Easter


Easter Friday - that means I leave for Spain in five weeks and three days. I've been reading an increasing number of books. Slowly I've been becoming familiar with the route and some of the highlights.

At the same time, I've been increasing my walking time.

One of the books I've been reading is A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago, by John Brierley. It's generally regarded as the single most important book to take with you on the walk. It was first published in 2003 and since 2006 has been revised every year (twice in 2017). I've bought the 2019 version, so it's very up-to-date. It's a small book, but packed with fine detail about each stage of the walk, as well as a lot of valuable general advice.

Brierley is only slightly sanctimonious, but I suppose when you're so familiar with your subject that's hard to avoid. I've also had to get over my distrust of men with overgrown eyebrows. (I will continue to keep mine clipped).

The subtitle of the book is A Practical and Mystical Manual for the Modern-day Pilgrim. It's certainly practical. 

The mystical aspect is harder to pin down - even to the author. He's a Christian, so he has a head start. I think it's harder for an atheist, as we don't have anything to lean on except our own beliefs. 

So the mystical part of my journey is a quest to understand who I am and what my life is about, in order to then make some decisions (or not) about my future direction.

I agree with Brierley that this is a very important aspect of the Camino - probably the most important for me.

However, I don't want to lose sight of the chance to look at another culture - food, nature,  architecture etc.

What I don't want is for the physical act of walking - with its accompanying tiredness, blisters, injuries and general grumpiness - to get in the way. For that reason, I'm doing as much walking as I can now, so that it will be second nature to me as I cross the top of Spain, leaving my eyes free to take it all in and my mind free to wander.

Today I travel to Auckland to spend the Easter break. This morning I walked the Tantragee loop, setting out at 7am. Autumn is upon us, so I had four layers of clothes as well as a hat and gloves. I was also carrying my new poles, so I could give them a trial run.


I walked the loop anti-clockwise, starting up Codgers Track to the saddle. It was pretty misty on the other side, approaching the Maitai Valley

It was lighter by the time I met the golf course, although there was still mist on the hills.

Almond Flat - approaching the 8km mark.
A nice part of the trail by the Maitai Cricket Ground.

Still a statistician - here's the details 

https://app.suunto.com/move/petergibbs/5cb8f6c30f3e497954906d37



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