The Route
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2011
1
2
7
Trip End
Aug 11, 2011
Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Some bits and pieces I've had to borrow from friends but when you tell people your doing the Camino everyone is willing offer you advice of let you borrow things. For example, my sleeping mat, rain poncho, baseball cap, sleeping bag are all coming from friends and I got a map from a friendly guy in a climbing store, I mentioned to him I'd be doing the Camino and he gave it to me and a map wallet as well, so in a way, even before the start I've already experienced the spirit of it.
Since Monday I haven't done any more serious training because my foot has been sore, it feel like its in the cartilage so I can't flex my foot without it hurting. However tomorrow, I'm going to go no matter what otherwise my feet will be a bit too soft and I'll have lots of blisters to contend with as well.
I have planned the route and it should take me just over 1 month to complete the journey. It's a little bit longer than the usual time because I plan to spend a few days in Leon to meet with friends and make a detour to go caving in the north of Leon. Also, turns out that another event (completely coincidental) will happen en-route. The famous bull run through the streets of Pamplona, I had no idea it was on at this time of year so that was a nice surprise, I get to watch it or take part. I was also told that if you fall over in one of these bull runs; stay down and the bull will run past you as the majority of the injures occur when people get up. Although I know a person who fell down and had a bull run over her then and had its hoof stab her in the leg so not completely injury free but apparently it's better than getting up. The festival started last night and will continue until Wednesday morning when the last bull run occurs at 8am.
Well there aren't any more interesting events happening to my knowledge but I will try and fit some more in should I come across them but to be honest I think I will be too tired after each day to be running from angry bulls or going caving. It's taken me 3 days to recover from walking to the park and back on Monday and I'm still not fully recovered so I doubt I'll be doing too much extreme sport. Maybe it will be a good thing, It would give me a chance to sit back and force me to take it easy along the route, contemplate a bit because after all for most people the route is about getting away from every day life to get back to nature. However, I don't really want to get away from my every day life, because it's great at the moment, nor do I wish to contemplate where my life is going as I've had the best pert of 3 years to do that and this is probably where the problem lies, on a personal level I'm not able to tell you why i'm doing the Camino.
So I have all my things, my body is sort of ready (if you forget about my foot!) so I will try and prepare more on a spiritual and a contemplatory level.
