Kaching!

The costs are starting to add up and I haven't even purchased a plane ticket yet! There's a bunch of equipment and clothing that I've been purchasing. Yes, I'm going to do this first class (if there is such a thing on El Camino!). What I mean is that I am planning on having top notch gear. That way, I won't have to worry about the gear being a point of failure. I have an incredible, light, perfectly sized backpack. I have moisture-wicking clothing that will wash and dry easily and quickly. Etcetera.

Now there's a flip side to this. Without going out to eat or drink or having any concerts, clubs, movies to go to, I think think I'll actually save a small amount while I'm over there...despite the cost of the plane ticket, "eating out" every meal (most will be cheap, some will be free), and staying in albergues every night.

Another thing I realize that I'm going to be saving money on: clothing. I'm not going to be a consumer/brand whore until I get back because I fully anticipate losing weight (and clothing sizes) as an accidental side effect of El Camino. A friend of a friend said something interesting after doing El Camino last year: "Man can't live on bread alone...except on El Camino." Most of you that know me know how much I can/do eat. This should be interesting.

Back on track...

After nearly a week in Salt Lake City hitting the slopes hard, I'm back training and preparing for El Camino. The ski trip was fantastic. My knees ended up sore, but that was kind of expeccted. Other than that, my stamina was great this year and the skiing was amazing.

I've already put in a long workout on the bike and am about to start another. Today in Kansas City historically proves to be the day that the average temperature starts rising until July. Hopefully this means that I'll be able to actually put in some mileage outside soon! But not too soon...I have one more ski trip in 2 1/2 weeks, so I don't want to think that winter is ending quite yet.

I think I almost have everything I need purchased for the trip. Things I've had to add to my collection of crap:

• A smaller backpack than my 60L or 75L ones
• 2009 guide to the El Camino (published by the Confraternity of St. James)
• Trail running shoes (x2)
• Coolmax socks
• Moisture wicking short sleeve shirts
• Rain jacket
• Zip off shorts
• Hiking shorts
• Money belt
• Permethrin
• Travel towel
• A better pocket knife
• Trekking poles

Hmmmm...it's starting to sound like I've had to buy EVERYthing for this trip. If nothing else, it'll help me be motivated: I don't want to not go now after having spent all this money on stuff. :)

http://www.overlander.tv/camino/. Sweet video about El Camino. It's an entertaining and straightforward look at El Camino from the perspective of a pilgrim (who had to carry the extra weight of camera equipment). He seemed to not have really prepared physically for the trip at all, so I'm a bit encouraged by the fact that he finished it carrying 18+ kilos. If you're thinking about doing El Camino, this video is well worth the AUS$10 (like $7 USD).

Planned Stages of My Camino

Here's a breakdown of my planned trip, day by day with some stats at the end.

	km	mi
St.-Jean-Pied-du-Port
Roncesvalles	25	15
Larrasoana	26	15.6
Pamplona	15	9
Puente la Reina	25	15
Estella	21	12.6
Torres del Rio	22	13.2
Logrono	21	12.6
Najera	29	17.4
Santa Domingo de la Calzada	21	12.6
Belorado	23	13.8
San Juan de Ortega	24	14.4
Burgos	27	16.2
Castrojeriz	39	23.4
Fromista	25	15
Carrion de las Condes	19	11.4
Sahagun	38	22.8
El Burgo Raneros	18	10.8
Mansilla de las Mulas	19	11.4
Leon	17	10.2
Villadangos	22	13.2
Astorga	26	15.6
Rabanal del Camino	21	12.6
Ponferrada	33	19.8
Villafranco del Bierzo	23	13.8
O Cebreiro	28	16.8
Sarria	39	23.4
Portomarin	21	12.6
Palas de Rei	24	14.4
Arzua	29	17.4
Santiago de Compostela	39	23.4
Longest Day	39	23.4
Shortest Day	15	9
Average	25.3	15.18
Total Distance	759	455.4

Random People We Meet

Last night, I'm at reVerse, one of my favorite bars where I tend to be a bit of a regular. A very petite middle-aged lady walks in and prepares to sit near me. She's miniscule...maybe 5'0" on a good day. As she turns, I notice the beret she's wearing says "Pays Basque" on it, the French side of the Pyrenees. I mention to her that I'm going to be there in September to do El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. It turns out that she did it in May of 2004!

I have been trying to find someone I know or a friend of a friend who has done El Camino and she has yet to find anyone else who's even considering doing it. So of course, this turned into a major conversation as I still have much I want to learn about the trip. In all the years of her life with all the world travel she's done, she said doing El Camino de Santiago de Compostela was by far the best trip of her life. That, of course, makes me want to do it even more.

Here's some of the things she said:

• It's cheap. Refugios are only a few dollars a night. Some are free.
  
• About once or twice a week, she stayed in a hotel to get her own space to truly relax and recover. We'll see how the finances look.
  
• Buy a pilgrim's walking stick in St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port. I'm still thinking 2 high tech trekking poles might be the way to go though.
• She did not encounter any bed bugs.
• The first day is the hardest with 80% of it being uphill through the Pyrenees.
• Fisterra (literally, "end of the world") is worth it...even if taking the bus after making it to Santiago de Compostela.
• "You will get blisters, they will hurt, you'll keep walking." Swell. I think I'll start giving my feet a battery acid soaking every night starting now.
• She (at 5'0" and maybe 100 lbs soaking wet) did it carrying 25 lbs in her pack. I'm hoping to do it with less than 20 lbs. We'll see.

Anyway, I got her number in case I have any more questions (which I'm sure I will!). It was amazing to speak to someone face-to-face about El Camino, but even more amazing was the random way I discovered she had done it.

Prospero Año Nuevo

Well, I don't know how prosperous mine will be with expenses related to and for El Camino. But that's just money. It'll be prosperous in experience and personal growth. :) This shouldn't come as a surprise, but doing El Camino this year is my New Year's Resolution (barring serious ski injuries).

I decided my 60L bag is too big, so I bought a 40L bag yesterday. It was on SierraTradingPost.com. While I am saying that I only spent $70 on it (Mountain Hardwear Sortie), that's gonna start adding up, I'm sure. The real challenge will be getting everything I need in there. I'm used to carrying my backpacks on ski trips for convenience because it's easier to wear a backpack when carrying skis, a bootbag, and a Camelbak. Weight isn't a factor for such short distances.

Training goes on but has tamed down a little with the upcoming ski season...don't need injuries before I throw myself down an ice covered mountain.

Happy New Year!