The Camino Portuguese, My Way

 I'm 31 days out from departure after today.  Things are coming into focus.  I actually did a dry run on seeing how things fit into my pack a couple days ago.  Everything fits, with some work.  I'm not taking a sleeping bag, just the liner (what I call my "sleeping baguette").  With the temps I'm seeing there's no need for a sleeping bag.  The baguette worked last time, so I don't anticipate problems this time. I'm trying to monitor the fire situation in Portugal.  About 10 days ago the Portuguese government issued an order closing forest paths, which parts of the Camino Portuguese use.  Basically you couldn't access forest paths (among other places) through August 7 because of fires and the heat wave.  I haven't seen a lot of chatter or warnings on the Camino Forum bulletin board, which is usually a good source of information.  There's a few local peregrinos walking the Portuguese now, so I'm hoping they'll provide information....

 This is a link to one of Dan Mullins' podcasts featuring Sky Weishar.  Sky will be walking with our group in September.  She's from Toronto and has done several Caminos.  It's always interesting to hear someone else's point of view.  It's a bit long (+/- 56 minutes) but worth a listen if you have time. There's plenty of time to get to know someone while you're hiking, so I'll be curious to compare notes with Sky. https://megaphone.link/MLSAM1461490927

 First, the good news.  There's a Hawaiian-themed night during my Camino journey.  I didn't have a Hawaiian shirt to wear, so ordered one through House of Target.  It came today.  See what you think of my choice.  So far it's getting good reviews among friends and those in the group. Now the disturbing part, at least for me.  Among the WhatsApp exchanges were politically-oriented posts from one of the members in Australia.  "Can you vote correctly the next time?" "Buddy, I tried!" "Same here."  "Same here." "Same here."  I totally understand people's politics, but one of the reasons I enjoy the "hiking bubble" is the LACK  of politics.  To me, we're all just people, at least on the trail.  I'll respect your beliefs.  But if I'm excluded or basically ostracized from the group for mine?  Is that really fair?  I'm trying to get away  from the noise, not be engulfed in it.  The exchange really depre...

Funny what showed up at the Saguaro Branch library today.  Something for me to digest and whet my appetite before I leave for Portugal! Someone with the group had suggested Top Santiago as a luggage/pack transfer service during the hike.  I'm usually hard-core and want to carry my pack the entire journey.  But I started thinking...it's six years later, I've started feeling big toe joint problems, my back gets cranky on occasion.  So I conceded to age/aches and pains and decided to transfer my bag on each segment.  I'll use a fanny pack and carry rain gear if necessary.  Most of the other items can be transferred point to point.  I'm supposed to enjoy the walk, not turn it into a survival contest.  It's called knowing your limits. 56 days until liftoff.  It's not easy training in Phoenix in the summer.  I do what I can by 9-10am and then it's inside.  Too many people making news by hiking in the middle of the day.  I don't need ...

 Just reading how Dan Mullins' "Somewhere Along the Way" came to be.  He tells the story on his website.   The Camino song | Dan Mullins music 64 days and counting until I leave.  I have to admit I haven't been excited yet.  Before my first Camino I would look at the map daily and envision myself walking up to O Cebreiro.  Or seeing the spires of the Cathedral in Santiago from Monte de Gozo.  The lack of excitement comes from a lonely feeling.  A lot of people in the group know each other, so I'm a newbie.  How will I fit in?  I've briefly introduced myself in the WhatsApp group.  I'm sure things will fall in place once I'm over there, and I won't feel like I'm on an island by myself.  It's some of that, plus all the politcial noise over here.  I'm tired of negativity and just need to get in the hiking bubble where we're just people.  It's not easy breaking free from the dark cloud I feel. For those musically inc...

 A sunrise walk along the canal east of Longmore Rd. in Mesa.  It's flat but provides some nice views of the surrounding mountains.  Even better there's plenty of mesquite trees, allowing me to combine two interests...hiking and harvesting beans for flour.   Starting around 5:15am I hiked 4.2 miles on the canal (round trip).  Wildlife...a white egret, quail, more than a few burrowing owls.  It's pleasant until the sun comes up.  After 9:30am, forget it.  Not worth being outside unless you want to bake.  It's called "summer schedule." After hiking I gathered two more cloth bags full of beans.  See the photo below for what I've got to work with...a full bucket of beans.  I want to grab what I can before it rains, just to be safe.  From what they told me at the Pima Museum, it's OK to pick beans even after it rains...as long as the beans are dry.  I'd read where you need to pick before the first monsoon rain.  Just ...

 Been awhile since I posted.  Recent events have made me rather withdrawn, so I've been keeping silent.  Anyway, I was along the canal at 32nd St/Stanford, harvesting a few mesquite beans.  I've been waiting for beans to turn golden.  Most have been green, but there's a few ripening.  I found a good tree and was close to filling my bag when a man walked past along the canal.  He stopped to chat and it turned out he'd lived along Stanford Drive not far away.  We chatted about the area and some of the old places...Hitching Post bar, Cudia City movie set, etc.  We introduced ourselves...his name was Bill Sperry, and he hikes the canal almost every day. What made this so exciting was just meeting someone out of the blue, just like along the Camino.  And it came at the right time, when I've been feeling depressed and negative.  I was badly in need of good conversation, something positive.  Once again, out of nowhere, the Camino prov...