At Christmas, and with our daughter connected via Skype from SE Asia, I announced to those close family members who were present that I was soon going to retire and move on to new experiences. I will never forget the moment on the Camino when I made this decision. It happened on Stage 16 while walking alone from Castrojeriz to Fromista. Annemarie had to hitch a ride in a baggage transfer truck on a day when her foot was just too painful to walk. I’d been invited to walk with our Aussie pals Peter and Dave, but in the middle of the night I decided to walk alone and I was so glad I did! The route started with a surprisingly steep climb just outside of Castrojeriz to the top of a very flat mesa where I was just in time to witness the morning sunrise. After crossing the mesa I arrived at the west side to find a warning sign advising of an 18% descent. It was quite a rush as I half walked, half ran down the long hill. I remember thinking to myself, "why work when I can retire and do stuff like this?" It was one of those "ah ha" moments! Decision made. Clearly I was overly pumped on endorphins!! A brilliant decision that should hopefully prove to be life changing. I had numerous conversations along the Camino with others who had retired, and not a single person wished that they had made a different decision. That was reassuring!
So I have 6 Monday mornings left to get through...then I'm free! Simply brilliant.
What will I do to transition into next things? What else...walk. I have yet to discover another activity that provides the environment in which to enjoy my surroundings, meet other like-minded and amazing people plus find the time and space to think of many things. While the last walk was in part centered on the "retirement decision", this walk will be in celebration of that decision and will hopefully help provide some insight into the 'what next' question. I have ideas and even a few opportunities, but the uncluttered environment that is distance walking should provide the luxury of time for thought. If it doesn't provide clarity, oh well, it will have been a great way to celebrate. Thankfully Annemarie understands my need for walking having completed her own Camino, and she has given me the gift of time to follow my passion.
So, where am I going? Good question. If you can believe it I'm returning to Spain to work on my Spanish skills...no kidding! I've already booked my flight and depart May 4th for Madrid. After a quick overnight visit I'll head south via high speed train to Sevilla where there is a two week party waiting to begin just after I arrive (you have to love the way the Spanish celebrate the retirement of an adopted son!), Feria de Abril de Sevilla.
I'll stay a couple of nights and then walk out of Sevilla May 7-8th on the 1,000km Via de la Plata (VdlP) and Camino Sanabres routes to Santiago followed hopefully by the 140km route to Muxia, situated on the Atlantic coast where I'll follow tradition and burn some of my gear on the rocky cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean...if I can find a match? The route essentially follows the Portuguese - Spanish border from one end to the other and then north from there.
The Via de la Plata was built around 250BC by those Roman types in order to move silver from the mines in northern Spain south to Cadiz for shipment past Gibraltar and onwards to Rome...hence the name, The Silver Way. Those who followed our first Camino know that over the years I have delighted in exploring a few things Roman, and this coupled with hopefully somewhat warmer weather (after a wet Camino Frances) was the dual hook for me. I looked seriously at the Camino Norte/Primativo along the north coast of Spain, but I just couldn't face another wet Camino so soon...they get a ton of rain up there! Another day I hope to walk the northern route, but not this time.
Preparations are of course under way, and I'm experiencing the usual soreness that comes with carrying a +20lb pack on my back again. I have about two months to harden up, and fortunately I continued training through our wet winter putting about 6lbs back onto my frame...a good thing. A couple of injuries and issues for my favorite physio and massage pals to sort out, a retirement process to complete and then I'm off. This time it will be a more rustic journey as there is much less infrastructure, comparatively very few folks walking this route and I have to reach Salamanca before the heat gets into the high 30's and beyond. I have 49 days available once I start including about 5 rest days. I'll post more about the route in the coming days.
Oops...guess I'll have to update the header and change the map.
So I have 6 Monday mornings left to get through...then I'm free! Simply brilliant.
What will I do to transition into next things? What else...walk. I have yet to discover another activity that provides the environment in which to enjoy my surroundings, meet other like-minded and amazing people plus find the time and space to think of many things. While the last walk was in part centered on the "retirement decision", this walk will be in celebration of that decision and will hopefully help provide some insight into the 'what next' question. I have ideas and even a few opportunities, but the uncluttered environment that is distance walking should provide the luxury of time for thought. If it doesn't provide clarity, oh well, it will have been a great way to celebrate. Thankfully Annemarie understands my need for walking having completed her own Camino, and she has given me the gift of time to follow my passion.
So, where am I going? Good question. If you can believe it I'm returning to Spain to work on my Spanish skills...no kidding! I've already booked my flight and depart May 4th for Madrid. After a quick overnight visit I'll head south via high speed train to Sevilla where there is a two week party waiting to begin just after I arrive (you have to love the way the Spanish celebrate the retirement of an adopted son!), Feria de Abril de Sevilla.
I'll stay a couple of nights and then walk out of Sevilla May 7-8th on the 1,000km Via de la Plata (VdlP) and Camino Sanabres routes to Santiago followed hopefully by the 140km route to Muxia, situated on the Atlantic coast where I'll follow tradition and burn some of my gear on the rocky cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean...if I can find a match? The route essentially follows the Portuguese - Spanish border from one end to the other and then north from there.
The Via de la Plata was built around 250BC by those Roman types in order to move silver from the mines in northern Spain south to Cadiz for shipment past Gibraltar and onwards to Rome...hence the name, The Silver Way. Those who followed our first Camino know that over the years I have delighted in exploring a few things Roman, and this coupled with hopefully somewhat warmer weather (after a wet Camino Frances) was the dual hook for me. I looked seriously at the Camino Norte/Primativo along the north coast of Spain, but I just couldn't face another wet Camino so soon...they get a ton of rain up there! Another day I hope to walk the northern route, but not this time.
Preparations are of course under way, and I'm experiencing the usual soreness that comes with carrying a +20lb pack on my back again. I have about two months to harden up, and fortunately I continued training through our wet winter putting about 6lbs back onto my frame...a good thing. A couple of injuries and issues for my favorite physio and massage pals to sort out, a retirement process to complete and then I'm off. This time it will be a more rustic journey as there is much less infrastructure, comparatively very few folks walking this route and I have to reach Salamanca before the heat gets into the high 30's and beyond. I have 49 days available once I start including about 5 rest days. I'll post more about the route in the coming days.
Oops...guess I'll have to update the header and change the map.
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