6 days to go, this time in 6 days we will have done our first day trekking through the Pyrenees. I can’t believe it is SO close.  And I don’t know how I feel really. Sometimes I feel really optimistic, I know that I am much better prepared as far as looking after my feet goes. I also know I could have done way more training, but you know what? I’m just gonna do it!And what happens, happens.

Of course I would  love to walk the whole Way this time, and definitely I want to get to the Iron Cross which I missed out on last time. I certainly want to do the Santiago to Finisterre section…and as for the rest, I will always know that I have done that, D2 and I walked 790 kms I still find that amazing!!

I have done a couple of long walks in the last week or so, the first one a one walk of 19kms without my backpack. And I thought I did ok.  I had just had my last day of work  for 3 months and was determined to get some good training in, lose 5 kgs, you know, the things I should have been doing for the past few months My body, however, was like “You know what girl, you might think you are gonna haul me 900kms, well I’m telling you, if you are doing that I am just not moving for the next week!!” And she didn’t!

On Friday  I did manage to cajole her into moving again, the same 19 km walk, this time with with my backpack. Well I didn’t do the whole walk with my backpack. D2 forgot to bring her backpack (how do you forget to bring your backpack, really!!) so I graciously let her carry mine for a few kms. 19 kms is about two thirds of a day’s trek, about afternoon tea time, or in D2 ‘s case afternoon beer time. And I feel ok. It’s going to be fine.

 

I really thought I had prepared my feet quite well for the last Camino. I went to the podiatrist and became the proud owner of a brand new pair of orthotics. I walked with my backpack everyday for 100 days and I thought my boots and orthotics were well and truly ready for the adventures ahead. And just in case, I was well stocked with hikers wool, various types of blister pads and wrapping tape. Camino here I come!

Mistake number 1! Yes,  I did walk every day for 100 days, the trouble is I only walked on an average 5 – 10 kms, with a couple of 15 km walks. What I didn’t do was walk at least two or three 20 – 25km walks to see what my feet were like at the end of a typical Camino day. That is a way different story! My orthotics were just over half the length of my feet  and quite rough on the edges, so by the time I had done a couple of days these edges were rubbing my feet and causing blisters.

Mistake number 2! Instead of stopping and doing something about it straight away I soldiered on, causing the blisters to get bigger and my posture and walk change to accommodate the pain. Which in turn made my legs and hips quite sore.

Mistake number 3!  I didn’t make sure I was wearing my backpack properly right from the beginning, and this also caused problems with my walking, hips, legs, posture, you name it!

All of which landed me in the local medical centres on a couple of occasions. I do have some very graphic photos of my feet but I don’t want to gross you all out.

 

So here are my tips for keeping your feet healthy on a long distance trek

• Make sure you buy your boots in plenty of time and have them well fitted

• Have your backpack fitted by someone who knows what they are talking about e.g. someone like Pam Lynch from Main Peak in Perth who has actually done some trekking.

  

• Do some long walks so you know what a day’s walk is going to feel like
• If you get a hot spot on your feet while trekking …..STOP!! RIGHT NOW!! NOT AT THE NEXT VILLAGE!! STOP RIGHT NOW!! And do something about it, blister pads, tape, hikers wool ……something!

It is 3pm here, which means 9 am in France. This time in 3 weeks we should have enjoyed our first breakfast on Camino and be heading further up into the Pyrenees! Whew! That’s a bit scary

Our usual day is to get up early, walk for about 8km, have breakfast, walk another 8km, have lunch and then head off for the last leg of the day. We can already taste the beer!

‘This week I have been trying to fit a pre-breakfast Camino walk every day before work. One morning I even enjoyed the Aussie version of a Camino breakfast

 

This morning I set off at 5am, walked into town and back, home by 7am, just over 9km.

Along the way I stopped to take photos of our cathedral which looks gorgeous lit up in the dark. On my walks around town I often wonder what pilgrims would take photos of if Geraldton was on the Camino.

The weekend is coming up, Sunday I am going to try for an early morning walk to the markets taking the long route, and then walk home for lunch. I’ll let you know how I go!