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  • First Conditioning Hike – 08/12/25

    Better stated this is the first hike I am doing with the idea of getting ready for the Camino. I started at an elevation of 6160 ft and reached Tamarack Lake at an elevation of 8680 ft in three hours. Of course I had to get back down as well, so the total distance was 14.52 miles. I’m the man. The man with sore feet. That is a pretty good simulation of the first day on the French Way. But how will I feel tomorrow and would I be ready for the same distance, but flatish? Don’t know.

    Edit 8/13/25: No problem. A little stretching and I was good to go. That is good news.

    Tamarack Lake

  • Camino de Santiago – Initial Planning

    Oh boy. I’m going on a little hike. Below is a description I swiped from Wikipedia:

    “…Most Spanish consider the French border in the Pyrenees the natural starting point. By far the most common, modern starting point on the Camino Francés is Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, on the French side of the Pyrenees, with Roncesvalles on the Spanish side also being popular.[36] The distance from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela through León is about 800 km (500 mi)…”

    There are a few things I need to do in preparation. I need a list. First and foremost, I should go to a therapist to make sure I haven’t lost my marbles. Since most agree that I lost those quite a while ago I can skip that list item – CHECK.

    Then I need to start getting in the kind of condition that can withstand going 15-18 miles each and every day. I WAS a runner (notice the emphasis) and we hike a lot so I’m in good condition, but maybe not THAT level of conditioning. I better be doing a lot of hiking with a loaded backpack in the coming weeks. Since we live at 6000′ altitude I theoretically will be ready with that, so – CHECK.

    Learn Spanish. No problem. Wait. No. Problem. Duolingo? Babel? I just need to be able to order a beer. That shouldn’t be that difficult. I actually want to be better than that so – OPEN ITEM.

    Then I need to make a list of sub-lists. This is the mind of an engineer at work, so stand back and watch as I forget to take any clothes or backpack so – OPEN ITEMS.

    I’m tired just typing. Oh boy.