New Adventures, New Challenges

We have been talking about this new adventure for three years.  

Our good friend Wendie did the Portugese Camino in 2019 with her friend Sheryl (who is now our friend!).  It was awesome to watch the journey vicariously through their texts, pictures and posts.  

During the COVID lockdown we spent many weekends talking about what it would be like to go on the Camino and the talk went from "what ifs" to "let's make this happen!"

Last year it was time to pull the trigger and start buying plane tickets and making the plans to make this dream a reality.  

A Camino walk is a pilgramige.  A spiritual walk.  You don't have to be part of the Catholic church to particpate in a Camino, all pilgrims are welcome.  Many people walk a Camino to get in touch with their own spirituality or connect with nature.  

The idea is that you walk from a starting point (there are many in Portugal, Spain and France) and work your way by walking to Santiago, Spain.  The original pilgramige was to arrive in Santiago to view the tomb of St. James.  We will carry everything we need in backpacks but stay in the hostels or hotels each night.  

We will be walking from Porto, Portugal along the coastal route to Santiago, Spain.  Towards the end we will be doing the Variante Espirtual, which adds some kilometers and some elevation but evidently is worth it!

As a history teacher, I am giddy about the opportunity to visit Europe for the first time.  By walking I think I will get a special connection to where I am giong and what I am seeing.  

As a Christian, I am also excited to see what God has planned for me to learn about myself during this experience.  I have already grown a lot just in the preperation for this trip.  Lots of soul searching and asking if this is something I can really accomplish.  

Some of the things that were road blocks (in my own head) are pretty typical for me. 

First is my weight.  I've been really struggling hard for the last four years and just not able to get the scale to cooperate.  

Then add to that how tired I am.  The thought of walking an average of 13 miles a day for two weeks staight is rather daunting.  Not just from a fitness aspect, but for me more from a being able to have the energy to make this happen.  

Last fall I started taking some steps to get a handle on the tired.  I went to a sleep specialist.  Yep, I have mild to moderate sleep apnea.  Then I went to the Ear, Nose & Throat doctor to see if my tonsils were the problem.  They are not but I do have a restricted airway in my nasal passage.  Both doctors wanted me to try the c-pap and see if that took care of the sleep issue.  

It did not. 

I gave it a good 5 months.  

I hated it.  

I usually made it to about 2 am before I would take the contraption off.  Evidently that is pretty good, anything over five hours is successful.  But I was still tired and felt like I was sleeping worse because of dealing with the hose and the thing on my face.  I started in October and by the end of February I was over it.  I just quit.  

But in February I also started working with Monarch Weight Loss Clinic.  I have weekly weigh-ins, meet once a month with a doctor, and have a meal plan that is lined up with my insulin resistance.  I have been steadily losing weight and am just about at the 30 pound mark.  Slow and steady!  I have appreciated the support, the accountability and the ability to talk out what is working and what isn't working regularly with the doctor.  

The weight loss has helped with the apnea and I am sleeping better.  I feel like I'm sleeping better and my Garmin watch says that I am sleeping better too.  The energy level is a teeny bit better but not where I would like it to be yet.  

Baby steps.  At least they are baby steps in the right direction for a change.  

I also have been struggling with blisters on our longer hikes.  I got a new pair of Brooks Cascadia's and I love them but after about 6 miles I started to get blisters.  

This month I got the same shoe but I got the men's version.  Same size but a tiny bit wider and a larger toe box.  It seems to be doing the trick.  So fingers crossed for the Camino!

I do plan on making another appointment with the ENT doctor.  While my tonsils were fine, my nasal passages are very narrow and he said that a surgery to open them up (think deviated septum) wouldn't hurt.  Since that appointment I have been more aware of the things that can be attributed to not having a fully open airway.  I'm hoping he is willing to do the surgery and see what that does to contribute to my breathing better during sleep and during exercise.  

Joe and I have both gotten backpacks for the trip and have used them for travel and just for practicing for the Camino on hikes.  I love mine and it is quite comfortable to wear.  Although I am sure that it won't be quite as comfortable on the longer days of the Camino.  lol

One of the things that I also needed to work on was the mental aspect.  I needed to work on being okay if things don't go perfect.  I need to be okay if I struggle and have days where things don't go well. 

Maybe I get blisters and slow way down.

Maybe I just have no energy and need a rest day.  Which means taking an Uber to the next town and hanging out while wating for the rest of the group.

Maybe I am so sore that it makes me struggle getting started each day. 

Lots of maybes.

I also am worried about making sure that I get the food I need to keep me going and not hangry.  

I've learned a lot these last few months about how my body needs certain combinations of foods to work well.  Not sure exactly how that will work on the Camino.  I know what foods and snacks I can get here and carry around to make that work.  I don't know exactly will be available on the Camino and how to be sure that I don't drive my husband and friends batty because I'm hangry or have low blood sugar.  I have an appointment with my Monarch doctor this week and hopefully he will have some suggestions.  I have some ideas but I want to know what he thinks too.

This week is the last week of school.  My last day with students is Thursday and my last day of work is Friday.  

We leave for Portugal on Saturday.  

So this week is about finishing up the school year and getting all the last minute things done on my lists.  (I have several started on my large, lined, post-its along with my packing list.)

Shit is getting real.  

We are almost to go time.

My lists have lists as I try to make sure I have everything ready to go. 

While I am planning to pack light, I will be taking along my ipad.  For two reasons.  First, it will make it so we can watch movies on the plane.  (We have had hit or miss experiences on whether there is in-flight entertainment so I would rather err on the side of caution.)  Secondly, I will be able to post pictures and update the blog as we go along on the Camino.  

I can't wait to share the experience and the photos as we go along.  

No matter how it all falls together, it is going to be amazing. 

Buen Camino!!