Last Sunday I walked 20 kms. I walked my usual 10kms to the Brickworks and back; had lunch; ran a few errands and then repeated the walk. I had a light pact, really just water and an apple, so now I have to add a heavier pack. At least though I know I can still do a 20kms walk. This is important for mapping out my route. I can have my pack forwarded on the Camino, not ideal, but I have to acknowledge my limitations. I hate this slow descent into the reality of old age. At 79 I walked 300kms with a full pack. At 81, I know that life would be a whole lot easier if I sent my pack ahead.
I’m still thinking about the logistics of the journey. It has been a hot humid summer, so I’m finding that even 5kms with a 12lb-pack is tiring. If the temperatures cool off a bit in August, I may find that my pack, though still heavy, will be more manageable. The weight of my pack is a little heavier this time around, because I am taking a better rain poncho, which weighs a little more and I have also included a better day pack, which again weighs a little more.
I’m also thinking of taking cotton clothing too. I took mostly merino leggings and tops on my Portuguese Camino, but I found everything quite itchy. I have sensitive skin and usually wear mostly cotton with the smallest percentage of lycra where needed, at home. Cotton is heavier and takes longer to dry so those are the disadvantages to consider with my already slightly heavier pack.
Dealing with my water bottle is still an ongoing dilemma. I have to believe there is a perfect solution out there, so I keep ordering and returning various options. I’m breaking in “new” shoes as well. The shoes I will walk the France´s with are exactly the same as the ones I used for the Camino Portuguese except they have never been worn. I loved the make – Underarmour when I bought my shoes in 2023 so much, that I went out and bought the same pair again to keep as a back up. They just need to relax a bit more.
I underestimated the amount of refinement, I am adding to this second Camino. You think that you have everything ready because you have done it before, until you realize that you don’t. I’d like to say that “everything old is new again.” Well I can always hope! Buen Camino.