I am feeling much calmer now...all bookings have been made...bus ticket to Pamplona...taxi over the Mountain http://www.expressbourricot.com/ and two nights at St Jean Pied de Pont. I just cant wait to get my feet on that mountain'cause all I will have to think about is getting one foot in front of the other.
I totally panicked and rushed into the city and bought new boots. I had a choice between two pairs of boots and chose a pair of The North Face boots. Not sure about the Gortex interiors but it was that or boots that nigh came half way up my legs it seemed....really over the top so to speak...anyway these ones support my ankles and are quite comfortable thus far....plenty of toe room.
Have just been doing short walks to break the boots in and may do one longish walk over the weekend and that will be it.
Next update will be when I'm there.....somewhere!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The best laid schemes of mice and men.....
The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men
Oft go astray,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Robert Burns.
Just when you think you've done everything you can do to be organised and prepared along comes the great ash cloud and throws the flying world into chaos.
My plans have gone upside down and seven weeks of Camino and extended holiday have been compressed into two (long story). I have decided now to walk from St Jean Pied de Pont and walk? over the Pyrenees to Burgos which was where I had planned to start my Camino. I decided on Burgos because I would have many days of flat walking across the Miseta to get used to the walking rhythm and get stronger before reaching the mountain to O'Ceibrero.
Now I am panicking because I feel unprepared for the climb out of St Jean, my boots suddenly seem too small, my head is doing me in with all these changes and my heart if full of disappointment that a friend will not able to join me now on the Walk. I suppose I am feeling way out of my depth right now....I like to feel in control you know, Ha Ha!!
I have got my back pack down to a manageable weight ..a bit over 6 kgs so am comfortable with that and have been doing 7km walks around the flat district of Cambridge. I am suddenly feeling pressure on my little toes and horrified that the boots may somehow now be too small. Only ten day before I leave!!
Apparently I managed to get the last bed at Orisson, a hostel part way up the Pyrenees, so I take that as an encouraging sign in my favour. I have booked a couple of nights in St Jean, one night in the hotel, my treat to myslf, and the second night at L'Esprit du Chemin. I am looking forward to meeting other pilgrims....maybe I will meet someone to walk with part of the way.......
Oft go astray,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Robert Burns.
Just when you think you've done everything you can do to be organised and prepared along comes the great ash cloud and throws the flying world into chaos.
My plans have gone upside down and seven weeks of Camino and extended holiday have been compressed into two (long story). I have decided now to walk from St Jean Pied de Pont and walk? over the Pyrenees to Burgos which was where I had planned to start my Camino. I decided on Burgos because I would have many days of flat walking across the Miseta to get used to the walking rhythm and get stronger before reaching the mountain to O'Ceibrero.
Now I am panicking because I feel unprepared for the climb out of St Jean, my boots suddenly seem too small, my head is doing me in with all these changes and my heart if full of disappointment that a friend will not able to join me now on the Walk. I suppose I am feeling way out of my depth right now....I like to feel in control you know, Ha Ha!!
I have got my back pack down to a manageable weight ..a bit over 6 kgs so am comfortable with that and have been doing 7km walks around the flat district of Cambridge. I am suddenly feeling pressure on my little toes and horrified that the boots may somehow now be too small. Only ten day before I leave!!
Apparently I managed to get the last bed at Orisson, a hostel part way up the Pyrenees, so I take that as an encouraging sign in my favour. I have booked a couple of nights in St Jean, one night in the hotel, my treat to myslf, and the second night at L'Esprit du Chemin. I am looking forward to meeting other pilgrims....maybe I will meet someone to walk with part of the way.......
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter Sunday
Was great to be able to get a lift to church on Easter Sunday. I could hear the C of E church bells pealing away up the road, such an English thing. You don't hear them much in Aus maybe 'cause bell towers aren't part of the modern architecture any more. Anyway we went off in a different direction to a Pentecostal church that meets in a school hall. No organs here.....The young band got up to play, the lead guitarist struck a chord, the drums rolled and up came the words on the large screen....'When I survey the wondrous Cross'...words written in the 17th or 18th century! The people stood up and we went full belt into that beautiful hymn.
One of the reasons I left the mainline churches was because I half fell asleep through some of those old dirgey hymns so it was really refreshing to see and hear these bright, joyful young people singing a dearly loved hymn so full heartedly. Still feeling out of my tree a bit, being so far from home and full of anticipation as my pilgrimage looms even nearer (four weeks to go), tears steamed down my face as we sang through the verses. It will be good to remember the words each day on the Camino to remind me of the cost of God's love.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ere such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul
My life my all
One of the reasons I left the mainline churches was because I half fell asleep through some of those old dirgey hymns so it was really refreshing to see and hear these bright, joyful young people singing a dearly loved hymn so full heartedly. Still feeling out of my tree a bit, being so far from home and full of anticipation as my pilgrimage looms even nearer (four weeks to go), tears steamed down my face as we sang through the verses. It will be good to remember the words each day on the Camino to remind me of the cost of God's love.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ere such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul
My life my all
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