Training Update

Wendy setting out with full pack

Yesterday we donned our full packs for a 10km walk around the streets of Tamborine Mountain. With only six weeks before flying out, it was time to start carrying the actual gear and weight we will need to walk with on the Camino. We've been walking with day packs weighing around 5kg but the extra weight of our travel packs, Steve's pack weighs 9kg and mine 8kg, certainly made a difference on the inclines. Our walking and gym training paid dividends, our packs felt comfortable and we were happy with our performance and recovery, although we can feel our leg muscles this morning. I puffed and sweated walking up some of the steeper sections (that's normal) but I didn't lag too far behind Steve on the hills. We need more of this training so woke early this morning for a backup walk, however it was raining. We know that shouldn't stop us because we will have to walk in all weathers on the Camino, but there we won't have a choice, here at home we do, and we chose to curl up under the covers and sleep a little longer.  Sometimes it's hard to get motivated.

Steve walking the streets

 

Post Script: the rain stopped around 7am so we threw our packs on and walked for a couple of kilometres over a couple of hills, just enough to stretch the leg muscles.

Posted with Blogsy

Committed - No Turning Back

We are now resolutely committed to walking the Camino!  There's no turning back as airline and train tickets have been purchased, Paris accommodation booked and travel insurance paid.  Committed, motivated, apprehensive and excited!
 

Our departure day is Saturday 5^th April 2014.  We fly from Brisbane to Paris with a stop over in Dubai.  After a four day romantic Paris sojourn staying in the Hotel de Fleurie in St Germain, a little luxury before becoming pilgrims, we catch the fast train to Bayonne where we’ll hire a small car and spend several days exploring some of the  beautiful historic villages in the South West of France.  Then it’s back to Bayonne to return the car before catching the train to St Jean Pied de Port.  We spend the night in St Jean awaiting the arrival of Anita, our Camino Companion, before setting off by bus/taxi to Roncesvalles where we will begin walking 'our' Camino.

Many pilgrims begin their journey to Santiago in St Jean Pied de Port however this requires a 25km hike through the Pyrenees to reach Roncesvalles, just over the border in Spain.  This section of the walk is one of the most demanding of the entire route and I just don’t feel confident enough to begin our trek from here.  Steve would really like to walk this section  however he agrees that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for me to attempt such an arduous stretch on the first day of the Camino carrying a full pack.