New Year 2015

A happy new year to fellow pilgrims. We are busy making plans and need to get back into training mode following flu and then Christmas. Watch this space for our packing lists and progress as we prepare to walk later in the year.

Future plans and need for training

So we are back in planning mode and trusting for no problems to upset the plans for next year.

We are still walking regularly, anything between 5 and 12 kms+ with rucksacks weighing around 4kg and 6kgs. We have weighed our prospective loads for next year and calculate that we will be carrying approx 6kgs and 8kgs including water with fleeces etc in our packs. A little lighter than before reflecting that we plan to walk in slightly warmer weather and also without sleeping bags. The route (Camino del Mar) requires more use of private accommodation and so we will use that too on the Camino Inglés rather than the albergues. This may mean booking ahead, very different to unplanned stops, but we do not want to completely pre-book. All part of the over-all preparation.

Interesting walks will still go on Walking Around, anything specific to training - pack weights etc - will go on this blog.

Delays and changes

The changes to our plans for 2014 mean that we will not be walking the Camino this year, so will have to keep in training for next year instead. We intend to keep walking, but posts in the near future will be on the Walking Around blog rather than here.

Winter training

The wet and windy weather has not always been a help with training lately. While we will happily (?) walk in the rain on the Camino we prefer to try to keep drier on training walks. However we have managed some walking each week although nearly all on the side roads locally. On one occasion even some of those were flooded meaning we had to do a 'there and back' rather than a circular walk. At least we have hills as well as level stretches to keep us fit and so far we have not had as many icy mornings as in previous years.

The lighter general packs are being more heavily loaded again and we also are walking sometimes with our proper Camino packs. This is partly to keep used to the weight and also to double check what we really need on the route later this year.

Yesterday's walk was 12.9kms in 3 hours, over hilly terrain, with a lunchbreak at the halfway point. Ongoing walks will depend on the next band of weather but spring is coming and then a new walking season and our next pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.