It’s finally here. Been dreaming of this for a decade, planning for a year, sitting in the United club for an hour… it’s the final countdown. Is this crazy? It might be a little crazy. Right? At my “mature” age, reasonably healthy, but with artificial knees, just jetting off to Portugal, to walk 200-ish miles to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

Let’s be real, though. I’m not “just” jetting off. I am a planner to the nth degree and I have planned QUITE a bit for this. The packing was insane. (I know everyone doesn’t bring their own smoke/carbon monoxide detector when they travel. I don’t care. We all have our phobias and I don’t laugh at yours.) Also, I’m not doing the free-form Camino pilgrimage where everyday unfolds however it does, you walk however far you want, search for an albergue (hostel) each night… yeah, no. Maybe 20 years ago I’d do that but today I need to have a plan. That’s what relaxes me. And I need to know I have a place to sleep every night. So that’s done, planned out, booked. Check. 

I also have my “good luck” talismans in place. My kids each (independently) gave me a St Christopher medal (“protect us”), Paul gave me a Camino shell necklace, and my pope-blessed rosary is in my bag with all my chargers and power adaptors. All set! 

Tonight I’ll fly to Porto. Tomorrow and Saturday I’ll explore the town, relax and get ready. Then Sunday I start walking…