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Siren Song of the Camino - Magical Moments On El Camino De Santiago
of: Christine Sherwood, Alayne Sinclair
BookBaby, 2016
ISBN: 9781483577807 , 200 Pages
Format: ePUB
Copy protection: DRM
Chapter 1
Only the Beginning
September 16, 2013
I have heard it said that your Camino begins when you start to plan it. For me this has certainly been true, I have become obsessed. It feels like a siren song has been calling me and I can’t stop thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago.
Like many others it all started for me in May of 2013 when I watched the film The Way and after that I wasn’t able to get it out of my mind. Walking the Camino has grasped my thoughts and when I find myself very down about things I dream of doing it.
I really wanted to go and my husband had no objections but could not accompany me as he had just started a new job. I e-mailed Alayne, a former travelling companion and roommate from college and asked whether she would be interested in walking it with me. It has been 35 years since we backpacked across Australia and New Zealand and a dozen years since we have even seen each other. She seemed quite interested with the stipulation that she could get fit by next September (which is when I have been thinking of going). She mentioned being jealous of someone that she knew who had done part of it so I knew she was interested.
My spare time is spent reading personal accounts either on blogs or books and it is rare that I read anything else but something on the Camino. Nothing else really appeals to me or captures my interest. Honestly, sometimes I think I am going crazy. I have no answers as to why it has gripped my thoughts. I requested five weeks off work next September and I am waiting to see if it will be approved.
I read as much as I can find and dream about the journey even though it sounds difficult. I wonder if I can carry a pack for 500 miles? Maybe the bigger question is, will I be able to walk all those miles in five weeks? How I wish I had endless time to do the things I want to do. I want things to be simpler again. Like the five months Alayne and I spent travelling across Australia and New Zealand 35 years ago. No schedule, just being able to go where the wind took us. I guess part of me just wants to get away from it all, to think and reassess my life. I feel that I am in a rut and I know I need a change. The person I once was seems to be long gone and I want to find her again.
October 13, 2013
Things are slowly progressing. I don’t want to count on anything quite yet however, but I am becoming more optimistic that things are taking shape. The good news is that I have been approved to take five weeks off next September. Of course I always worry that I won’t have a job to come back to but then I am a worrier. I feel that this is a good thing to do at this stage of my life. I just need to have faith, something that doesn’t come easily to me.
The second thing is that it looks like Alayne, is pretty positive about going on the adventure. Again, I am cautiously optimistic. I will take a wait and see attitude and see what happens.
December 30, 2013
Alayne has now confirmed that she is going to do the walk so it is on! She has lost 30 lbs. so far and has been working hard to get in shape. I’m both apprehensive and excited at the same time. Sleep has become a thing of the past for me. I’m lucky if I get three hours in before I wake up. There is so much to do, train for and think about!
Today I walked about 4 kms. I really love the Christmas break! Thirty minutes on the treadmill, then wearing my new hiking boots, down the hill to the golf course and back. They were surprisingly comfortable. Aside from that my left foot has become painful suddenly and I am having trouble stepping on it. A visit to the doctor is in order to get it straightened out. Hopefully drugs will help on the Camino. I gather from reading other accounts that Ibuprofen is your best friend, that and something called Compeed which I gather is a type of magic bandage for blisters.
For Christmas I received a very light Sony camera and a gift certificate to the local sporting goods store from my husband. I have discovered that hiking gear is quite expensive. I bought a pair of hiking poles and just hope that the airline doesn’t lose them before I get to use them. I now am the proud owner of three pairs of hiking socks, hiking boots, poles and a lightweight towel. I already have a shoulder sling for carrying the camera/passport/money plus a money belt, raincoat and plug adapter.
I worry if I can do it as I don’t have the world’s best stamina. It is going to take all I have to finish this adventure. I hope it is not just hard work but fun too!
Alayne is coming to visit in mid February and hopefully we can book our flights when she gets here. That way we can coordinate where we will meet up. The next two big purchases are a backpack and then a sleeping bag.
February 24, 2014
My visit with Alayne went well and I think we will make good travelling companions again. While she was here I booked all my flights, purchased a new light pack and some great zip off pants that convert to capris. They were a bargain at MEC for $10. Over the past two weeks I have been booking our accommodation for the start of the trip in Saint Jean Pied de Port, the next night at Orrison and then the final night in Santiago. My travel agent has arranged the hotel near the airport for the two of us on the day I arrive in Paris and she will be arranging one night in Amsterdam for me on my final night before I fly home. It has been fun doing some of the accommodation bookings myself.
Some good news is that after not getting any firm diagnosis from my doctor about my foot, I had the idea to see a physiotherapist. Apparently two bones in my foot were out of alignment and he worked them over for me and taped my foot up. The relief was almost immediate and after a few weeks of exercising to get stronger, I’m good to go again.
April 1, 2014
The Canadian Company of Pilgrims meeting was last Sunday and it is interesting to note that most of the people who were there were around my age. There were a few young ones but mostly older people. It looks like we will be in good company. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the room and a great deal of excitement. Some had walked more than once! There was a lot of information being passed around and questions being asked and answered.
I got home and weighed my pack without my sleeping bag and toiletries and it weighed 9 lbs. I put in all the clothes that I am taking including the ones that I’m wearing to offset the lack of sleeping bag. I am allowed another 6 lbs and I hope I can keep within that. The total weight of your pack should be no more than 10% of your body weight. Soon I will need to purchase the remainder of my items. I’m going to renew my 10-year passport this week
It does make me think, why am I doing this walk? Is it that my life is so bad that I need to walk 500 miles just to get away from it all? My beginner Spanish class begins in eight days and I’m a little apprehensive about it. Even if I pick up a bit I’m hoping it will help.
May 4, 2014
My father passed away April 9. I somehow knew that he wouldn’t be here when I started my journey. I just kind of felt it. He has been struggling for the last few years with declining health after a series of small strokes and my once strong and determined father is gone. He fought right to the end. He did not go quietly or easily from this life. There will always be a void for me and again when my mother goes but until then, life goes on. My father had a little pair of Dutch wooden shoes hanging from his walker. I am going to take them with me on the trip and put them on my pack. He had never heard about the Camino and when I told him about it he said to me “I’d like to do that someday”. I knew this wouldn’t be possible but in a small way, he will be with me. Buen Camino Dad.
It has been hard to stay focused on the task at hand and to keep walking but I know that if I don’t try I will really pay for it when I start. I have gone to four Spanish classes and I am listening to tapes when I can in the car. I find languages very difficult but at least if I make an attempt at it hopefully something will stick. I already know more than I did a month ago and I would like to keep it up.
June 19, 2014
I got a text from Alayne the other day and she has lost 70 lbs so far. I’m so impressed. That is what you call determination.
It is almost down to the two-month mark and I’m still plugging away at my Spanish. The formal lessons are now over and now it is just practice. I know it isn’t necessary to speak the language but I do feel that it will enhance my experience to be able to communicate with the locals. Some words are very close to English but it is the verbs and the different endings that I find so confusing. I almost have the numbers from 0 to 20 memorized and for me that is a feat in itself.
I am walking more and more each day and on the weekends trying to walk with my backpack. Actually when I’m on the treadmill I slap it on as well. It is already feeling better...
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