A Packing List to celebrate 6000 hits!

My blog has had 6000 views in it's short life. I had no idea when I began it, that it would be so much fun, and such a great way to spread the word about the benefits of walking and the Camino.
Thank you for reading, and commenting. I am hoping that you will sign up for regular posts, and comment, especially while I am on the Camino - I know I really appreciated the thought that someone was following my story, and so I felt connected to home.

I am assembling my backpack, though there is still almost 4 weeks until we leave. Actually, what to take is a
perennial topic of conversation on the walks with pilgrims.
Can we do carry-on only?
That is my plan.
Should we put our poles in our packs, and can we carry them on?
Apparently that is allowed on Air France, the airline we are using.
How many pairs of underwear?
3 pair - I auditioned them, and chose the 3 pair that dried the fastest.
Snacks, and gluten-free food?
I will take some oatmeal for breakfasts, and some rice cakes for the first few days. I was able to buy them in the larger towns in Spain.And maybe some of my delicious raw balls.
Merino or technical?
Merino exclusively, except for the underwear that passed the test - well worn cotton.

Here is the clothing I will take:
2 pr short sleeved merino t shirts - I will sleep in one, and wear it for the day as a base layer
2 pr long sleeved merino shirts - I will likely wear one over my other shirt most mornings
1 3/4 sleeve merino shirt for the evenings
1 long sleeved merino hoodie
1 waterproof jacket with pit zips
1 pair nylon hiking pants with zip off bottoms
1 pair water and wind resistant long pants
1 pair of part merino leggings, for sleeping in, and cool mornings
3 pair underwear, 2 bras
1 or 2 scarves
1 baseball cap
1 buff - great for cool mornings, and to keep the sun off my neck

1 down sleeping bag, 750 grams, borrowed from my son-in-law Michael
1 silk liner - inside the sleeping bag for cold nights, and alone for hot nights

I have still to decide on the toiletries and first aid elements, though I know how much face cream I will need. Most of these items can be purchased in Spain, so I take the bare minimum - one or 2 bandaids, and a small tube of toothpaste. Don't forget the vaseline - to lubricate my feet and toes every morning as a blister preventative.

A camera and battery charger, but no other devices - public internet computers are widely available for blogging and staying in touch.

So, readers, what do you think? Am I well prepared? Any questions, or topics you would like to hear more about?
Comments are appreciated.

Buen Camino

More on Training

I have upped my walking and am trying to walk further each day.
Here is what I was doing on Friday - thanks Julie for the picture, including the finger!
 
We walked about 20 km, and it was all gorgeous.

Saturday I had a pot-luck lunch near Avenue Road and Lawrence, so I walked up - about 10 kms.

Sunday I walked to church and back. Here is our website - our church is newly renovated, and a very exciting place to be. That walk was about 10 km all together too.
 http://beachunitedchurch.com/

On Wednesday I walked along Bloor street to Davenport to visit Monarch Vintage - a clothing store run by a high school friend of Aislinn's. Hilary recognized me as I walked in the door - I hadn't seen her for at least 15 years. Check it out at
 https://www.facebook.com/MonarchVintage.
 I'll be going through my closets and donating to her - and I won't have stuff in my closets that I don't wear - a win-win. And another 15 kms.

Today our walking group went down the Don Trail to Corktown Commons. The security guard there gave us a tour of the facilities - it must be a lonely job.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corktown_Common

We resumed walking, and because Jasper ( the dog) was with us, we had coffee at Merchants of Green Coffee - a dog friendly ( and people friendly) coffee shop.
http://merchantsofgreencoffee.com/.
But that wasn't enough for some of us, so we walked the Portlands, and were home in time for lunchafter walking about 14 kms.

Tomorrow is the walking group, with a visit to the Distillery (likely)  and a visit to the waterfront and Cherry Beach tacked on for more distance.
Wednesday, I am walking back to Monarch Vintage, then an appointment at Yonge and St Clair. I likely won't walk home.
Thursday, the Waterfront Trail ( on streets, not the beach) from home to Rosetta McClain park and back to the church for choir practice.
Friday, from home up the Don Trail to Nostalgia coffee shop at O'Connor and St Clair, then lunch at Camino Bistro and home along the Danforth.

I think I'll be ready for the Camino!

Training for the Camino

 
 Hiking in the Don Valley in January


We are about to book our tickets, with less than 3 months to go, and I am wondering about training.

My goal each week is to walk 150,000 steps, though I don't always make it. That is about 90 km per week.
On the Camino, I hope to average about 25 km per day, or 150 per week.

So, how do I get to the Camino, prepared to walk that distance day after day, carrying a pack which will weigh about 8 kg plus food and water for the day?

Here is what I am doing right now:
On Fridays, I lead a hike of about 15-20 prospective pilgrims and returning pilgrims, and anyone else crazy enough to want to hike about 20 kms. And I walk 10 to 20 kms on the other days, especially on Monday and Tuesday when I lead one hour hikes, and Thursday and Sunday when I walk to church and sometimes back, carrying a 5 km backpack each time. I also go to a 90 minute yoga class each week.

Is that enough?

Or do I need to walk back to back days of 20 or more kms?
Do I need to practice with the loaded backpack for those back to back hikes?
Do I need to go up and down hills repeatedly to build up my leg muscles?
Should I be lifting weights and doing squats every other day?

I think I am in as good as or better shape than I was on my first and second Camino.
Can I trust that my body will be up to the challenge?

The proof is in the pudding - I think I will only know when I am there, doing it.

Here is a blog post from the Camino Forum with specific goals for each week. As I look at it, I think that I am almost there.
http://www.caminoadventures.com/getting-walking-fit-camino/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

What a great adventure my life is!

COOKING WITH SOUL

Cooking With Soul at Beach United Church, Saturday November 30, 2013

Beach United Church offers lunch on Thursdays to approximately 60-70 visitors. We offer a nutritious meal and fellowship to low income, homeless friends and anyone who is hungry. Then, one Saturday a month, those who love to cook and learn get together  and cook up a storm. We taste test our creations, and then on Thursday the guests get a home cooked meal.

Last Saturday I was the guest chef, and my theme was Cooking along the Spanish Camino. There was a diverse group of church members, neighbours, friends and pilgrims who worked on the menu. We made Arroz con Pollo ( chicken with rice and tomatoes, garnished with roasted red peppers and olives)
 Ensalada Mixta ( a plated salad, with romaine, carrot, tomato, cucumber, hard boiled eggs, tuna, roasted red pepper and olives, plus bocconcini),
Caldo Gallego ( a soup from Galicia, with potatoes, rutabaga, kale and white beans, seasoned with smoked paprika), and
Arroz con Leche ( rice pudding).

We talked food, cooking, Spain, and the Camino. We shared stories, photos, recipes, and tips on how to walk the Camino. We all had a good time, including Oliver, who spent the morning in a sling on Mom and Dad, and Kingston, who came disguised as the Green Lantern. Kingston is 5.

There are pictures of past Cooking with Soul events- including me as The Frugal Chef -  on our tumblr blog -  http://cookingwithsoul.tumblr.com/
and pictures of our cooking on Saturday on Beach United Church facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/beachunitedchurch/photos_stream.

Here I am, with a big smile on my face, holding a platter of Ensalada Mixta.(photo taken by Abigail)

Buen Provecho!

Darlene

Wandering this fall

Since I plan to walk the Camino once again in the Spring of 2014 with my friend Wendy, I need to step up the training. I now lead walk 3 days a week. Monday and Tuesday are usually in the neighbourhood, for about an hour, and Friday is a day-long walk with pilgrims - about the length of my definition of a short day on the Camino - about 4 and a half hours of walking, ending with a lunch somewhere on the route.

On the shorter walks, I have explored Corktown Common, the Distillery, Cherry Beach, the new Rouge Park, the Necropolis, Craigleith Gardens, Chorley Park, the Brickworks, the abandoned CPR rail route up the Don Valley, Governor's Bridge and Rosedale. On all but one of these hikes, I have had friends with me.

On the longer walks with Pilgrims Practice/Progress, we have walked the Eastern Beaches, Grenadier Pond in High Park and the Humber River, the waterfront to High Park, the Toronto Islands, and the Don Valley trail to Edwards Gardens. This week we return to the Humber and walk north from Bloor.

This is a picture taken by Julie, of our walk near Wilkett Creek.

Toronto is so beautiful, and provides so many opportunities to get away from the bustle and the pavement, and so many challenges and adventures in preparation for the pilgrimage.

Ultreia! 

The National filmed us!

The CBC wanted footage to support the research into the benefits of walking for post-menopausal women ( sorry guys) and they found our group. So last Friday, October 4, they filmed us walking on Toronto Island.
It added a new dimension to the routine of the hike, and was interesting to see the producer and camerawoman work together to get the footage.
Here is the link:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Health/ID/2410490882/

We had a great pot-luck lunch at the ferry docks on Ward's Island which we really enjoyed after walking the length of the island. After the ferry ride back to the city, we walked home, with a stop at the Europe Bound outlet. Some Sicilian ice cream  topped off a terrific day of hiking.

Next week we are off to explore another Toronto beach.

This is what the beaches looked like on Toronto Island.

PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FALL 2013

 PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FOR THE FALL, 2013

I've been hiking outside Toronto for the summer.

July I was in  Fenelon Falls, hiking with assorted pilgrims and friends, and 2 regular groups in the town. There is a lovely trail along the lake, so it was comfortable even in the heat.

August I was in Kelowna with my daughter and her family, as you can see above. One day we hiked at the top of Knox Mountain. The views were spectaclar. Another day we walked the bird sanctuary along Lake Okanagan, where we saw and climbed Ogopogo.

Pilgrims Practice - the regular weekly long hikes, will start again on Sept 27.
Contact me at darmckeeatyahoodotcom for more information.

I am looking forward to long hikes, as I prepare for my next Camino in the spring.