My Supportive Family and Friends

To My Family and Friends

I would like to thank my family and friends for encouraging my planning to walk the Camino.

There have been a lot of bumps along they way, but with your support and understanding, I  I wouldn't have made it this far.
Thank you all soooo much!

I dedicate this page to all of you.

My Stops Along the Way

I landed in Paris!

The air smells different.  The city is hot and muggy and I love it. 

I got off at the wrong Premiere Classe hotel and had to wait 40 minutes for the shuttle to make it around again.

The room is hella small, but will do for now. Thank God I now have free Wifi.

Not bad for 50 dollars for one night though. 

My Itinerary

After years of saying I want to travel to Europe I finally got off my ASS and bought my round trip tickets to Paris. 

You know what I found out??? 

It's actually affordable if you buy the tickets at the right time. (I'll get to that topic on a later post)

43 DAYS OF TRAVEL!!!

I land in Paris on August 2nd, Saturday and I will spend the night at a hotel.

The next day August 3rd, Sunday I will take a train from CDG to Bayonne. Due to a landslide trains from Bayonne to Saint Jean have been replaced with buses, therfore, I will bus from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port, spend one night and start my journey bright and early August 4th, Monday.

Equipment for backpacking

My Dependable Vasque Hiking Boots

My Updated Equipment List 

(What can I say I needed to Pack lighter)

Clothes:

2 Addidas dri fit tank

2 short sleeve reebok compression shirt

1 long sleeve shirt ( wearing to europe)

1 crossfit tshirt

1 white tanktop ( for sleeping

2 quick drying shorts

1 pair of convertible pants/shorts

3 hiking socks

2 silk liners

1 pair of Vasque hiking boots

1 supplex bucket hat

1 hoodie jacket

3 compression adidas underwear

1 pair of socks 

1 money belt

1 pair of teva hiking sandals

1 black trucker hat 

1 black beanie

1 poncho

1 reebok vest jacket

1 Black Bandana

Backpacking gear:

Osprey Stratos 36L

1 compression sleeping bag

1 mummy liner

1 mesh bag for dirty clothes

1 pillow case

3 ditty bags for numerous things

1 Hiking stick with end cap

1 head lamp

1 small swiss army knife with wine opener

1 1liter water bottle

1 set of blister repair

1 sun screen

1 ace bandage

1 usb charger

2 cellphone charger cords

2 pairs of sunglasses

1 pocket diary

1 pen

1 pencil

1 backpack rain cover (already atbatteryAto osprey backpack)

1 inflatable pillow

1 tooth brush

1 tooth paste

2 pair of ear plugs 

1 Roll of toilet paper

1 packet of wipes

Bar of soap ( for washing clothes and hygene)

1 3oz bottle of shampoo

1 charger converter

3 zip lock bags for documents etc.

1 quick drying rei towel

Clothes drying clips

Camera w/ charger

1 Extension cord

Small Sack pack for groceries etc.

1 Rubber sink stopper

1 Hand sanitizer

1 Face towel

1 Small plastic rope for lining clothes to dry

1 Smart phone W/ extra battery

1 MP3 player w/2 headphones

Pilgrims Guide book.

👎My OLD Equipment list for the trip

Clothes:

2 Addidas dri fit tank

1 long sleeve quick dry shirt

1 short sleeve reebok compression shirt

2 quick drying shorts

1 pair of convertible pants/shorts

2 hiking socks

1 pair of Vasque hiking boots

1 supplex bucket hat

1 double dry champion jacket

1 checkered going out button up

3 compression adidas underwear

1vneck t shirt

1 converse black chucks

1 pair of black pants for church

1 pair of socks 

1 money belt

1 helly hanson rain jacket

1 pair of teva hiking sandals

1 black trucker hat

Backpacking gear:

Osprey Stratos 36 w/ raincover attached

1 compression sleeping bag

1 inflatable sleeping pad

1 mesh bag for dirty clothes

4 ditty bags for numerous things

Hiking sticks and caps

1 head lamp

1 small swiss army knife with wine opener

1 1liter water bottle

1 set of blister repair

1 sun screen

1 key light/knife/bottle opener

1 winter face mask

1 pair of sports gloves

1 pair of chop sticks

1 ace bandage

1 Cell phone charger

2 cellphone charger cords

2 pairs of sunglasses

1 beanie 

1 pocket diary

1 pen

1 pencil

1 backpack rain cover

1 inflatable pillow

1 tooth brush

1 tooth paste

2 pair of ear plugs 

Toilet paper

Bar of soap ( for washing clothes and hygene)

1 charger converter

3 zip lock bags for documents etc.

1 quick drying rei towel

1 blister kit

Clothes drying clips

Camera w/ charger

Small Sack pack for groceries etc.

Rubber sink stopper

Thread and needle

Passport

Smart phone 

Mp3 player with charge cord

                           

                                               

      My Osprey Stratos 36

The Plan

Camino France

During most years more than 100,000 people walk this particular Camino though most start somewhere nearer than St Jean.  The route is very well supported by the Spanish Government and many of the regions that it passes through, especially Leon.

My First trip to Europe and I'm doing it BIG!!!

A brief history of El Camino De Santiago:

The  or (commonly known by its name in Spanish: El Camino de Santiago) is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino Francés or French route) to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried.

I will journey the Camino France. I Know it sounds crazy, I will walk from Saint Jean Pied de Port on the French side of the Pyrenees and finish my 500 mile journey to the Compostella de Santiago. If I have enough time I will venture further to Finisterre (3 MORE days journey from Santiago) and see the Atlantic Ocean.

For this trip I have 43 days to complete my objective

Ohhhh Yeah.....

I will undertake this adventure Alone.

The Pilgrims of the Camino say, 

"You are never alone on the Camino"

Its an Exciting Adventure.

I hope to meet Pilgrims along the way and make friendships that last a lifetime.

In journeying through the Camino Frances I hope to write more poetry and refine my novice photography Skills.

I Am Leaving:

August 1, 2014 and I will return September 12, 2014

The Stages of my Walk

http://www.santiago-compostela.net/frances/index_cf_en.html