In Training for Jimmy

I have been walking through some beautiful scenery this week. Here is a picture of the meadow up in Annadel blooming and me in training with my 20 lb pack plus water.

Another Day of Training and Preparing for Jimmy

Yesterday found a wonderful trail up from Spring Lake and over to Annadel and back around to Spring Lake. Some great hill work. Did not wear the pack yesterday and felt amazingly strong. I practically ran up the trail, came back around, dropped down and did the loop around Spring Lake and could have done all over again. What a change after daily walking for a month! Today, on the other hand, did the hill work with my 20 lb. pack and it was a work out sucking air and sweating like a pig. I did not want to do it a second time today. I am really starting to feel strong though. Tomorrow I am going to go for some hill work and some miles with the pack on. Got to start adding more miles, and miles, and miles. It just takes so much time. It is very difficult to fit all of my other duties into the day around this walking regime. I really want to be ready for this trip...to take off walking when I arrive. I will have such little time relatively speaking to get into the groove. I am present when I walk.

History of Looking for Jimmy

I have been wanting to walk the Camino de Santiago since my friend, Suzanne, and step-daughter, Georgia, walked it 5 years ago. For those of you who do not know, this is an ancient pilgrimage of St. James that goes across the northern part of Spain. It starts just over the border in France at St. Jean de Porte, up over the Pyrenees, crosses into Spain in the Basque country, crosses across the top of Spain to Galicia to the Atlantic coast. Approximately 500 miles. My friends, Suzanne and Pat, already left for Spain and they are now into their third day of walking. I will join them towards the end in mid-May, where I will be walking through Galacia starting in Ponferrada and walk approx. 130 miles to Santiago de Compostela. For some this is a religious pilgrimage. For myself, I am seeking some quiet time for reflection and a good walk. And maybe along the way, I will see Jimmy.

In Training for Jimmy

I am trying to figure out how many miles I have been actually walking each day. I am now walking from my home and added a hike around the regional lake to the rest of my hike. I thought I was up to about 6+ miles on this hike. Purchased a pedometer and could not get it to register beyond 2.5 miles...so that is definitely not right. Does not match up with my driving calculations on some of the walk where I could drive in the car. So will try one more time tomorrow to figure out with pedometer. I discovered google has a pedometer that can help figure out miles, but still do not think it is accurate. I would just like to know how much I am walking so I can get a sense of my abilities ie. how far I can walk before my feet start killing me or extreme fatigue sets in. I would like to get some perspective re conditioning. So however far am walking...estimate 5-6 miles, I am doing it with my pack loaded at 20 lbs. It is really beautiful right now here in Northern California. Very green and lupine are blooming. Perfect walking temperature about 60 degrees. Besides the technical difficulties, I am enjoying the walk.

This is a test

I see that folks were trying to post but it was not allowed. So here I am in my full sweaty glory this a.m. after walking my 5 mile jaunt. Shoes and pack feel great. Will do another 5 miles this afternoon. HeeHaa!

Kind of like where's Waldo!

He's everywhere and nowhere....ohhh jimmy mack when are you coming back?