Getting ready for 2016

The long damp winter has not been helpful for walking, much of which has been on the roads and often shorter distances than in previous years. However as the weather improves we are beginning to get back into training. Preparation is still important as we intend to walk sections of the Camino even though travelling with our own car.

This raises some interesting issues:-
the realisation that we still think in 'walking distance' when planning a driving route, then realise that the days travel is only a couple of hours by car!
the fact that we need only be capable of carrying a 'day-pack' although we will still be taking our usual Camino packs as they are so comfortable;
taking extra clothes will be no problem but we will be limiting ourselves still to avoid taking more than we really need;

Once it is sorted we will post the list here, meanwhile we need to keep walking, and hoping that the tracks soon dry out.

Training was worthwhile

Our training was worthwhile as the route this year was harder than expected in places, chiefly due to paved areas on the coast paths. Our packs were slightly heavier than anticipated due to the need for food and extra water, however we had nothing that we didn't use or need - apart from a small pot of suncream.

Our walk is recorded as Camino 2015 and covers the route from Ribadeo westwards to San Andrés de Teixido then the Camino Inglés from Ferrol to Santiago de Compostela.

We will continue to walk to keep in training although next time we expect to take a car and walk around rather than on the Camino. Some posts will have a place here, others on Walking Around depending on whether they class as preparation or walks of interest.

Packing lists and weights will still have their place as we would not intend to over-pack even with transport. They might be of interest to those who need to make their pilgrimage with aid or private accomodation. We feel that staying in hotels, for example, does require more than one change of shirt.

Packing - keeping the load light

Having checked our rucksacks we will use the same packs as in previous years. They are a comfortable fit and also convenient when actually packing. We are happy with the layout of the top loading main pack, zipped top pockets and mesh bottle pockets. Valerie's also has zipped side pockets to expand its capacity from 25lt to 30lts. The packs have a Freeflow back system which helps to avoid sweating. The old packs weigh less than the newer versions of the same packs so our new packs (bought in 2013) are kept for practise and holidays but would not suit us on the Camino itself.

For this Camino we will not be taking either sleeping bags or liners which helps to keep the weight down. We plan to stay only in private accommodation and not the albergues, especially as this is the only option for 50% of our walking this year. Also we will be taking only one fleece each, not 2 as previously, because we will be walking later then in other years. This brings Valerie's packing down to 5.5kgs and Terry's to just under 6.8kgs with water extra. This is for a hot day when wearing only hot weather gear. The full lists can be seen on Camino 2015:-
Valerie's
Terry's

We invested in new boots ready for last year but have not yet worn them so will be wearing them occasionally over the next months to ensure that they are a comfortable fit and ready for the Camino, otherwise most of our kit has already seen several Caminos and proved its worth. Any replacements have been made to lighten the loads but tried and tested items have been kept for use again.

Now we need to build up our walking distances again, after time out, and increase our practise pack weights too. We have time.... and are hoping the weather is kind over the next months as we continue our preparations.

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.

A Walking Week

With several days of good weather we have had a good week for training. We have been walking the 7km and 12km walks so on Monday we stretched this to a circular 16kms, with some long steep hills. Jacket potatoes at the halfway point before the (mainly) downhill walk home.

This was followed by one of our normal 7km walks and today a mere 3.5kms, all with hills. We are also starting to carry a more realistic weight in our packs, so far - so good.

The leaves are falling fast and it is much colder, but we are enjoying ourselves. Most of the hills are more challenging than those we will meet on the Camino, apart from the hill out of Pontedeume and the one beyond Betanzos at Casa Julia. If we can manage here we should be able to manage them happily.

Wing feather from a Greater Spotted Woodpecker

View across the woods

Back to Training

With plans to walk to Santiago again in 2014 we continue walking to keep in training. The walks are mostly on Walking Around, the actual walk will go on Camino del Mar-Camino Inglés and some preparation (eg pack weights) will go here on this blog.

It feels good to be preparing for the Camino again. So far we are walking between 7 and 12 kms with plenty of hills and carrying our lighter packs. We know the weights we need to aim for so will be 'tweaking' our Camino packs over the coming months and walking with them occasionally.

Walking Around

Having walked the Camino Primitivo we are considering where we walk next. We may return to walk some of the Picos de Europa, or parts of the Camino again. We certainly hope to walk in the UK. So we will keep in training but this blog is coming to an end and you can follow our further walks on the Walking Around blog at http://peripatio.blogspot.co.uk

Camino Primitivo -April-May 2012

Our training over we left for Spain on the 22nd of April and walked the Camino Primitivo as planned. We have finally arrived back home and are sorting out our photos and memories of the Camino, our time in Santiago and the return across Spain. Our new blog for this Camino is at Camino Primitivo 2012

Other preparations

Apart from checking our packs and walking there are other things to think about.

To stay in the pilgrim hostels (albergues) we need a Pilgrim's Passport (credencial). Ours come from the CSJ in England and have good large spaces for the stamps (sellos) we will collect as we walk. Sellos can be had from churches, town halls, hotels, cafes etc as well as the albergues themselves. Some places just leave the rubber stamp and ink pad for pilgrims, others do it for you. Some are very picturesque, others simple. We need at least one a day to start with, and then at least two a day for the last 100kms, to show that we have walked the Camino.

Also from CSJ we have the selection of Bible verses and meditations called 'Forty Days'.

The guide to the Camino is also important, giving directions, distances and some places to stay as well as the albergues. We will probably use a mix of albergues, both municipal (not bookable) and private (bookable), hostals and maybe some hotels.

That means we need a PAYG mobile phone to call ahead, or for emergencies. Next on the list is money, in a secure form and our tickets for the journey.

So much to think about as the time gets nearer; and still the need for that all important walking practise. To quote a Stanley Holloway monologue "the sky's took a turn since this morning; I think it'll brighten up yet", although so far the forecast for the next few weeks round here doesn't look too good.

Last year's sellos:-
from our journey and the Camino Inglés

April showers

After some lovely walking weather in March and early April the weather lately has not been good. Rain and cold winds have been the usual weather pattern. However we have managed some long walks and some short.

We were back on the ancient track again this week, so a view looking up the hill this time as that is the direction we were walking.

Hopefully the weather will now improve so that we can keep walking.
Also we are now carrying our full weight packs on the longer walks; packed as though on a hot day on the Camino. This has its difficulties when we are needing to wear the layers we want to carry!

It's uphill all the way!

The Ancient Trackway

Across the field and down between steep banks
This ancient trackway runs. A way worn deep
Into the very bedrock of the land
By many iron shod hoofs and wheels and feet.

Who knows but what there may have passed this way,
The Celtic warrior armed with shield and spear,
Leaving behind his loved ones safe at home
Within the castle dike on hilltop near.

Who knows how many of the folk of old
Briton and Roman, Angle, Saxon, Dane:
With horse and hound, chariot, cart and sledge
Helped form this treasure of a country lane.

The ruined longhouse, roofless now, lies near
Above the river, in its valley green.
Once men and women, children, all lived here
Made tears and laughter part of this dear scene.

All, all are gone now, silence reigns within
The woodland copse and by the riverside.
Here can I stand and listen for the past
To speak to me with voices time can't hide.

The track worn down with countless wheels and feet,
The fallen walls, the ford across the stream.
The life once lived here lives again for me,
And modern life becomes the unreal dream.

©Tio Tel 2012

With thanks to ksam for the comment at Feb 7th which inspired me

March walks

We are enjoying the warm, dry weather and continue to walk 10km - 15km with at least part packs. The various sights include an old railway bridge with its makers plate and the early daffodils by the stream.
School holidays will soon be with us, so less walking while looking after grandchildren. Then it will be back to training walks again.

Spring is coming

We have managed a good number of walks over the past few weeks, with a 15km one today and full packs again. It was warm enough to walk in shirts, without fleeces and the snowdrops are out. Spring is coming, or it was until about mid afternoon when the mist rolled in and the temperature dropped. At least we were home by then as we couldn't see the hills behind our house.

Cromwell's Arch:
gateway to the old Priory

Hens enjoying the sunshine

A beautiful double rainbow

and now the snowdrops

Winter walking

We have been very busy walking, trying pack weights (again!!!!) and testing our cold weather layers. January was fairly good for walking so we had a mix of 8km and 15km walks.
The past week has been bitterly cold and with some snow so the  'great log fire' was more attractive. The one advantage of the freezing weather was that the tracks were passable as the mud was frozen.
However this morning we were back on the road again although it is still quite cold.
One of our late January walks gave us some interesting photos:-

The church on the hill top

A sunken ancient trackway

An unusual view of thatch from underneath

Thatched tithe barn

New Year 2012

A happy new year to you all.

At last we can say 'This year we will walk the Camino Primitivo again (DV).' Walking practise continues, although not today as it was raining. Packs are being checked, what to take is being considered and weighed (yet again!!). Basically we expect to use the same kit as last year but we'll list it later once we have decided. All we hope and pray for is better weather than in 2010, especially as we feel that this will be our last time on the Camino as pilgrims (although not our last visit to Spain).

Photos

There is a poem on wikipaedia about the common cormorant or shag which lays its eggs in paper bags. Once considered a rare bird there are many near where we live.

A young cormorant on a nearby lake.

One of the hills near our home with lovely autumn colours.


A Victorian letterbox with an interesting note about the posting of coins in letters.

Autumn sights

We continue to make plans for a return to the Camino Primitivo in 2012. We now have our tickets to Spain and our Credenciales, to start in Tineo, and we are planning a rough guide to each day. This helps to work out how long we will need to reach Santiago as well as where we can find accomodation, food etc along the route. We are using the CSJ (Confraternity of St James) guide, as Terry did in 2009. There are updates, more accomodation in some places, less in others.
We intend to use the ferry and the FEVE again and finally the ALSA bus to reach Tineo before setting off to walk. It is over 200km from Tineo to Santiago through the mountains. Hopefully we will reach Santiago with time to see some more of western Galicia, maybe Padron or Coruña before heading for home again.

Meanwhile we have been walking as much as possible locally, while the weather has been good, to keep ourselves in practise. Walks are varying between 7km and 15km, up and down hills, but chiefly on the road now as the paths are very wet. On the shorter walks we have been carrying full weight packs and lighter on the longer ones.

The highly poisonous Fly Agaric toadstools are a bright splash of colour.

The heron was waiting and watching for his dinner.