Call of the wilds!

In 2017, we set off on an adventure! To step away from the baggage of society and live the simple life. The Way of Saint James, The Camino de Santiago or Pilgrimage of Compostela! With backpacks  containing the barest essentials, we joined the masses, following the ancient path to the resting place of St James.

 Trekking the undulating hills through the rustic villages and towns,  using the simple yellow arrow or shell to guide the way;  A pilgrim's life brings forth a roller coaster of emotions; the anticipation, exhilaration and liberation but also brings; fatigue, aches and pains brought on by the strenuous nature of the challenge.

The first part of this adventure is the physical, the body needs to adjust to the new demands placed upon it, you may develop blisters, sore feet and aches where you never thought possible. ibuprofen and compeed become your new best friends. Just when you start to get the pain under control, you move on to the mental game. By this stage you have walked many kilometres and have many more ahead, just keep one foot in front of the other. The epiphany or spiritual stage kicks in when you realise just what you are achieving and how far you have come. Deliverance!

At dinner on our last night in Santiago, the question went around the table about walking the Camino again? At the time, we felt that we had 'been there done that' and we had other fish to fry.  Never say never!

 We yearn for the simplicity of  'The Way' and are on our way back there now!

                             

How ever you choose to accomplish your Camino, remember, it is just that! Your Camino is your way!

A pilgrim's pack.

The rule of thumb is that your pack should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight. You can be sure that there is method to this madness.... body & soul preservation! The Camino trail alone puts undue stress on the muscles and tendons with all the rocky paths and undulating hill one must endure along the way. By becoming a pilgrim, you are agreeing to a simple way of life. Gone are the fancy clothes and shoes. Makeup and hairdryers become a thing of a long distant past. To be frank, you can go days without looking in a mirror and some mornings you will just don your hat with no thought to a hairbrush. Vanity has no place!  If you are looking from Brad's point of view, nothing really changes.

It is essential to carry a  good quality pack that fits well. We used a Deuter brand; which had easy access, plus a built in rain cover. No problems!
 www.mountaindesigns.com/blog/tips/how-to-fit-a-pack


Packing list!

- Sleeping in Albergues can be difficult at the best of times. If you can get a half decent sleep, you will perform so much better on the next day's trek. To make yourself snug, we recommend that you take a light weight, compact sleeping bag and a pillow case to cover the dodgy pillows on the bunks. Add a pair of earplugs to block out the snorers & grunters plus an eye patch for protection from those early morning cyclop headlamps. Sweet dreams!
www.wiggle.com.au/nordisk-oscar-2-sleeping-bag


-Use a dry sack inside your pack to store your meagre wardrobe. This will keep your clothes all together and dry if you come across inclement weather.
-Our scrubba wash bag (an Aussie invention), paid for itself. It's a waterproof bag with a flexible internal washboard that provides a machine quality wash. (N.B. You will lather up  a sweat using it though).  As it was not always possible to gain access to washing facilities along the way, it was a Camino god send to pull out the old scrubba and in 6 easy steps our smalls were hung out to dry. Fill, roll & clip, deflate, rub and rinse. Voila!   www.thescrubba.com.au
Another little hint is to peg your socks to the back of your pack to dry whilst hiking but do so at your own risk! (keep in mind our Camino miracle).


Clothes!
2 pairs of hiking pants  (the ones that zip off into shorts are multi purpose)
3 short s shirts (breathable with moisture-wicking properties)
1 flannelette long s shirt (gives that extra warmth)
1 pair of thermals. (doubled as pjs)
1 waterproof coat.
3 sets of underwear, gloves, beanie and sun hat.
3 pairs inners and 2 pairs of outer socks.
Hiking shoes and flip flops.

Miscellaneous extras.
-Ziplock bags to keep travel & pilgrim passports dry.
-Limited first aide kit. You are not going to be out in the middle of Woop Woop and pilgrims are known for keeping the pharmacies in business, so you will always be able to top up at the end of the day.
-Minimal toiletry (repeat, there are shops aplenty)
- Carry a water bottle to top up along the way.
-Snacks, we always had a few on hand for just in case!



Never overlook the power of simplicity.
Buen Camino!

                        

-

A pilgrim's progress.

    A challenge taken,
    truth be told.
    Of body, soul
    and life.
    Behold!

    Bring to pass,
    the somatic pain.
    Transmuting to
    an inner gain.

   In pursuit of
   the yellow arrow,
   A trek of the path
   sometimes too narrow.

  Grateful to be,
  in the here & now.
  A simplistic heart,
  enfolds thy shell.

  As the essence
  of the world's soul align,
  vanity fair becomes but
  a moment in time.

 Embrace the beauty,
 connections transcend,
 as the sense of mystery
 you shall wend.

 Buen Camino!






 

Tips and hints on 'The Way'!

 If you decide to undertake the Peregrino journey; you will hear a lot of advice.

The most important thing is to embrace is the fact that it is not a race but a journey. Your journey! It does not matter if you walk 10, 20 or 30 kms a day, you will get there in the end. We spoke to a lot of people along the way and some of most inspirational pilgrims we met, were serial repeaters. They usually get up around 7am and have a leisurely breakfast before heading out. Then walk for no more than 20kms, stopping off at the little bars and cafes along the way. In other words, 'Stop and smell the roses'!

The gear you choose to accompany you on this amazing experience will make or break you.

Our all important tip is to take as little as possible in your pack. The recommended guide line is 10% of your body weight. Believe us, when we tell you that does not account for much at all. Majority of pilgrims set off with more than that baggage allowance, only to dis-guard or send forth many unnecessary items. It is really a back to basics kinda gig.  Hairdryers and makeup become a thing of the past when you are lucky to glance in a mirror once a week. You are not going to be hiking in the wilderness. There are shops, doctors and pharmacies in every town, so do yourself a favour and pack light.

Hiking boots & socks- These must be great quality as they are responsible for carrying you and your pack all the way to Santiago! Make sure your boots are the correct size (allow room for swelling), try boots on at the end of the day and make sure you wear the socks that you intend to hike in.
Allow enough time to wear them in whilst training.  There is a lot of controversy about socks and foot care. We swear by the double sock method. One inner liner sock and an outer hiking sock. Purchase proper hiking socks from an outdoor store.

Back pack- As all your worldly possession are going to be confined to this compact, light weight pack, it is essential for your pack to fit you properly. Even distribution of weight on the body will save your neck, back, shoulder and knee pain.

Sleeping bag and pillow case- We purchased  nordisk, 'Oscar' -2 bags, weighing in at 700gm. They packed down relatively small and sat in the bottom of our packs. We took our own pillow cases too. If you are warm and cosy at night you can perform better up those hills the next day.

Hiking poles- We used 2 poles which really were a blessing. Not only did they help propel us up those hills, they provided a comforting sense of rhythm along the way!


Training, Camino fitness!
Again, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to training for The Way. Nothing can really prepare you for day after day of walking on the rocky, uneven surfaces. Our theory is however; if you start out reasonably fit; you will enjoy the journey so much more. We started serious training 3 month prior to our adventure. Week nights would be a walk of  at least 1 hour and weekends would be around 6 hours of hills, both days. Remember to train with your backpack- start off lighter and build up to 10% of your body weight. You will gain stamina during your journey and it will become routine to walk every day.

One of the gifts that the Camino offers is freedom, this freedom is liberating!

BUEN CAMINO!

 

Pilgrim, tourist or Camino Traveller

It started as a mere thought as we crossed the Meseta and continued to manifest itself into topics of conversations as we ventured from Albergue to Albergue.  The origin stemmed from a rest stop; one of many, taken as we traversed ‘the way.’  As we dodged the toilet paper that grows wild like rape seed and dislodged our pack, we noticed the scrawled writing on the back of a sign.   Small in stature but packing a thought provoking wallop; the words simply stated:  ‘Pilgrim 10%, tourist 90% - which are you?’

Which indeed!  We had used the word pilgrim, pilgrimage and peregrino at every opportunity like a cheap rapper dropping beats to the nosebleed section, but were we simply a tourist feeding on the St James economy?   If we were a tourist, did this somehow render what we were doing null and void; were we indeed cheapening the experience by somehow embarking on a Contiki Camino?  True, we were not undertaking the journey for a religious experience or in the hope of a life changing epiphany but rather a challenging opportunity to journey together and reflect in a simplistic manner.  Surely that equated to a pilgrimage. Deep down that scrawl reverberated. We didn’t feel like a tourist, who demanded instant gratification, nor were we carrying a bible. The way of it is; we were just two individuals, stripping back our busy life and enjoying the monotony of seeking out the yellow arrow & ceramic shell.   

Certainly, we did see a few religious zealots, who chewed our ears off with their own slant of biblical verses and traditions; which strangely matched their own agenda, (the likes of 'God Hates Divorce' tshirt or the carrying of one’s own substantial crucifix.)  In reality, along ‘The Way’ there are no tourists but rather Camino Travellers.  We first heard this term when we were espousing our dilemma at the Municipal Albergue in Sahagun. This particular group of liked minded travellers had all completed the Camino on multiple occasions and as the vino tinto flowed, the discussion raged. Our fellow walkers clearly articulated that there is no right or wrong way to partake of the Camino. In essence, the Camino is your way and no book, individual or piece of graffiti can define it  – you must experience it yourself and take away from it what you will.  We are all travellers and the Camino is our canvas; where we share stories, form friendships and build a community that supports, nurtures and grows.

  We are proud to be Camino travellers of 'The Way'.  Who needs to be a pilgrim when you can be a traveller?

The Way!

Camino de Santiago "the way of St James";  the ancient pilgrimage trek starting at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-port in France follows 800 km to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The entire trek takes around about a month. Beautiful, diverse scenery and many interesting B&Bs and monastries to stay at along the way. Definitely on our bucket list!


The Way!
This inspirational movie is about a father heading overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El Camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself.