56 DAYS TO GO, THE TRAINING HAS BEGUN

We're in training mode, 7.5 miles, 3 days a week.  I continue to ride my  bike 2 to 3 days a week, 42 miles each time.  We also breaking in new boots and Cathie's new pack.

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW

Cathie tried four different packs and with the help of the folks at REI she settled on a 36 liter Osprey in a color she approved of.  Gotta have the right color, because a girl has to look her best.  Since December we've been outfitting Cathie as she needed just about everything in the way of lightweight clothes, boots and rain gear.  As for me, all that was needed were the new boots and socks.

Since I've done this before, the getting there and back part was easy.  British Air to Madrid with a change in London, booked. B&B for two nights in Madrid, booked. Train from Madrid to Pamplona, Booked.  Overnight near Pamplona with pick up at the train station and transportation to the starting point in Saint Jean Pied de Port, booked.  Return flight from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid, booked.  Hotel near the airport in Madrid, Booked.  And finally our return flight home is also booked.  Since we have a total of 56 days, about 10 of the last days will be used to take a look at Portugal, somewhere we've never been.  Because we don't have a definite date for arrival in Santiago, the Portugal portion of the trip will be on the fly.

For a new wrinkle, we will be taking a carry on suitcase for "after Camino clothes"  It will travel with us to Madrid where we will mail it to a guy in Santiago who will hang on to it until we get there, we hope.

TRAINING DAY

There is a San Diego Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino and I've met up with some of them for a couple of hikes in the San Diego area.  On this day we were hiking in the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway.  Great group of people, most of whom have already walked the Camino , some more than once.  

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So, we leave April 3rd and I hope you all follow along by putting your e-mail address in the box on the top right.  By doing this you will receive notification each time I post.  I will continue to post on Facebook and send an e-mail.  For those on my manual e-mail list, remember that last year I had difficulty with Cox Web Mail and many times my e-mails were not sent.  So, be brave and stick your e-mail address in the little box.

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