Final preparations for my Camino de Santiago pilgrimage

It’s hard to believe, but this will be my final post regarding preparations for the Camino de Santiago. After years of dreaming, and months of planning, the trip is nearly upon me.

Today I want to compare my actual preparations…mind, body, and spirit…to the lofty plans I had three months ago. 

Preparing my mind

The plan

1. Educate myself on what to expect and Camino best practices by engaging with Camino Facebook groups and watching YouTube videos.
2. Learn basic Spanish phrases using Duolingo daily.
3. Research each of the locations in which we will be staying along the way.

The reality

1. I continue to rely heavily on the Camino Facebook groups, as well as some pilgrims I’ve found on other social media outlets, to help educate myself, and it has been extremely helpful. 
2. I have practiced Spanish using Duolingo every day…not one missed. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m fluent in Spanish, but I think I can get by.
3. To familiarize myself with the locations we will be visiting, I researched each pueblo and ciudad online. I admit I didn’t go too in depth, but I do know more than I did when I started back in February.

Overall, I give myself an A- on my mental preparations.

Preparing my body

The plan

1. Walk two back-to-back days per week, rain or shine, for increasingly long distances, wearing the clothes and carrying the gear I plan to take on the Camino. Mix up the surfaces on which I walk.
2. Create a stretching routine to practice after every walk.

The reality

1. You know what they say about the best laid plans… My plans did go a little awry in this area, but not terribly so. I have walked every week…many times twice in one week…for increasingly longer distances with the gear I’m bringing on the Camino. What I failed to take into consideration with my planning was how much time a training walk would take as my distances got longer, and therefore, that my schedule may not always accommodate back-to-back walking days. Also, we’ve had very little rain…and none on the days I scheduled walks…so I haven’t been tested that way. And finally, while I have walked on a variety of surfaces, I walked more on paved trails than I had envisioned. That said, I do feel good about my physical readiness. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how my endurance and my tolerance for carrying the backpack have increased. Of course, my longest training walks so far have been 12 miles in four hours. That’s longer than our shortest days on the Camino, but not as long as the longest days, so we’ll see. If you are interested in hearing more about my training walks and the things I tested during those walks, check out the video shorts in my YouTube Camino playlist. 
2. As for the stretching, I have developed a routine that works well for me and have been diligent about performing it after every walk. I have also incorporated a cold shower into my post-walking recovery routine.

Overall, I give myself a B+ on my physical preparations.

Preparing my spirit

The plan

1. Put a copy of the “Spirit of the Camino” where I will see it often and be reminded of why I am taking this journey.
2. Practice mindfulness in my daily life.
3. Figure out how to balance being in the present moment on the Camino while also sharing my experience on my blog and social media.

The reality

1. I did put a copy of the “Spirit of the Camino” by my bathroom mirror where I see it several times a day.
2. I have continued my mindfulness practices of meditation, keeping a Celebration (gratitude) Journal, and eating mindfully…though I can’t claim a perfect record with these. I have also tried, with reasonable success, to be present in the moment during my training walks.
3. I’ve decided to carry a small notebook with me on the Camino, so I can record experiences and impressions along the way. Of course, I will also take photos and record videos, but I won’t edit or publish any video until I get home. I may post a brief photo recap at the end of each day on Facebook and Instagram, but I’ll save the video…which is definitely more work…for after the pilgrimage.

Overall, I give myself an A- on preparing my spirit.

Final thoughts

It’s hard to believe that my dream of walking the Camino de Santiago is quickly becoming a reality, and the next time I post about this subject, the trip will be a memory. 

I’ve put in the work to plan and prepare, and my biggest hope for the experience is that when I arrive on the Camino, I can release all the overthinking and desire for control and truly be in the present moment, open to whatever the Camino brings me. 

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me, and especially to those of you who have offered encouragement, kind words, and advice along the way. It has been invaluable.

Your turn

1. What do you consider your biggest adventure so far?
2. Do you have a dream that you want to make a reality at some point?
3. What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.