Preparations for the Hike
“How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation” – Jane Austen
Which of the Following quotes do you think best describes my Preparations?
- “You have to rely on your preparation. You got to really be passionate and try to prepare more than anyone else, and put yourself in a position to succeed, and when the moment comes you got to enjoy, relax, breathe and rely on your preparation so that you can perform and not be anxious or filled with doubt.” – Steve Nash
Or:
B. “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well”- Mark Twain style procrastinator’s motto
I’ll get back to you later with the answer.
Past Lessons Learned
Several years ago I walked Hadrian’s Wall in England with my daughter. We travelled to Whitley Bay on the North Sea to start the walk arriving early enough that we had time to explore the town. Two hours later (and before we had even started the walk) I was sunburned and had blisters on my feet. [Apparently, several walks around Central Park was not sufficient preparation.]
This was not the ideal way to start a long walk. Fortunately, my daughter had brought some “second skin” and was able to patch up my blisters so that they were not a significant problem. Three key lessons were learned that day, First, make sure that you have good shoes and that you break them in prior to the walk. Secondly, there are good blister treatments available and you should pack some. Thirdly, it might be a good idea to do more than cursory training .
Shoes and Blisters
From my personal experience walking Hadrian’s Wall and from my research to prepare for this walk, I know that it is important to have good shoes to cope with the extensive walking and to have those shoes properly broken in to help avoid blisters. I have purchased two pairs of good walking shoes and both pairs have been properly broken in (maybe I did learn something from Steve Nash).
Of course, even with good shoes blisters are always a possibility -from walking day after day or having to walk in wet shoes and socks. So, I have purchased and packed a large array of blister medicine and bandages (this may account for the recent blip in the price of shares in Dr. Sholl’s) so I should be good in this regard (assuming I can bend over well enough and long enough to tend to my feet on my own).
Pre-trip Walking
With more than 4 months to prepare, I had plans (substitute delusions) of following Steve Nash’s advice, picturing myself being in fantastic shape (that ship has sailed) and easily taking on the physical challenges of the Camino. But, remember I am at an age when (like George Burns said) if I bend over to tie my shoelace, I try to figure out what else I can do while I am down there.
I have a number of friends with whom I walk regularly so I normally walk quite a bit. And, I am happy to report that I supplemented that walking with quite a bit of solo walking including longer walks which closely simulated the walking that I expect to do on the Camino. So, I think that I am ready for the walking.
Other lessons from the Training
“Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.” — Earl Shaffer
The walking training I have done has made me aware of a couple of other important considerations of which I was not particularly aware initially. First, I have learned to properly prepare my feet for a longer walk and I have gotten into the habit of massaging them with foot cream or vaseline before walking. Secondly, I came to realize that on a longer walk I need to be more cognizant of maintaining my energy with some occasional snacks and of hydrating properly. On this last point, following the advice of my daughter and my brother-in-law, I have taken to buying electrolyte tablets which I can add to my water bottles. I like the taste and them seem to really help on the longer walks.
Good Reminder – My walking friends jokingly remind each other not to walk by a urinal – a reminder that has come in handy more than once during my training.
Technological Preparations
I can remember a time when “technological” preparations for a trip might have meant making sure that you had coins for a payphone and a pen so that you could fill in a traveller’s cheque.