Home, at last
It has been far too long since I last wrote anything about 'My Camino' and there are many reasons why - but none of them very good, so apologies. However, in between I have managed a week at school and a trip out East – so it hasn’t all been sitting around recovering and being pampered.
However, I have just uploaded all my photographs to a Picasa album and, for those who wish to have a look, and there are some good photogrphs (and lots of poor to average ones too).
The Picasa Album is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Andrew.Skinz/AllMyCaminoPhotographsSmall?feat=directlink
And maybe a slideshow!
Oh, and thanks for the feedback - I have enjoyed the Blog from the writing end too
Thoughts ...
I suppose the real summation was actually day 2 on the Erro Pass when I lost the GPS, jarred my knee on the rocky slimy stream bed in the hills, realised I was in the middle of Spain, not speaking Spanish, with no map, no compass, no-one within 5km, 700km to go, a deadline to achieve, no accommodation booked, a dead phone and no means of re-charging it, out of water, and it wasn't even lunch time! Fantastico, a real adventure not a glorified package holiday! That was when the fun really kicked in 'coz it wasn't likely to get worse, was it?
And now, all over and done? (No), I still think about the experience regularly and it still leaves me, generally, somewhat mellower - though if truth be told actually just a little bit less understanding of those being less tolerant, gracious or thoughtful towards others than I was before I went. Maybe, this is as a result of seeing the better side of human nature and behaviour from people who share very little of my upbringing, language or culture and the variety of people who can and did do something to make a difference or because it was what they believed in or maybe it is just the impact of a fortnight's solitude and not having to cope with the difficulties of people? I suspect there is a little of both and maybe more of the latter knowing how sociable I can be. See - even an old dog can learn new tricks.
I do however, miss the hills, the camaraderie, the solitude, the 'purpose' and the reward for the exertion (and I don't just mean cerveza, morcilla and chorizo, honest) - but that is nicely balanced by a small glow of satisfaction, for having done something I suspected I might not be able to, for having done some good, and for actually finding the time to reflect and re-affirm my values - oh and being back in the bosom of my family (whom I actually missed terribly at times - shhhh).
Fundrasing
Obviously I am back, my knee held up (more on that to follow) and I didn't fall off! So far I have raised about £2150 which with gift aid becomes about £2710 - so a big thank you; to my friends, our friends, old friends, fellow northerners, colleagues and workmates - and actually to everyone who has even spared a thought. And of course, not least to Sue - without whose support I'd still be sitting on the sofa with my knee in an ice pack and at least a stone heavier!
But if you'd like to say 'Thank You' or 'Well done' or just forgot, meant to do something, or think the Blog was worth a pound or two - there is still lots of time and I'd have waited to see what happened too!
The Knee
OK - For those who followed the saga you'll know my left knee 'blew up' just before I went, that a week of ice packs, elevation, lymphatic drainage tape, PhysiCool (Portable cooling bandage) and ice spray on the way helped me to Roncesvalles - and that a very bad nights sleep in a 200 man dorm (a bit like I imagine sleeping in a jet engine might be) had me worried it would all 'fall apart' on day 2. Well my very own small pharmacy (ibuprofen and paracetamol) and more use of the bandage and cooling spray and an emergency ibuprofen re-supply in Spain got me through though there were a few days at he start when it was not a pleasant task to get up, un-stiffen, start up and go but it got easier! So, of course, this is not the end. The knee 'went' because, like a good lad, I had sorted a new set of podiatrist approved inserts for my bike shoes to avoid problems - and you guessed it - they seem to have caused the problem. So, of course back in Blighty, with a knee used to cycling it took a week or so to get used to walking and proper shoes, aided by a few excursions to College and the Middle East just to allow the knee time to stick again! But I can now walk, I do not need 13 - 15 pills a day, and I can even still bike. Winning but not fully won, yet.
The bike
It survived better than I did. No punctures, not even a need to pump up the tyres (so that was around 3-5 kg of stuff I didn't need to have taken) and the return trip via Ryan Air was not too bad either. A bit of TLC, a wash, a re-arrange of the bits squashed up for the return journey and some lube and then the same for the bike and she was as good as new too! So, I am a fan, and also of the Schwalbe tyres - as good as the adverts say! But I am also a fan of Sudocreme - even better than the adverts say - and hot, sticky, abrasive modern fabrics and sensitive bits (top or bottom) don't mix - but Sudocreme really helps. And it stops you biting your nails!
Tents etc
I did not need a big sleeping bag, a tent or a cooker! But they were used. However, the extra 5kg was not always appreciated. Ho hum - it did allow me a night off the Refugios and the constant rumbling and explosions of fellow Pellegrinos when I went camping which was bliss, bar the dog pound next door with the party on 'till 2:17am, and a cup of coffee in the hills as the sun rose one day - so all in all, I wish I'd have left them behind! And will get a much smaller and lighter sleeping bag next time too (and yes there will be a next time).
The future
It was too much fun - bar of course the nights I couldn't sleep, the day I was so 'burnt out' I was cold even though it was 28C + and I was pedalling up a monster hill, the early starts after a Spanish breakfast (not usually very good or very much in a Refugio), all day every day pedalling to create my very own personal sauna (and let me tell you I do not miss the feel of a constant trickle down my spine and the regular drip, drip onto the cross bar, or the rhythmic bleep and uphill bleep bleep of the Heart Rate Monitor or, maybe actually I do?) and the stiff and achy lower back from 10 hours a day on bike! So would I do again? - hmm, absolutely no hesitation - 'Like a shot!'
So, with a following wind, a bit of luck on timings and some patience from my family next year sees the Arch to Arch ride in aid of Kidney Cancer sufferers and the James Whale Trust as I have an old friend who has asked for, and deserves, my support, so 'Tally Ho' and here we go again.
And I'll sift the photo's and do another quick retrospective as I mellow further with a few thoughts on Santiago and how I felt (happy / sad) sitting in the square both all alone and not, surrounded by goodwill in a strange city listening to a Basque piper at the end of the journey.
But, once again, thanks for all the support - I said it would help, it did, it still does and still leaves me feeling a little bit more positive than I really think I have the right to be.
Muy Buen Camino.
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