Preparing for 2012

Rather than hanging up our boots and taking life easy we are, as previously posted, training for a return to the Camino in 2012.

So far we are walking locally between 8 and 10 kms with fairly light packs. We will build this up again as time goes by, both distance and also weights.

There is also the discussion over the proposed length of the stages each day and the time needed to complete the walk. This worked well for us this year giving us an aim for each day. We would not be tied to a strict timetable as much will depend on the weather, places we pass through and want to explore more fully as well as physical fitness etc. Making outline plans however will keep us happily occupied during the coming months.

Future planning

All our preparation and training was well worth the effort. There are some very steep hills on the Camino Inglés, as we were told before going. However, apart from the hill out of Pontedeume we did not find them too difficult as we had trained in a hilly area.
Now we are thinking of returning again to the Camino Primitivo and picking up where we left off last year, at Tineo. However that will not be until some time next year. For now it is back to 'keeping in training' walks so we will be adding to this blog from time to time.

The full record of our time on the Camino Inglés, from leaving Plymouth until our return, is in the May entries on Return to the Camino

Waymark, Santiago de Compostela

Final preparations for 2011

We are as prepared as we can be, apart from a few more practise walks. Our tickets for the ferry have arrived and we have some euros. All we need now is to re-check our bags and to have a good journey to Ferrol, via Santander, Oviedo and Ribadeo.
This is the last post needed here we think, so our travel blog will be found on Return to the Camino. Apart from an introductory post for 2011 this will be added to only occasionally along the way, and then more fully when we return home.
The family, as usual, get left to 'hold the fort'!

Sun and warmth

A 9km walk today, again carrying our full packs and about 2/3 full water bottles as it was warm. Walking with our sleeves rolled up and enjoying the sun. We walked along the river valley, under the dual carriage-way and then up a steep hill. We stopped for a drink and snack bar and to take photos looking back downhill and across to Dartmoor. There are bumble bees and butterflies as well as primroses and violets. The orange tip butterfly is well camouglaged on the garlic mustard, its main food plant

View across to Dartmoor

Orange Tip butterfly

Guide book, walks and rain

Our CSJ guide book to the Camino Inglés has come and we are busy studying the route we plan to take. During the week we have managed several walks, all with our packs. These are settled at around 8kg (Terry) and 6kg (Valerie) including some water each. Today we thought we would have a short walk, minus packs, around town only. It rained after about 5 minutes, we had no waterproofs, so spent 10 minutes under the bridge on the stream side until it dried up a bit. A very short walk as we went home to get dry!

Breaking the 15km barrier

After two walks of 9km each this week we went for a long walk today. A total of 15.6km on a mix of roads and forest tracks. There were a number of hills, one very steep at 1 in 10 for 1km. We had a lunch stop about halfway round. The weather was just right for walking, sunny and warm much of the time although there was a chilly wind in places.

The photos are from our various walks this week

The roe deer print was seen in the woods.

The sea wall walk is alongside the railway

Tiny fish in the lake.

The cows watching the walkers going past.

Terry's Packing List

Terry is carrying the full kit he expects to carry on the Camino:-
T-shirt x 2 = 300gm
Shirt x 240gm
Trousers x 400gm
Long johns x 120gm
Underwear x 160gm
Socks x 200gm
Waterproof trousers x 350gm
Poncho x 340gm
Towels x 480gm
Sleeping bags 850 x 2 =1kg 700gm
Crocs x 220gm
Fleece x 350gm
First Aid/toothpaste/Tel charger/cable/sporks etc x 470gm
Rucksac x 1kg 67gm

Total weight 7kg  excluding water. Terry has 2x 1lt bottles which could add a further 2kg when full. If it is very hot then the extra fleece weighing 300gm will go in the rucksac too. If we do need to carry full bottles we will drink Terry's first to get the weight down quickly.

Valerie's Packing list

I am walking with the following in my pack as practise:-
2 shirts  340gm
3 T shirts/vests  345gm
Terry's shirt x 175gm
Trousers x 400gm
2 Long sleeved T shirts 300gm
Longjohns 240gm
Underwear 150gm
Socks 200gm
Dress/nightwear 160gm
2 Fleeces x350gm = 700gm
Poncho 340gm
Waterproof trousers 200gm
Wash bag and medical:- shampoo, soap, pegs and elastic line etc 340gm
Towel 100gm
Rucksack 1.06kg
Water bottles 2x 500ml =1kg when full
Total weight = 6kg 250gm

This is the maximum I would have to carry if the weather was hot and I was wearing shirt and trousers without needing the T-shirts or a fleece. In reality I would expect to be wearing some of the 'extra' items at present in my pack bringing the weight down to around 5.5kg including water. This would enable me to carry our snack bars or food for the day without being overloaded. (The 7kg was a bit too much I decided)

Spring is coming

We walked for about 7km this morning carrying our full packs. Valerie's weighs 7kg and Terry's 8kg. This included water, snack bars, extra fleece each and all our cool weather clothes. (We would expect to be wearing some of these unless the weather is so hot that we only need shirt and trousers without T-shirt/vest layer or a thin fleece.)
When we have time we'll make full list with weights like we did last year. (October 2009 posts if anyone wants to look back) It will be interesting to compare what we took then and what we plan to take this time.

At last it is possible to use the footpaths across the fields again and we started off with a steep uphill climb before settling down to the main part of the walk. On our way we saw an old chaffinch nest from last year which had fallen out of the hedge and also white violets growing on the bank side.

Roads and tracks

Most of our recent walking has been on the roads because of the weather. However it is getting warmer and there are crocuses and cyclamen out. The oak tree is an almost perfect shape.

After a number of very wet days we finally had a training walk 'off road' yesterday, on a well made track. One of the highlights were the deer we saw running through the woods and across the path. A shorter walk than normal but carrying our full packs, apart from water. We averaged an easy 4km per hour over fairly easy terrain.

After one sunny day we are back to rain again!!!!!!!!