Day 0 - St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port

I made it here safely via plane, train, and taxi. The train from Bayonne to St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port isn't running, so SCNF (the French national railway) paid for cabs for all of us to get here. For the 4 of us in the car, that came out to 110 euros! Either way, I'm here. I'm a bit tired, but looking forward to tomorrow, to walking 15 miles and climbing 4,000 feet.

I saw Martin Sheen this afternoon. The three Brits I was eating with didn't believe me that it was him. He walked by again about 15 minutes later. He waved at me when he noticed my gaze. They believe me now. It was definitely him. I asked at the pilgrims' office and they showed me a sign asking for extras for a major motion picture he's making about El Camino called "The Way." As much as I'd love to do that, I want to head out tomorrow instead of getting delayed a day to do that. Very cool that he's doing that and very cool that I saw him.

Nothing is any more sore than it was before I came, so hopefully tomorrow will treat me well. I'm a little worried about the alititude with my previous bouts of altitude sickness, but I think I'm more worried about the walk with the weight on my back. If I don't post in the next week or so, send out a search party for a very well-fed bear. (I'm totally kidding...I'll be fine.)

Just a few more days!

So many last minute things to do! The worst is believing that there really isn't and I'm just making that up. I realize I can buy what I need there should I forget something, but I'd rather not have to. I was a Boy Scout...I'm supposed to be prepared, right?

I've decided to carry 4 more ounces in the form of my fleece jacket instead of my fleece pullover. I think it'll be more versatile and it's definitely warmer. I've cut my clothes line in half. It's only about 10 ft now and didn't weigh that much to begin with. Despite having hunted all over for safety pins to hang wet clothes off the back of my pack, I think there are enough cinch cords that I can probably hang my clothes over and secure enough barring a hurricane or tornado. I figure I'll learn a trick or two on the Way as well.

And now for a commercial interruption: If you haven't already, there's still time to sponsor me on my little 500 mile walk. It's for a good cause: the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I've lost 3 friends in the last few years. So, please, make at least a $5.00 contribution for a good cause and to show me your support as I begin this trek. The website to make a tax-deductible contribution is: http://www.firstgiving.org/thomaslin. And now back to regularly scheduled programming...

I hope I can find everything I need. In Paris (within walking/train distance), I need a post office to mail my stuff to the destination. In Pamplona, I need a mobile carrier (Yoigo look cheap) to sell me a pay-as-you-go/prepaid SIM card. And hopefully they speak English so this isn't a nightmare for both of us!

Too much stress. Too many worries. I'm hoping El Camino teaches me to do less of that. It's time to start letting go.

I leave a week from tomorrow!!!

HOLY COW that's close! I *think* I have everything that I need. I think I'm as prepared as I can be with only 2 physical therapy appointments, 2 accupuncture appointments, packing, and making sure my friend living in my house while I'm gone is situated.

Weight Guidelines for El Camino

I made an interesting realization. Everything that I've read says that, as a guideline for doing El Camino de Santiago, you shouldn't carry more than 10% of your body weight. I HAVE THE SOLUTION: GAIN BODY WEIGHT!!!! For some reason, I'm up to 185 pounds despite walking a whole lot. And while my skinny jeans prove to me that a lot of that is muscle, my midsection tells me he's keeping pace too. Regardless, that means I can carry 1.5 pounds more than when I first started planning this journey! :D

The haircut...

So a special thanks (again) to Kelley Blond, the owner of Lady Luck Hair Parlour in Kansas City (Westport area for the locals). I went in and gave her a blank canvas to work with and this is the end result:



Yes, a striped multi-colored mohawk. :) I actually kind of like the cut. I'll probably not do the colors again, but who knows about the cut? Next week, I buzz it all before I leave for Spain.

Hair today, gone tomorrow...

Like many people going on El Camino, I'm cutting my hair SHORT (like maybe a #2 guard on the clippers). It's just easier to not have to carry as much soap, to not worry about greasy, gross hair, to not have to pick the bedbugs out, etc. Well, if I'm cutting off my hair, I might as well have fun with it, right? :D Here's what I look like right now:



Knowing that I was lopping it off, I'm about a month overdue on a haircut. It's in my eyes and bugs me. But tomorrow, it won't be anywhere near my eyes. I'm getting a Mohawk. Yes, you heard me right, I'm getting a Mohawk! Thanks to Kelley Blond, the owner of the Lady Luck Hair Parlour in Kansas City, MO, she's gonna do me (and my hair) up right! I go in tomorrow to get it bleached, cut, colored, and spiked. For one night only. For fun. I'll be making an appearence at some event called Tuesday Boozeday at reVerse on the Plaza at 9ish if you're local and want to see this. I'll be easy to recognize...I'll be the one with the Mohawk. :)

So thanks to Kelley, a fabulous hair dresser, a wonderful, fun, and kind person. If you're in need of a new stylist, give her a call: (816) 931-5825‎.

T - 16 days and counting...

I only have 16 days left until I leave for Paris! Crazy! I'm doing some walking still, but really am tapering, favoring instead the stretching my physical therapist taught me. My hip already feels better. It still pops, but I don't feel ANY pain with it any more. The muscles behind my left knee still bother me. Hopefully that takes care of itself soon!

I've modified the orthotics I put in my hiking shoes by ripping off the foam covering it and replacing it instead with Spenco insoles that have no shape to them, only cushioning. They're merely flat rubbery insoles that feel like a dream. I've tried air-cushioned insoles, gel insoles, etc. The Spenco ones are the most comfortable ones I've tried. The only downside is that they are hard to find! I had to order them off Amazon as I couldn't find them anywhere in stores.