{"id":6248,"date":"2017-08-24T02:24:06","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T02:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=6248"},"modified":"2021-08-06T01:45:28","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T01:45:28","slug":"training-for-the-camino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=6248","title":{"rendered":"Training for the Camino"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

My projected route will start at\u00a0Pamplona<\/a><\/em>, at the lower right, for some 450 miles of hiking…<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Three weeks from now I’ll be winging my way from Atlanta to <\/span>Madrid<\/a>.*\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0(As in Spain<\/a>.) \u00a0<\/em>I’ll arrive at 8:30 Saturday morning, after an all-night flight.<\/span> \u00a0(And no doubt suffering from\u00a0jet lag<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Bad news? “Travelling east causes more problems than travelling west because the body clock has to be advanced, which is more difficult.” And if you cross six time zones – like me – “the body will typically adjust to this time change in three to five days.” By that time I’m supposed<\/em><\/strong> to be in\u00a0Pamplona<\/a>, getting ready to hike 450 miles, in 30 days, on the\u00a0Camino de Santiago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

And now for some background: \u00a0Last year at this time I was training for a four-day “hike” on the Chilkoot Trail. \u00a0I was also training for a canoe trip. \u00a0That canoe trip\u00a0came after the Chilkoot-Trail hike, and entailed my brother and I paddling 440 miles “down” the Yukon River,* in Canada.<\/p>\n

I described those adventures in\u00a0On the Chilkoot &^%$# Trail! \u2013 Part 1<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Part 2<\/a>, and in\u00a0\u201cNaked lady on the Yukon<\/a>.” \u00a0(As metaphorically illustrated at right.)<\/em><\/p>\n

The “Chilkoot” was pretty much a nightmare. \u00a0For one thing, it’s not a trail at all. \u00a0It’s more like one big pile of<\/em><\/strong> &^%#$ rocks<\/em> after another<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0But I’m glad I did it.<\/p>\n

I’m also glad my brother and I canoe-paddled 440 miles “down” the Yukon River, from\u00a0Whitehorse \u00a0to Dawson City<\/a>. \u00a0(For reasons including but not limited to the “naked lady” sighting described in my prior posts.)<\/em> \u00a0So now I’m ready for a new adventure.<\/p>\n

For one thing, between last summer and now we’ve had a contentious presidential election, and an even more contentious beginning-of-the-Trump Administration. \u00a0So my new adventure in Spain is a chance to\u00a0get away from it all<\/a>. \u00a0Then too,\u00a0I’ve tried to keep pace with all the resulting mayhem since last August, but to no avail. \u00a0(For one thing I was going to do a post on a “Bizarro Trump.” \u00a0But that’s been impossible because it’s hard to tell the Bizarro version from the real thing.) \u00a0<\/em>So I’ve decided to focus on some things I can actually have an impact on.<\/p>\n

Things like my upcoming\u00a0pilgrimage<\/a>\u00a0on the Camino de Santiago. \u00a0(Where I’ll meet up my brother in\u00a0Pamplona<\/a><\/em>, but not during the “running of the bulls, as seen at left.)<\/em><\/p>\n

And incidentally, the map at the top of the page is courtesy of Camino de Santiago 800 PROJECT<\/a>. \u00a0That post described a 14-day trip\u00a0on the Camino, starting at\u00a0Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port<\/a>. \u00a0But that guy and his travel-buddy covered the 500 miles on bicycles, not on foot. \u00a0(Though traveling on bikes could be a\u00a0fallback position<\/a><\/em>\u00a0for us: \u00a0“an alternative course of action that may be taken if the original plan fails.”)<\/em><\/p>\n

Other sites with good advice include\u00a0Preparing for the Camino<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Training for the Camino<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Then there’s\u00a0Camino de Santiago \u2013 Helping pilgrims since 2004<\/a>, and – for some “devil’s advocate<\/a>” feedback – a post called\u00a010 Reasons Why El Camino Santiago Sucks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among the reasons the Camino “sucks:” Car\u00a0traffic within\u00a0earshot<\/a>\u00a095% of the time, monotonous scenery and unfriendly commercialism. \u00a0But apparently the biggest reason:<\/p>\n

It’s hard to take a piss.<\/strong>\u00a0 There’s little privacy. Cars and pilgrims are constantly passing you by. \u00a0After 3 p.m. most pilgrims retire to their\u00a0albergues\u00a0<\/em>(huts) and you’ll get more privacy to do your business. \u00a0Nevertheless, at 7 p.m. one jogger still managed to catch me with my pants down. \u00a0[Emphasis in original.]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"13Which could be a personal problem. \u00a0And for that matter there was also very little privacy on the Chilkoot Trail.<\/p>\n

But as I described the situation in\u00a0The Chilkoot \u2013 Part 1<\/a>, that was more of a problem of “cursing my fate” rather than answering a call of nature. \u00a0(See the notes…)<\/em><\/p>\n

Then too, I ran into a similar problem kayaking into the\u00a0Okefenokee Swamp<\/a>\u00a0– twice – for overnight camping trips. \u00a0But in that case it was a matter of no solid ground – in the swamp – for you to get out and stand up. \u00a0(For whatever reason.)<\/em><\/p>\n

But we were talking about “training for the Camino.” \u00a0For starters, there’s a boatload of paperwork: \u00a0Making sure your passport is up-to-date, and<\/em> <\/strong>has at least three months left after your projected departure date. \u00a0(Departure back home from Spain that is.) \u00a0<\/em>Getting your pilgrim’s “credencial.” \u00a0Booking your air line flight. \u00a0Getting travel insurance. \u00a0Getting your pack ready, and making sure it weighs no more than 10% of your body weight. \u00a0(For me, 16 pounds.)<\/em><\/p>\n

You could<\/em><\/strong> get all the necessary prep-info from the websites noted above, or other informative sites. Or<\/em><\/strong>, you could have an ex-Marine\u00a0Sgt. Rock<\/a>-type older brother who’s done the research already.<\/p>\n

And<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0sent a number of informative emails, plus<\/em><\/strong> a 4-page single-spaced “to-do list” to check before you leave. \u00a0(Not to mention a note saying, “I hope you’re saving this information I’m passing on…”)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As to getting ready to hit the trail itself, the hardest part is getting your feet ready. \u00a0(Like the hardest part of getting ready to paddle six hours a day for eight days is getting your wrists and hands in shape.)<\/em> \u00a0To that end, I’ve been hiking 12 or more miles a day, once a week, for the last several months. \u00a0And<\/em> <\/strong>making sure my feet are in good enough shape the next morning to hike another five or six hours. \u00a0And for the past several weeks I’ve been doing my weekly hikes on the\u00a0Pine Mountain Trail<\/a>, near F.D. Roosevelt State Park<\/a>, near Warm Springs, GA.<\/p>\n

But there’s a big difference. \u00a0The Pine Mountain Trail is – I hope – far more rugged than the Camino. \u00a0Lots of roots, boulders, sheer drop-offs and slippery-rock streams to cross. \u00a0On the other hand the Camino seems to be more smooth and level, or asphalt-paved.<\/p>\n

Naturally I’ll be doing a\u00a0post-mortem<\/a>\u00a0in this blog, once I get home. \u00a0So “we” will see if my hike-training preparations were adequate. \u00a0But in the meantime it pays to look ahead. \u00a0And looking ahead to some time on the weekend of October 14-15 – some seven and a half weeks from now – I hope<\/em> <\/strong>to catch a glimpse of of our final destination, shown below. \u00a0That would be\u00a0Santiago de Compostela<\/a>, whether\u00a0the “Pico Sacro*” is in the background or foreground.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“A partial view of\u00a0Santiago de Compostela<\/a><\/em>, with the\u00a0Pico Sacro\u00a0in the background…”<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0Camino de Santiago 800 PROJECT: Map of the Route<\/a>silverarrow18.blogspot.com<\/a>. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNote\u201d also that an asterisk in the main text indicates a statement supported by a reference detailed further in this \u201cnotes\u201d section. \u00a0Thus as to the asterisk next to the passage “from Atlanta to\u00a0Madrid<\/a>:” The image is courtesy of the Wikipedia article on\u00a0Spain<\/a>, including a link to the\u00a0Spanish Civil War<\/a>\u00a0(1936-39). \u00a0The caption indicated the words “No pasaran” translate to “They shall not pass.” \u00a0The caption further noted a sub-title on the banner, that “Madrid will be the graveyard of fascism<\/i>.” \u00a0And finally, the caption noted that “Fascism<\/a>\u00a0was on rise in Europe during Spanish Civil War,” which somehow seemed appropriate…<\/em><\/p>\n

Also, re: \u00a0“‘down’ the Yukon River.” \u00a0As explained in the “naked lady” post, the Yukon flows north, like the Nile River but unlike most other rivers in the world. \u00a0Thus the\u00a0anomaly<\/a>\u00a0of saying you are paddling “down” a river, but also paddling northward, which most people refer to as “up.” \u00a0See\u00a0The Straight Dope: On maps, why is north always up<\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0“Cursing my fate.” \u00a0See\u00a0On the Chilkoot &^%$# Trail! \u2013 Part 1<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n

What with my lack of depth perception, going over \u201cone big pile of *&$% rocks after another\u201d was like negotiating a\u00a0minefield<\/a>. \u00a0I wore heavy hiking boots, but they\u00a0felt<\/em>\u00a0like ballet slippers. Every step was sheer torture… \u00a0I had just taken one of many missteps \u2013 especially bad that day \u2013 and let loose a string of pungent epithets. Then I looked behind me and there \u2013 climbing \u201cpersonfully<\/a>\u201d behind me \u2013 was [a] sweet young [lady hiker]. \u00a0Sheepishly I apologized, noting that I had \u201cno depth perception.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also re: \u00a0The Camino. \u00a0See also\u00a0Camino de Santiago \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The image to the right of the paragraph “But as I described the situation,” shows\u00a0\u201cDead Horse Trail<\/a>,\u201d so named for the number of horses who died on White Pass<\/a>, the only alternative route to the Klondike gold fields in the 1898 gold rush. \u00a0As to which route was better – White Pass or the Chilkoot Trail –\u00a0\u00a0“a pioneer \u2013\u00a0Mont Hawthorne<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 said there really was no choice: \u00a0\u201cOne\u2019s hell. \u00a0The other\u2019s damnation<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The “Sgt. Rock” image is courtesy of\u00a0Sgt Rock Wallpaper<\/a>nocturnals.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The lower image is courtesy of\u00a0Santiago de Compostela – Wikipedia<\/a>. \u00a0As to “Pico Sacro,” see\u00a0Pico Sacro | Web Oficial de Turismo de Santiago de Compostela<\/a>, which added these points:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

The history of the municipality of Boqueix\u00f3n is closely linked to its main geographic landmark and greatest natural and cultural resource: \u00a0Pico Sacro<\/strong>, one of Galicia\u2019s most mythical and best-known mountains.<\/p>\n

Pico Sacro\u2019s silhouette is a scenic point of reference in a wide-ranging area.<\/p>\n

Pico Sacro<\/strong> is the source of countless legends and traditional tales. \u00a0The region\u2019s inhabitants venerated the mountain before and after the arrival of Christianity, and it plays an essential role in the myth regarding the transfer of the Apostle James\u2019 body. \u00a0It has a peculiar shape formed by rocks of crystallized quartz and a height of 533 metres above sea level.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My projected route will start at\u00a0Pamplona, at the lower right, for some 450 miles of hiking… * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * Three weeks from now I’ll be winging my way from Atlanta to Madrid.*\u00a0\u00a0(As in Spain.) \u00a0I’ll arrive at 8:30 Saturday morning, after an all-night flight. \u00a0(And no doubt suffering from\u00a0jet lag.) Bad […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6248"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11090,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6248\/revisions\/11090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}