It's a go...committed...booked...deposit made...

I can say with so much joy in my heart that I have made my reservations for the Camino. I booked through Macs Adventures in the UK. "

My Camino:
"Full Walk - St. Jean to Santiago (41 Days and 40 Nights) booking confirmed."

Beautiful Words!

I will arrive in St. Jean Pied de Port, France on May 15th, 2015 -- I will spend the remainder of that day and the next to settle down and explore St. Jean before starting my walk on Sunday, May 17th.

My "journey" will look like the following:

St Jean Pied de Port / Santiago de Compostela - 790km in total.

15 May DAY 1:    Arrive St Jen Pied de Port  16 May DAY 2:    Extra night St Jean Pied de Port 17 May DAY 3:    Walk to Roncesvalles - 23km 18 May DAY 4:    Walk to Akerreta - 27km 19 May DAY 5:    Walk to Pamplona - 15km 20 May DAY 6:    Walk to Puente la Reina - 22km 21 May DAY 7:    Walk to Estella - 20km 22 May DAY 8:    Walk to Los Arcos - 20km 23 May DAY 9:    Walk to Logrono - 27km 24 May DAY 10:  Walk to Najera - 27km 25 May DAY 11:  Walk to Santo Domingo - 21km 26 May DAY 12:  Walk to Belorado - 22km 27 May DAY 13:  Walk to Atapuerca - 29km 28 May DAY 14:  Walk to Burgos - 20km 29 May DAY 15:  Extra Night in Burgos 30 May DAY 16:  Walk to Hornillos and transfer back to Burgos - 20km 31 May DAY 17:  09:00 Transfer to Hornillos and walk to Castrojeriz - 18km 01 Jun   DAY 18: Walk to Fromista - 27km 02 Jun   DAY 19: Walk to Carron de los Condes - 19km 03 Jun   DAY 20: Walk to Calzadilla de la Cueza - 16km 04 Jun   DAY 21: Walk to Sahagun - 22km 05 Jun   DAY 22: Walk to El Burgo Ranero - 18km 06 Jun   DAY 23: Walk to Mansilla de las Mulas - 19km 07 Jun   DAY 24: Walk to Leon - 17 km 08 Jun   DAY 25: Extra Night in Leon 09 Jun   DAY 26: Walk to Villadangos del Paramo - 21km 10 Jun   DAY 27: Walk to Astorga - 26km 11 Jun   DAY 28: Walk to Rabanal del Camino - 19km - no link 12 Jun   DAY 29: Walk to Molinaseca - 24km 13 Jun   DAY 30: Walk to Villafranca del Bierzo - 30km 14 Jun   DAY 31: Walk to Herrerias de Valcarce - 22km - no link 15 Jun   DAY 32: Walk to O’Cebreiro - 9km 16 Jun   DAY 33: Walk to Triacastela - 22km 17 Jun   DAY 34: Walk to Sarria - 18km 18 Jun   DAY 35: Walk to Portomarin - 24km 19 Jun   DAY 36: Walk to Palas de Rei - 24km 20 Jun   DAY 37: Walk to Arzua - 28km 21 Jun   DAY 38: Walk to Rua - 19km 22 Jun   DAY 39: Walk to Santiago de Compostela and overnight - 18km: 23 Jun   DAY 40: Extra Night in Santiago "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOI" 24 Jun   DAY 41: Onward Travel Buen Camino... Till Soon! Till Soon!

Quick update!

Last post was August 27th...

I have not posted for a couple of reasons:

It is to be a blog about my preparation, regardless how small, toward my Camino! And so, since the last post, there has been very little to no preparation [by preparation I mean walking, hiking, etc]. On beautiful days I chose to ride instead of walk and by mid September, I broke my big toe :(

It was recommended that I did not walk much for at least 6-8 weeks - I reluctantly complied. November 14th was my first attempt at getting back on track [sort of] by walking 10km or two hours and during a little snow squall. I repeated the walk a couple of times including this past Sunday and I believe that I am now completely mended as there was no pain to the said toe.

The video above - walking in falling snow! Here I chose to video the falling snow in SlowMow - if you can, listen carefully and it seems like the snow flakes are talking...pretty cool. Wonder what they are trying to tell me haha

Till soon!

A little history...

...as per this little You Tube video by Rick Steeves - check it out!

Oh how I long to be there...patience, I must exercise patience haha

Till Soon!

Lake of Two Rivers

Went camping this past weekend with my husband John, my oldest son William, his wife Serena and their two beautiful children and therefore our grandchildren - as well as two little dogs, Pumpkin and Latte at Algonquin Provincial Park's Lake of Tow Rivers Campsite.

We had loads of fun. Our first day was iffy in the sense that rain came and went throughout the day and yet a little sunshine came through the trees while we set up our tents, dining area etc.. We even celebrated our grandson's 7th birthday. Papa and Dad took him away from the site so we [mom, nana and big sister] could decorate - the surprised look on his face was priceless!

In this photo we are enjoying campfire cooked steak and potatoes!



Not forgetting that this blog is about the preparation for the Camino, I made sure that while there to trek a little.

We went for a sweet little hike on Two Rivers Trail = 2.3-kilometre loop through a young Algonquin forest that lead to a cliff top overlooking the North Madawaska River. This was just the right distance with kids and two little dogs. The highest elevation was about 425-30 metres. I would have like to have done more, however, with bear sightings confirmed that weekend...I was not about to venture out on my own.

I particularly love the photo above left because of the tree root system. I love family. I believe that a well rooted family can be the best support system for its members through anything! These roots shown here are determined to keep that tree alive and a rock face did not deter them from taking hold and supporting that tree!

All in all, in those 3 days of camping, I managed to walk 20 miles or 32.2-kilometres. I'll take it!

Till soon!

Feeling playful...

Reading pretty much all there is to read on the Camino de Santiago, I have come to learn (so far) that preparation for this journey is not only a physical one. One must prepare mentally and spiritually. Regardless of the initial intent on the journey.
And so, being one to heed to good advice, I signed up a few days ago for the 21-Day Meditation Experience with Oprah and Deepak Chopra. Day 5's centering thought was "Feeling Playful". That is how I felt on my walk today as I continued to remind myself that my true nature is to be playful. I did this by repeating silently to myself, "I am playful" :)

On this playful walk today I strolled to the lake and admired the view. I decided to take my poles with me...they are recommended by some and I always used them in the winter. However, today I found them to be annoying. I chose to make the most of it and continued on my way whispering, "I am playful" haha it actually worked!

About 1 hour into my walk, along busy paved roads with no relief from the sun or traffic, I came upon a great little dirt road that soothed my soul - even if it was for only 20 minutes. I will have to find trails in the area because I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet yet aware that the air was filled with the sound of birds and squirrels!

Once I got home, I did what I know would never happen on the Camino, I sat in the hot tub! Yes, it was majestic!

Today's stats: 2 hours 15 minutes, 12.1 km at a pace of 11:13/km

Till soon!

Destination...Shopper's Drug Mart

First, let me acknowledge that today is the 2nd wedding anniversary to my second son Randy and his beautiful wife Danielle. Love them both greatly!

Alrighty then...I live in a pretty secluded (kinda sorta) forested area by Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, On.  My walks usually involve windy roads with some minor elevations in my neighbourhood. Today I decided to set out of these boundaries and head towards a Shopper's Drug Mart on a major road called Big Bay Point. I did not know the distance and so neither did I know how long it would take me.

It was much shorter distance and time than I had anticipated. However, I totally lost myself in the walk imagining myself on a Camino path.

One of the highlights was walking past a horse farm. I stopped of course and took a picture and gave thanks for the blessing.

You will notice from the photo included that I am wearing Vibram Five Fingers shoes. I am in love with these. Bought a couple of pairs since last summer and if I am walking (unless it is in dead of winter) or kayaking I am wearing my Vibrams. My plan is to walk the Camino in these - they are light, comfy and I could not feel more secure in my footing than in these. Enough said! Before I leave for the Camino, I will contact Vibram and see if they won't let me have a pair to test on the Way!

Again, I was surprised at the distance and time - my walks are usually 1 or two hours. I was hoping to increase that time by going in that direction. In the end, my distance was 10.71 km, 2 hours 3 mins and my pace, consistent, at 11:31/km

Till soon!

Getting back in the groove...

Today, Sunday, I set off to get back on track in preparation to next year's goal of walking the Camino.

Not sure about anyone else, but for some reason, if I am doing something and keep doing that something without interruption, then doing that something will continue.
For example: if I start reading a book and I read that book daily until it is completed, that book gets read!
However, god forbid I get sidetracked for a day or two or more where I do not sit and read that book...it [the book] could potentially be put back on the bookshelf not fully read.
And so it goes for everything else like knitting, painting, meditation or say "walking" haha

And so, today is the first day of the rest of my life...oooops haha see sidetracked with that quote!
Seriously, today I walked for 1 hour 12 minutes and 45 seconds and covered 6.292 kilometres (a pace of 11:34/km.
Considering each stage of the Camino requires a walk of 25-28km per day, I know that at this pace (which I like) I will be walking at least 5-6 hours per day.

Stage 1(of 33 stages/790 km) of the Camino Francés [The Way of St James], begins in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France to Roncesvalles, Spain. This is the "Route de Napoléon" - the recommended route. Not for the faint of heart however as the first day will take me over the Pyrenees Mountain - an ascent of 1,390m.

 - John Brierley, A Practical & Mystical Manual for the Modern Day Pilgrim

             www.caminoguides.com

 - John Brierley, A Practical & Mystical Manual for the Modern Day Pilgrim

            www.caminoguides.com

The above photos are examples of the stages as per John Brierley's guide. The guide then proceeds to describe the route section by section...I feel like I am there and well wish I was!

Till soon!

The beginning...not really!

I, like many others before me, will be subjecting those who bother coming this way...with my views, discoveries, photos etc, about my personal journey [while surely mentioning others'] on the preparation and eventual walk of The Way of St James.

The beginning... refers to the fact that I have decided this day to start blogging about the topic. I was made aware of The Way of St James (El Camino de Santiago) at least 4-5 years ago when I was expressing my need to travel. My brother, 2.5 years my senior, Robert, introduced me to the idea. It created quite the stir in my spirit and I have not been able to let go of the idea.

I proceeded to become a "Camino" junky and began to read most EVERYTHING on the subject. Including the movie with Martin Sheen, "The Way". It only created a greater stir!

Last summer (2013) I began to walk daily. I joined a gym. By January of 2014 (cause I walked in snow, rain, sleet, bitter cold as well as beautiful sunny days...) I purchased a FitBit to ensure that I was increasing not only my daily steps but distances as well.

I have walked up to 2-3 hours per day or 8-10km. Mind you all of that came to a slow almost stand still due to summer events, motorcycle, etc ...but that too shall change! Because,

          - this year I celebrated my 60th birthday...yeah me!
          - this year I committed to walk the Camino May/June of 2015.

The Shell below shows the stages from France (Saint Jean Pied Port) to end of journey in Spain (Santiago de Compostela)

I have acquired my Camino Credential (more on that later), backpack, sleeping bag, shoes, clothing, guide books, and numerous other little necessities.

Till soon