What the heck am I doing

The plan: hike the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 180 miles over 14 days, 10 to 17 miles each day. I'm cheating in two ways. I am not carrying a full backpack -- instead using a transportation service for my luggage and just carrying what I might need for the day. And I am not staying in dormitory-style auberges, but in hotels and apartments with private bathrooms. I plan to enjoy the physical challenge of lots of days of walking.

I've done some crazy things, but this one feels especially exciting and different. This is my first time traveling with no husband or family. A friend, Carol Noack, had been planning this for 2 years with 2 other couples and the more she talked of it, the more I got excited. Finally 3 months ago, I just invited myself to tag along as a 6th wheel. I've done a lot of hiking and walking but never this many days in a row and with no choice but to continue onward.

I spent months finding the right shoes and getting light weight compact gear and clothes to make this doable. That part was kind of fun but pricey.

Then I spent a week trying to figure out where to stay along the way, getting the distances workable (nothing over 18 miles in one day) and finding places that could work with the luggage transport (way harder than I expected).

I had many discussions with Carol and family and friends about what it means to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and whether pre-planning and living in the moment could co-exist. I believe they can! My hope is that my plans mean I can enjoy each moment, deal with what comes and live each day to it's fullest, without the stress of not knowing where I will sleep each night and how much longer I have to walk to get there.

The others in the group didn't think the planning was necessary and chose to wing it so I thought I might be hiking most the way by myself with my pre-planned, safe, conservative route. More on this topic tomorrow :-)

I landed in Porto on Sunday night Sep 15, and enjoyed a day in Porto on Monday getting used to the time change. Carol, Joe & Debbie, and I climbed up the hill from the Ribeira district to the Cathedral Se for a tour of the church, and I got my OFFICIAL CREDENTIAL and MY FIRST STAMP. SO EXCITED -- this is now REAL. You must collect a certain number of stamps along your route and show them at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela to receive your certificate of completion.

We then enjoyed the afternoon touring Calem Port House, drinking lots of Port and a few cocktails, and enjoying a day in the beautiful city. The only downside was the terrible smoke from wildfires -- AQI had to be in the mid-200's at least. The rest of the group, John & Kelly, arrived late in the evening and we had to have another cocktail to welcome them. Wish I could say I got a good night's sleep but was just too excited to begin the trek on Tuesday.Baca lagi