Packing List
Clothes
Everything is quick dry nylon or such. NO COTTON!
2 pr hiking pants with removable lower leg section
2 pr undershorts
2 pr smart wool socks
2 pr shirts
1 outer heavy shirt
1 fleece/downy type jacket
1 wool cap, 1 scarf, 2 buffs, 1 pr glove liners
1 pr running sneakers
1 pr Keane walking sandals
1 pr flipflops
1 rain slick
Electronics
smart phone
tablet (for easier blogging) - I know it adds weight
power adapter for Spain to USA
Charging and USB cables
solar battery charger
Comfort / Ease
Sleeping bag liner
Packable laundry line with clips
Pocket flashlight
Backpack rain cover
Extra carabiners
Extra eyeglasses and sunglasses
Sanitary Needs
Quick dry towel
Razor blade, toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste, deodorant
Medical Kit
Blister kit (needle, sterile pads, bandaids, gauze)
Sun block, insect repellent
Burn cream, antiseptic cream
Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen
24 hr allergy pills
Things I am Leaving Behind
Fitbit
Hearing aids
Meaningful Moment
Sat with my son and daughter-in-law today. I asked them if it was okay to ask a personal question, and they were open to it.
So I wanted to know if the Uvalde School shooting had come up in either of their work yet. He is a member of a Mobile Crisis Response Team (deals with immediate mental health crises in people with 24 hours of an incident). She is a high school teacher for American Sign Language.
Anyway I was able to in some small amount process internally some of my feelings which were very un-camino like.
Random Thought of the Day
As I sit in equal ground coffee shop, I am trying to process a whole lot of conflicting feelings.
Anxiety is high with the upcoming Camino Madrid.
Dreams have been bad lately, all anxiety related at being unable to complete even the simplest of tasks or being very good at whatever it is I'm trying to do.
It seems like Spain is going through a heatwave. Temperatures in Madrid which should be averaging in the mid 80s, are in the mid-90s. I only hope that as we hike North to Segovia, the temperatures begin to moderate.
My 50th Kings prep high School reunion is this weekend. That's a lot of memories. I look forward to seeing everybody, but surprisingly my mind is elsewhere.
Sunday I'm doing a presentation for the Genesee valley hiking club on hiking the pilgrimage routes of Western Europe. I get to share some of my times and adventures in Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Switzerland. I should be excited about that but I find myself, singularly unfocused.
Training is difficult. I've done some five and six mile hikes with my backpack. I've done a lot of 3 Mile hikes, both with and without backpack. Yoga is an important part and it helps me to unwind and relax and loosen the muscles. Pickleball helps me move quickly with speed and agility and react rapidly. I hope it is good training for the Camino by exercising different sets of muscles.
