Christmas Greetings

Got a plug in on talkback radio on 774 the other day, as a result of which I've had a photographer contact me who has himself walked the Camino, and who may be interested in recording my journey. It would make it a very different experience from what I had contemplated, but we will talk again!
The Leukaemia Foundation now have their own donations page established, so I have been the guinea pig for the site, ironing out the bugs, but it is now ok and I have been able to personalise a few things on my page, which you can find at http://my.imisfriendraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?SID=87431.
Son Peter has been busy finalising my website, and we can now link to the donations page - hopefully it will be finished for Xmas !!!!
Please visit at www.assisi2santiago.com
I have been working with a personal trainer for 2 months, and after Xmas I will start my longer walks. Fortunately, there are lots of excellent trails on the Peninsula, and I look forward to seeing more of it at walking pace.
In the meantime I wish you all Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale, and Feliz Navidad.

Springtime continues!

We now have 4 cria safely arrived, and it has been a steep learning curve, as mum #3 suffered a prolapsed uterus, which necessitated an early morning emergency call to the vet. All well now, and it's fascinating to watch the new bubs charging around the paddocks. With the changing spring weather it has been a constant round of cria coats on, coats off, in to the shed, out of the shed - time and again as the weather changes. In a few weeks they will be strong enough to cope on their own, but for the time being, they need the extra protection.
On the camino front, research continues on mapping my own path, and I have now booked the first 3 nights from Assisi. Also had my medical check-ups, and it's all systems go! Less than a month to Xmas, and I'm sure the time will fly until I leave in 128 days time!

Springtime Down Under

Being that time of year, most of the past week has been taken up with shearing 34 alpaca; cutting, baling and shedding 155 bales of hay; visiting Diane in hospital; and in the middle of it all, the arrival of "Pandemonium", our first cria (baby alpaca) to be born on our property.
Unfortunately, he has been very slow developing from birth, but he is still hanging in there after 3 days, so we have everything crossed! Add 3 hourly feeds and twice daily injections to the above, and you will see why my mind has not been directed towards the walk at all. Hopefully, he will continue to improve, so that in the next week I may be able to attend to some other matters. Today is the running of the Melbourne Cup, so I might look for an 'omen bet', and hopefully have a win for the day!
Happy punting.

The dreaded "What if...."s

By far the biggest challenge for me in walking my first Camino, was just making it to the start of my walk! Having been someone who avoids uncertainty, and always likes to be in control, the act of going to a foreign country, to walk 900kms without a word of their language or even a map, was terrifying.  As before, this time I am constantly plagued by “What if …..” questions. Initially, I try to control these by reading and research, soaking up every shred of information I can find. However, this proves to be a double-edged sword! While the information is useful, reading others experiences only raises new fears of unexpected events. The only way I can handle this is to push these thoughts to one side, and to try to accept that I am able to handle anything that may arise. This process was not helped by reading that a woman who had prepared everything to the n^th degree, asked an experienced pilgrim if she had covered everything, and for his blessing. He responded “ Madam, I will pray that everything does not go according to plan”! That felt like throwing fuel on a fire, and was definitely not what she, nor I, wanted to hear.
However, as this is all part of the challenge of moving outside my comfort zone, I try to embrace it as part of my Camino!

It's all happening!

With less than 6 months before I leave, things are starting to come together.

My registration with the Leukaemia Foundation is underway as is my new website, and I am investigating the best way to organise donations and sponsorship.  A sponsorship from an equipment outfitter would be great, so keeping everything crossed.
My route is now pretty much determined, and daily stages will obviously be determined on the road, depending on such things as weather, fitness/health, and how much time I have left.  To complete the entire walk within 3 months will mean that I have very few free days, and little time for sightseeing in the various cities en route, although all my days will be full of new sights and challenges! 
One thing I will be careful about is to start slowly, as on my last Camino in 2002, circumstances 'forced' me to walk nearly 40 kms on my 2nd day, and I suffered for the rest of the journey because of it!    Have started working out with a personal trainer, and need to start updating my language 'skills' as my Italian is basic, my french is schoolboy at best, and my Spanish is minimal.
The next 6 months will fly, so every day is precious!