And We Are Off ...

I think Sue is more excited than if she were going to Hawaii.  There's apprehension about heading to northern Spain and hiking 500 miles, but there's no doubt we are well prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  We have each read a minimum of five books, with one of our favorites being A Pilgrims Guide to the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James), by John Brierley ... this book will be in my hip-pocket the entire journey.  Sue has read it cover to cover and mapped out a tentative schedule of our days.  We are not traveling in a tour or with a group.  We are using this book as a guide and we'll see where God leads us along The Way.  The second book we both read twice, which was recommended by my parents, is called Hiking the Camino - 500 miles with Jesus, by Father Dave Pivanka - which is amazing.  We've also seen the movie The Way with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez twice.

It's recommended we carry 10% of our body weight with our backpacks, so that means 16.5 pounds for me.  Sue doesn't like carrying things on her back, but she has adjusted and is willing to carry 12 pounds, so that puts a few extra pounds in my pack ... probably around 20 with water.  If you are curious, here's what's in my pack: sleeping bag, camelback for water, 3 pairs of socks, 3 underwear, 2 long sleeve UVA shirts, Nike Tennis Camps bucket hat, hydropel to prevent blisters, Bodyglide anti-chafing cream and stick, toothbrush and paste, toilet paper, laundry detergent, matches, bug spray, deodorant, hiking poles, tums, swiss knife, duct tape, medicines, lotion, power converter, camera charger, band aids, potable aqua tablets, moist burn pads, poncho, first aid kit, compass, flashlight, gym shorts, Nike t-shirt, 3 Nike tank tops, 2 pairs of shorts one with zip on pant legs, towel (so small), Nike golf hat, Nike dri-fit long sleeve, clippers, 10 powerbars, 10 chocolate powergels, reading glasses, iphone, passport, prayer requests, Camino de Santiago credentials, pilgrim book, Nike snow cap and gloves, thermometer and cold medicines with throat lozenges.

We are off to Barcelona tomorrow and will be there for two days.  Then we train to Pamplona and catch a cab into the French Pyrenees to a town called St. Jean Pied de Port, France.  Our first day of hiking is this Sunday ... over 20 miles, 4,000 feet over the Pyrenees to Ronceveles, Spain.

Thanks again for all your support and donations ... we are at over $8,000 raised for Cystic Fibrosis and our goal is $10,000.  We feel fortunate to have this opportunity and look forward to our time together.

Buen Camino,
Steve & Sue