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loving the ride

~ exploring the world (with a little vélo love)

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Tag Archives: spain

going the distance

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in film, gear, travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

camino, santiago, spain, the way, training, walking

So the movie The Way is now in theatres, and of course suddenly lots of travel articles are coming out about the Camino. And that has me thinking about my preparations for walking it. Granted, I didn’t do the full 800 km, having only time for the last 256 km plus a few days in Santiago plus a car trip to Finisterre. (Yes, I felt like I cheated by hitching a ride there instead of continuing on foot. Next time, I’ll walk the nearly 800 km plus the 100 km to Finisterre, I promise!) And to be honest, I don’t know if the distance I walked from Astorga to Santiago really was 256 km or more or less: any distances are suspect because every guidebook says something different. I feel like it was at least 256 km – it was a good enough distance to get in a rhythm, to lose myself in walking and the daily routine of the pilgrim’s life, and to have the time to really learn about myself, experiencing what the Camino is about. And one of the first things I learned as I took those initial steps out of Astorga was that I hadn’t trained properly.

Whether you’re walking the entire trail or a small part of it, you should train for the trek. Here are my top five tips for prepping for the trekking.

  1. Wear proper hiking boots. You’d think Step 1 would be to walk, but when you start walking, you should be wearing the boots you will be walking the Camino in, i.e., well-fitting boots that have been broken in. Walking in new boots is a surefire way to get blisters. You’re trying to avoid getting blisters!
  2. Start walking. Walk everywhere, whenever you can – as far in advance as possible. If you’re blessed to walk all of the Camino (or a big chunk), start walking seriously at least 6 weeks before to condition your muscles, and increase the distance a couple of kilometres every week. (I bike everywhere, and only took to my feet 2 weeks before my trip, so it’s no wonder I was having problems with my Achilles tendons before I even left for Spain. My body was so conditioned to cycling, it was fighting me on the walking!) And don’t forget to hoof it up and down hills and go off-road.
  3. Wear your backpack. Make sure it has good support, with a hip belt to remove the weight off your shoulders. And think small – it’s all too tempting to fill a large pack with nonessentials you’ll soon be desperate to give away along The Way. Trust me. You’ll be surprised at how little you really need.
  4. Fill the backpack with gear. Start with lighter things like clothes, then build up to heavier items like toiletries and your sleeping bag.
  5. Wear the clothes you intend to walk in. And I mean wear layers. Mornings in the mountains can be frosty even in late spring, so you’ll need to figure out what layers are suitable for hiking. Because it felt like winter, I’d bundle up, then promptly unzip my convertible pants and remove my jacket and fleece because I was sweating within minutes. Imagine you’re cross-country skiing – you should be cold when you start out, or you’ll overheat once you get moving. Walking in soaked clothes in cold climes is no fun.


for the love of life

13 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in inspiration, travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

camino, finisterre, pilgrimage, santiago de compostela, spain, travel and tourism, way of st. james.

Finisterre, Spain. A moment of solitude at the end of the Camino de Santiago.

I started November with a new perspective. After being given the “restructuring” speech at work, I cleared out my desk and walked home – for three hours – breathing in the crisp, fresh air of early November, soaking in the unusually warm autumn sunshine, frolicking in the kaleidoscope of glorious carmine, rusty red and golden yellow leaves as they fluttered to the ground. Yes, frolicking. Despite being thrust into the uncertainty and panic of the suddenly unemployed, I felt a definite lightness: the world had opened up before me, and my options where limitless.

It was the same sense of calm and optimism I felt when walking the Camino in May. With every step, there came a rhythm, and with that, a sense of peace. And the ability to be present and in tune with my surroundings. Instead of feeling lost, I made every step with purpose. And I paused. After that first step in Astorga, Spain, many a time on that long walk to Santiago, I’d pause and simply thrill at where I was. Because no matter how hard it was to cross those mountains, I couldn’t deny the absolute awesomeness of being there.

To pause and just be. The Camino taught me that. And as November continues to fall upon us, I find myself back there – a little exhausted by the challenges of the days before, not knowing what lies behind the next peak or valley, but excited about the possibilities of adventure that lie ahead.

So as the pilgrims wish one another on The Way…

Buen Camino!

jennifer krissilas

A girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty.

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Oh, the outdoor adventuress. Exploring the world (with a little vélo love). Disguised as a freelance editor. Just a girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty. Or the sweets. xoxo jen

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