city of Santiago
How many men to perfume a church?
This is the moment before the botofumeiro flys! Originally used to "freshen" the air from all the newly arrived pilgrims!
I'm watching you
The dome of the cathedral, and what it takes to make it fly!
Wow
It's just beginning it's trip! and yes it's that big!
More Botafumeria
Take a good look at the ropes, when I saw them tied off later, the white ones were as thick as my forearm.
Are we there yet!
Lovely friends from the road, although Rose and I had "met" online months earlier! Does her hubby look happy or what!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
FOUR AMIGOS!
Guess it would make sense to start off introducing the cast of characters!
The Samuli, Karin and Ray, Adrianne B. and Joseph P.
We are four friends who meet thru a biking club. However over the course of the last year, our friendship has grown far beyond the road biking that brought us together in the first place. Over the winter we discovered hiking, and one afternoon during an online conversation Adrianne and I chatted about the idea of doing something really wild and different. Adrianne forwarded an article from a German news magazine Der Spiegel, about this pilgrimage thing, called the Camino De Santiago, or the Way of St. James. What she didn't know was, I'd already been thinking about it off and on for nearly ten years, but had never met anyone who'd either heard of it or would be willing to try it. One thing lead to another and soon Joe was on board too. This left me heading off to Europe to go backpacking with my friends and not my husband.....so with a little help from my friends (cue the Beatles music here) we finally had our rather reluctant fourth pilgrim. I must confess I had some doubts as to whether he really would come along, until he bought his backpack before I'd found mine. When he finally plunked down money for the airfare I knew we had him!
Since then we've been hiking as often as we can, walking at work, and just generally trying to make sure we are as physically prepared as possible. Between us we have a smattering of Spanish...about two words of Portuguese and a little German. That and a good little travel phrase book! So on May 22nd, 2008 we fly off to Lisbon, Portugal to work our way north to the city of Santiago de Compostela via one of the lesser traveled routes, the Camino Portuguese.
Friends tease us, about whether or not we'll be talking at the end, but I don't think that will be a problem. I think not taking that hard right turn in Santiago and continuing east to ?? that could be a real problem!
The Samuli, Karin and Ray, Adrianne B. and Joseph P.
We are four friends who meet thru a biking club. However over the course of the last year, our friendship has grown far beyond the road biking that brought us together in the first place. Over the winter we discovered hiking, and one afternoon during an online conversation Adrianne and I chatted about the idea of doing something really wild and different. Adrianne forwarded an article from a German news magazine Der Spiegel, about this pilgrimage thing, called the Camino De Santiago, or the Way of St. James. What she didn't know was, I'd already been thinking about it off and on for nearly ten years, but had never met anyone who'd either heard of it or would be willing to try it. One thing lead to another and soon Joe was on board too. This left me heading off to Europe to go backpacking with my friends and not my husband.....so with a little help from my friends (cue the Beatles music here) we finally had our rather reluctant fourth pilgrim. I must confess I had some doubts as to whether he really would come along, until he bought his backpack before I'd found mine. When he finally plunked down money for the airfare I knew we had him!
Since then we've been hiking as often as we can, walking at work, and just generally trying to make sure we are as physically prepared as possible. Between us we have a smattering of Spanish...about two words of Portuguese and a little German. That and a good little travel phrase book! So on May 22nd, 2008 we fly off to Lisbon, Portugal to work our way north to the city of Santiago de Compostela via one of the lesser traveled routes, the Camino Portuguese.
Friends tease us, about whether or not we'll be talking at the end, but I don't think that will be a problem. I think not taking that hard right turn in Santiago and continuing east to ?? that could be a real problem!
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