Medieval pilgrims - they had it easy

Apart from the wolves, the bandits, people tricking their horses to drink
poisoned water, people stealing their money, etc etc, they had it easy.
Granted they did not have goretex clothing, anathomic backpacks, digital
cameras to record their pilgrimage, or travel insurance. I still think
they had it easier than us.

Why? Well at least they knew why they were going. I can't help think that
the medieval world must have been easier on the spiritual and mental side
than the modern world. Unless you are a devout religious of some
persuassion, everything about the modern world is covered in uncertanties.
Surely this is reflected in the modern pilgrimage. It seems a lot of the
people embarking on it don't know why they are going.

At least I don't expect the Spanish Inquisition, then again nobody does...

Equipment and worries

Have to be stupid to buy hiking shoes by postal order right? Well I am
that stupid. My old hunting boots are too heavy, and the shops around
where I live only have el cheapo hiking boots. So I bought some by postal
order. Turns out they just about fit. Which is a bad thing. Would have
liked them to be bigger. My toes are going to love the downhill trails...
Still there is a month to walk them in. Might help. Better help.

My old backpack is good. For trips that last several weeks where you carry
your own food that is. At 130 litres it is a bit big for dayhiking.
Luckily I can get rid of some of the space by removing the sidepockets.
Still a bit on the heavy side, but I'll use it anyhow. It fits my back,
and I can't afford splashing out on another expensive backpack.

As for raingear, mine is absolutely rubbish. One hour of a massive
downpour and I am soaked. It used to belong to my former girlfriend's
father. It will have to do, which it won't. If it turns out to be too bad
I'll have to buy a poncho somewhere.

I haven't bought any first aid gear yet. Think I'll postpone that till I
get to Le Puy. Not going to go mad at le apotheque or whatever anyhow.
Need something for blisters, and probably some dressings for any gaping
wound. Think that will do. Some people seem to bring enough for a field
hospital.

Decided to drop the sleepingbag as well. Just bringing a sheetsleeping
bag. Think I might regret that in early october in the Cebreiro mountains.
Seems daft to carry a sleepingbag in august though. 35+ centigrades, I
doubt it'll be cold. The jury is still out on the sleepingmat. Got a good
thermarest one. Question is if there is any point carrying it. If I only
need it a couple of times on a 1600km journey, there is probably no point.

Only a month left now or so. Surprised by how calm I am at the moment. I
don't think it has started to sink in that I am actually going to do this.
Not having the big nervous breakdown of inifinite worries, not yet.
Probably get jelly legs in Le Puy when I set out from the cathedral.

No turning back now

Well now I am definitly going. All tickets bought, and hotel in Le Puy
reserved. Taking a day off there before I start. Figured that might be a
good idea. First of August then I am off. Feeling good about the date.
Numero uno.

Guess I should be frantically reading up on french and spanish. Been
thinking that for a month now. It hasn't really happened. Downloaded some
courses, but they are dusting away on the harddrive. Bought an
english-spanish phrasebook though. "I am sorry but I have lost my wife"
"Do you have any tranquilizers?"- full of similar useful phrases...No
doubt I'll need those.

Think I should exercise a lot as well. It hasn't really happened either.
Apart from a couple of evenings angling, but that doesn't really count.
Sitting in a boat having a beer while fishing is perhaps not enough.

Motivation

Trying to find out why I am actually going to do this pilgrimage. So far I
have not come up with a good answer. Nor a good reason. Not sure doing a
pilgrimage "just because" is the best thing. I can't proclaim any deep
religious reasons for going either. Plenty of cultural reasons though,
particularly the food and wine. Seems a common thing to not have a
clue anyhow.

Popped down to the library the other day. They had a copy of "A practical
guide for pilgrims" by Lozano. Loved the maps and the background
information. Bit on the heavy side though. My books by Raju seems to
describe the route better. Wish the maps were better in Raju.

My french is as poor as ever. Found my old schoolbooks from the early 90s.
Didn't understand much. Not sure I ever did. Lots of scribbles in them.
Seems my teacher told me that I would regret being "lazy about the french
classes for the rest of your life". Hope he isn't reading this blog.
Already regretting my laziness. Probably be worse in France in some weeks
time.

Still waiting for my new visacard, so no tickets yet. Tour de France
speeds through Le Puy on the 22nd I'm told. Could be fun to watch. Hotels
are probably at a premium. Might arrive a few days later instead. Planning
to take a day off before I start. If I figure out the Paris metro that is.
Concerned about that. The metro in Prague was easy. Shame really to just
skip through Paris without even climbing the Tour d'Eiffel. Guess it will
be there for another time.

Preparations not going all that smoothly

So my long awaited super Safari Zipoff etc etc pants was too short.. and the button kept opening. On the good side at least it was suitable around the waist. Hoping my grandmother can sort it out somehow. Maybe sew on some really neat pink gharish material to make it longer. Anything goes I believe.

The camera on the other hand was nice. Shame about the memory card being different to the old I had around. One thing I should have checked, which I didn't. Come to think it of it, there are probably a ton of things I should have checked. Still I can't seem to go into overdrive in my preparations. Haven't even bought the tickets to Paris and Le Puy yet. Still waiting for my new Visa debit card. Somehow it isn't "for real" yet, not until the tickets are paid for. At the moment it is some sort of game. Pilgrim wanna-be as of yet.

Keeping tabs on the weather in France. Seems hot. Not sure how well I'll cope with that. Probably wont be less hot in a month. Not going to worry about it. Not until the tickets are paid for anyhow.

Apparantly I'll have to prepare for some sort of mad hustle for beds in Spain. Does not sound too good. Then again it is hard to know whom to believe. Some say the bedrace is a myth, while others seem to indicate it is alive and well. Guess I'll find out. Not going to worry about it. Not yet.