I know I disappeared for a while. One of the reasons I decided to retire early, is because my children were just entering the dreaded teenage years. My oldest was becoming a bit more difficult to deal with, and even more so after a stressful day at work. I am not the most patient mom, and I’m better dealing with teenage issues when I’m calm. Retirement made me a LOT more calm.
I told myself I wouldn’t talk about my kids much on this blog to respect their privacy and so far I’ve managed to stick to that. I was absent for a while because BOTH of my children announced rather abrupt changes in plans at the beginning of summer. It was a little stressful. Still a little stressful, but better.
I made my flight reservations for the Camino De Santiago. When I pressed the button to purchase them, I felt like I did once when I stood at the top of a high dive that I had told my friends “didn’t look all that high.” From the top it looked a whole lot further to the ground than it did when I was safely ON the ground. I did it though. I also bought travel insurance since I’m no longer in my 20’s. Just in case. I have 98 days until I leave. I sketched out a plan of about how far I plan to walk every day, though to be honest, I am not sure how I’ll do till I get there. I have to make plans based on something, though, so I made a guess. I looked at the plans of my cousin and his wife who plan to go with me and I realized that they’re kind of taking the scenic route. This is understandable since they are 70, travelling with each other, and have no children at home. I explained the last time we talked that I’d walk with them a few days, but I think I’m going to leave them and walk ahead. They understood and were nice about it. My flight out is several days before theirs. My Mom feels much better just knowing they will be in the same country while I’m there.
I still have to buy travel tickets from Paris to St Jean Pied-de-Port. I read somewhere that France was no longer going to allow short flights in the country, but they are still going to allow connecting flights in the country. I have no idea how they’re going to differentiate the two, but I’d probably better make the last flight reservation to Biarritz or research train options pretty soon.
Several of my friends and family members have expressed concern about me being “alone” while I’m doing this. Last year more than 400,000 people make the trek, and this looks to be a record year. I doubt I’ll find it lonely! I’m a little surprised at the concern especially since several people have suggested that I hike the Appalachian Trail which seems a lot more scary to me! Also I have been doing slightly crazy things all my life- when I was in college I sold books door-to-door several states away from my home. I went to Europe the first time by myself when I was 16. Why is this trip so scary sounding to people?
I have begun training a little harder than before. Today I walked about 12 miles with a 14 lb weighted vest. This weekend I climbed 80 flights of stairs with 16 lbs of weight- about 890 feet in elevation. There are not many hills in our area, so if I’m going to train for the mountainous parts of the hike, this is the only way I can think of to do it. I used actual stairs at the advice of a doctor friend who pointed out that if I used a stairmaster, I would not be strengthening the muscles I’d need to go DOWN the mountain ranges. That’s where most people get hurt. A couple of weeks ago, I did a fast hike with 12 lbs of weight. I covered 9.5 miles in 2.75 hours. My husband thinks that this is overkill. It might be. A lot of people don’t train at all, but I can tell I’m getting used to the extra load, and that’s probably a good thing. Also, if I’m in really good shape, I won’t be too tired after hiking to explore the towns a bit. We’re taking a family trip to the mountains next week. It sounds like a good time to test all this high tech gear I bought…
In other news- I have finished my pottery class. It was enormously fun. I have always enjoyed playing in the dirt, and I have several pieces of pottery that I made and will use. It IS harder than it looks. The studio where I took the class offers individual lessons, and also space rental. You can buy a block of clay ($20) and rent a space for a month ($100) and buy a few glazes, and go as often as you like. I’m thinking about doing it this fall when I get back from Spain. There are a few other things I wanted to make and didn’t get a chance to in class. But I’m not especially talented at it, and I don’t think pottery is really my passion. And also, someone lent me some watercolor supplies. Watercolor sounds like fun too.
I’m still knitting- and one of the things I made in pottery class was a yarn bowl, which is designed to keep your ball of yarn corralled while you’re pulling on it. I have lots of projects in mind, and two that I’m working on now that are fun- a shawl and a baby blanket. I need to come up with a project to take on board with me to Spain, because knitting makes a long flight more tolerable…
It is once again sweltering where I live. The plants are enjoying it, and my vegetable garden is beginning to yield some produce, but I find myself hibernating inside in the air conditioning during the heat of the day. I am thrilled that ALL of the passionfruit vines I transplanted look like they’re going to make it. Despite a pretty harsh winter, most of our trees and shrubs are green and healthy looking again. There are always cut flowers from my garden in the house, and its time to pull out the kayak.
Wow! I’ve said it before but it bears repeating (over and over, my memory is shot š) – posts like this are so inspiring for me in the long, slow, middle part of FIRE. I love hearing about all the opportunities you have.
I’ve had two people in the last month genuinely puzzled as to why I would want to retire, because they “would be bored” if they weren’t working. This post is a great example of how to have a non-boring life outside of work.I plan to be one of those people who say I’m so busy I don’t know how I ever had time to work! (But also to relax, I don’t want my fun things to become obligations either).
I think the pottery offer is a fantastic deal. As you said, it might not really be your thing but for that price you could make a single month’s commitment.
Congratulations on booking the Camino, and for training. You’ve definitely got this.
Yes, I agree that you can let even fun things take too much of your time. Too busy is no fun!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog- I love hearing that- thanks!
Remind me, what are the stats for the Camino hike…how far and roughly how long you think it will take? I have my Tour du Mont Blanc hike coming up, we start in 4 weeks – it’s only 170km (a bit over 100 miles) but with 10,000 metres or ascent and descent. You’re right to think about the descents, I find them at least as tough as the going up bits. As I was reading about your training, which sounds very sensible to me, I did wonder whether I should have done the same, especially to get used to wearing a backpack…oops!
It’s 772km if you don’t take any detours. I’ve alotted 5 weeks, but im thinking i might finish early. Im a fast walker. The first day you gain 1390 m of elevation- I will cross the Pyrenees into Spain. The first day is the steepest hike, but there is one later in the trip. I’m going to train with a 20 lb backpack but I’m hoping to keep it lighter than that. It’ll be chilly towards the end of the trip, so I’ll have to pack a jacket etc.
I have a recently retired friend and his partner who did the same Camino track as you are this spring. They had mostly good weather the whole time, especially through the Pyrenees. They definitely said that was the most strenuous and hardest part since it was through the mountain pass but also it is the very beginning. Even if you have trained (which they did), it was a lot.
I think they took a rest day afterwards just to recuperate a little and enjoy the town before continuing. They took a couple extra days along the trail and still ended up finishing earlier than they expected.
They mentioned getting into a routine of an early start, finishing by early to mid afternoon, finding a place to stay, washing socks and undies, showering, eating and then relax and explore until bedtime.
After they finished, they had time to take the trains along the coast of northern Spain, then eventually back to France before catching their return flight.
Hearing about their trip has certainly inspired me to plan to do it before too long. Look forward to hearing more about your preparation and all!
I’m glad to hear they were able to finish early. I volunteer at a facility where I walk 12 miles a day, and will be carrying my backpack. I think I’m in pretty good shape, but I guess I’ll find out. Finishing with a little extra time to wander around would be wonderful!