I have a little under a month to go before I head off to southern France and walk what I have left of the Camino de Santiago. 28 days of waiting to be exact. What has struck me is how different I feel now to how I felt on the three previous occasions in 2011 to 2013. I have a greater deal of apprehension and excitement this time round, but I shouldn’t have, should I? I should be a veteran at this 🙂 In 2011, my preparation and training was non existent, and I was more worried about fund-raising than actually getting to Santiago from Sarria. In 2012, I walked from Leon to Sarria without a proper pair of walking boots or socks.

This year, I have been glued to the Camino forum, have met some really great people and picked up some great tips. I hope to meet some in St Jean before I head off the next morning and over the following 2 weeks, I may bump into them on a number of occasions. I’m toying with the idea of getting a taxi down with a few others from Biarritz / Bayonne to St Jean. There is of course the option of catching a train / bus down to St Jean for cheaper but it does take longer.

But after I leave St Jean, I have no idea what will happen. I have spoken to lots who are stopping in Orisson which is hostel situated 8km after St Jean. It splits the first stage in two. I’m going to plow on ahead. Unfortunately, it has only 30 beds or something, and reservations are taken very quickly. I hope to reach Belorado by the 15th of September. I have chosen Belorado as a stopping point as there is a direct bus you can catch that goes direct to Bilbao. I have the option of walking ahead and getting a taxi to Burgos but depends on how the feet are. From there I can get a train to Bilbao.

And what about when I return? What then? I have been reading up on the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago for 2015. But another part of me is tempted to walk another stretch of the French Way. I’m a little confused and have yet to set anything in stone. But I will be back next year at some stage.

It is a public holiday here in Ireland and I have a day off from work. So today I mainly have been looking for a lost passport. My pack at this moment in time looks like this…which is a mess 🙂

I pretty much have had the same pack since 2012 when I walked from Leon to Sarria but over the last few years I have made a few changes. Anyway, this list (link below) is where I am at the moment. The advantage of arriving early in St Jean (compared to arriving late in Leon and Logrono) is I can buy a few supplies.

Packing List 2014

Feel free to offer critique, either in the comments or on the spreadsheet.

So one of the downsides of postponing any trip is it gives you leeway to change or rejig what you are packing. Well, I’ve just gone and bought a rain jacket to add to my pack. So, out with the poncho and in with the rain jacket. The debate over rain gear on the Camino (I’m not going to even start linking to these articles!) has been going on for years and for the last few years, I have sworn by my poncho. This time I’m going to ditch it. I reckon the Marmot Precip is a good buy. It is breathable, lightweight, and is pretty waterproof. All I need to do is give it a test run. I promise to leave the rest of my list as it is!! (although I said that before I bought the Precip!). I am the worst when it comes to gadgets, however, so don’t be surprised if I bring more than my iPhone and charger.

I’ve started to get in some kms over the last week. I try and get in 10km during the weekend and maybe 5km each working day. Not running. I don’t think I’ll ever run..not sure why? I hope to do a long-distance walk (maybe 2) before I go..there are a few trails along the west coast I want to take in.

I have also been quietly reading up on the Camino Portuguese for the future. One of my blog followers has just completed her Camino from Lisbon to Santiago and she gave some great tips that I will take note of. I don’t think I will start in Lisbon though, but Porto. You can read the blog here from day one. Another follower, Natasha Murtagh has started from Porto with her father and are both making their way to Santiago. Natasha and her father have previously walked the French Way a number of years ago (I think it was 2011?) and wrote a very successful book called “Buen Camino!”.