A Week For Final Preparations

Almost time to go. 

It's funny how the preparations for each prior Camino have finally aligned and pulled together almost at the very end. It's uncanny how they have been so different and yet so similar. This one in so many ways has been no different. Some of the specifics have varied, but somehow things seem to arrive in harmony at the end. After dealing with some niggly injuries these past many weeks I've finally come to that place where I'm feeling able to look beyond them and focus on the journey ahead. It's sort of like shedding a dark cloud and the sun finally pops out!  For me the sun came out today, which is odd considering we had our first cool, windy cloudy day in quite some time. The outcome probably had something to do with the positive connections I had with a number of Camino pals from various places on the planet, not to mention the nice lunch I enjoyed with two good friends. Whatever it was, I'm glad it's finally arrived, and now I feel ready to depart. I still need to see the specialist next week about the injuries, but tonight I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about the outcome. The ups and the downs...I guess I'll have to get use to them! 

My pack is ready to go, 19 lbs (8.6 kg) dry weight before water and food, a full half pound lighter than I carried last year on the Plata!  Not sure what I dumped, but as there will be considerable climbing this time, I worked to lighten up wherever I could. A lighter sun shirt, no merino jumper, less medical kit and fewer bits and pieces. I added my fleece as I may be walking to the end of October at elevation in western Spain where I've previously seen plenty of wet and cold in the fall. I know I can always purchase things along the way including boots if needed. Not knowing how far I will walk, this could be a real possibility. I switched from the Solomons back to the Merrills when the foot injuries occurred, but they aren't the same high quality. However, I know their strengths and weaknesses and what to expect...wet feet in the rain, cool feet in the heat! I've water-proofed them this time so it will be interesting to see how this works out.

We have a full house of visitors with many comings and goings the 6 days before I depart on August 13th, so I'll have to find a few quiet moments for those many last preparations that can only be completed in the final day or two. My pack needs to be prepared to ward off the bed bugs and then re-packed for travel. The flight across is a real milk run through Vancouver and on to London where I will sit for over 6 hours followed by a flight to Brussels and then onwards to Lyon arriving very late the next day. A day to wander the streets is planned and time to get my phone sorted out, pick up a Swiss knife, find some sleep and have my first samples of French cuisine in over a year! Then onwards by train to Le Puy where I have two nights planned. A little time to see this excellent town and find my credentials for the coming journey. Lots to do. Then I guess I'll simply walk out of town towards the west beginning early morning on August 18th.

All going well this next week with training, final preparations, lots of visiting and a word with the doc and my next post will hopefully be from across the pond in France:-)

Buen Camino...in France it's actually "Bon Chemin"!