Solo Ventures

 There has been some scuttlebutt on the Camino Forum, pilgrims expressing  a view that bicigrenos do not get as much from the Camino as walkers can. I was a tad miffed about people laying a negative judgement on the shoulders of cyclists.  I considered how cycling is more affordable ad it reduces expenses, and that this was a personal choice, between a pilgrim and their conscience.  Not a matter for others to judge.   Ilenn the daily costs,  I have been considering that I could probably afford to spend 15 days in Spain,  but not 33 days. Besides,  cycling has a greater chance of success compared to walking 800k. I know in my heart that I'd prefer too walk if I had the reddies, but just don't have them at present. Even the idea of flying to Mumbai,  buying a Hero bike and riding and busing across Asia and Eastern Europe appeals,  ad it would save $1500 in airfares.  Plus,  what an experience.  But my experiences riding the Eileen O'Connor Camino have me questioning that mode

 Today saw me & my red folding bike " Robyn " set of on the second of probably five sections of and our pilgrimage to Eileen O'Connor's tomb. Being early Spring the weather was cool early and never really warmed up,  nor got windy.      What little research I did revealed that we would be following the East Coast Cycleway until the 50 k mark at Doyalson before heading inland to meet the train line between Sydney & Newcastle to get a train back.  Being on a cycleway I assumed we'd be pootling along in smooth finished paths over gently undulating ground, with scenic views.  How wrong I was.   We picked up or first cycleway, the Fernleigh Track, heading out of Newcastle.  Some believe it's named after Kurt Fearnley, Paralympian Goldmedalist  cyclist and Kokoda Track crawler, but it's not.  Fernleigh meaning meadow of ferns,  was the  name given to coal-fired original coal mine in the area.  The mine was short lived,  but the track is built on a rail r

 Sorting on the deck having breakfast I hear a Wedge- tailed Eagle call from the mulberry tree in spring bloom not 15 feet away.   The dog flipped his head about at the thought of a fellow Top Predator paying a visit.  The House Chooks went deathly silent.  The absence of their continual nattering and haggling confirmed what I thought I'd  heard.   But I sensed a Practical Joker was about.  Yep,  as I looked for the black suspect I heard the rapid machinegun fire call made by the Satin Bowerbird. There? A branch shimmers  Another wedgy call, same thing,  dog alert, cooks still silent,  but there he was BSB ducking around the branches searching for bugs. The Joker.  

 Yes a terrible pun,  but I  am feeling buoyant about my attempt to raise money for my first Spanish pilgrimage.   Unfortunately it comes at a heavy cost tp my burgeoning side job, beekeeping. Up until about 6 months ago I was working to build up a collection of bee hives and after buying four, I had expanded to eight. This summer I was planning to double again, my number of hives. But, that was before hives in the region were infected by varroa mites,    varror destructor .  This tiny mite posed a  threat to nation's honey production and agriculture more generally.  Biologists reckon that without bees, food production would be unsustainable for human existence within days.   The Australian government immediately set up a testing and erradication program.  The short story is that all my hives,  although in different locations,  will be euthanized.   But,  on the up side a generous compensation scheme will provide enough funds for me to attempt a big  Camino in Spain.It may mean tha

 One step out my front door and I was technically a pilgrim.  A peregrino or bicigrino depending on whether I walked or ride. I would be doing both.  A pilgrimage, based on my study of the Camino de Santiago, is simply a heartfelt journey towards a site of religious importance.  My pilgrimage is unknown to anyone except me and  I am pretty certain I will be the first to follow this route. A handful of people  have trodden a shorter version,  the final 12 kilometres, but I will be tracking that onto 250k that it will take to get there from my home.   My destination is the tomb of  Eileen O'Connor. Recent efforts have supporters has seen Eileen pass several steps on the path to Canonization, or sainthood.  At this time she is referred to as "saint in waiting", a miracle is needed for that final blessing.  So,  who is Eileen? Well, a young woman who's time on earth was both brief and arduous. A childhood injury rendered her severely disabled and in constant pain. Followi

 This is a goat in a coat.   I've been subjected to trending kids 24x7, dealing with the illness& death of some of those kids,  & trying to work in between.  The lack of solid sleep,  I find bewildering hence the goat's unusual covering & my lack of mileage walking a 90k challenge for the month.  I signed up to do 90k and with the month nearly half piver,  I have walked just 25k.  You know,  the Queen has passed away,  Ukraine is still being invaded & people are being killed,  starved & tortured,  elsewhere people are losing their lives & possessions due to global climate catastrophe, so I can't even enjoy a good whinge about by trivial stuff.   I heard of a cyclist fellow from England going for a "one year time trial record". Basically he was going out each day to log maximum miles & had worked regularly at 200 or more mindless each day.  He is on track to bust the record ... then a moped rider crashed into him breaking two bones in hi

 Pilgrimage must embrace hardship. Many pilgrims begin with non- materialistic ideals,  others figure it out on The Way.  As a regular listener to Camino podcasts I can site several examples of walkers describing how the realisation that they did not really need anything outside their c backpack to feel joyful and at peace.  Many vow to undertake a radical stepping of "stuff" when they get home.  .Passing through new housing estates I feel closed in by rampant materialism.  This well I heard a woman in the Aldi car park thanking fellow shoppers for helping load a new tv purchase into her shiny SUV. A little later I saw the same tv floor sale,. It was 48" in size.   I do wonder how long it will be till they start selling Hover Chairs? Ref: Wall-E Movie. 

 Sad news this morning that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. Although I dislike pomp & ceremony surrounding the royal institution especially in the light of the various scurrilous individuals that have hidden behind the protections of  royalty,  I do feel this loss.  At the time of Diana's  passing I had little sympathy other than I would normally have for the loss of a young person passing before their time.   But the Queen was someone altogether different. A person of integrity, grace, affection towards animals & free of the stench of corruption. A rare bird.  Vale. 

 After hoofing 15k yesterday,  i am feeling good. a little tender on the feet & a right left calf,  but easy to take care of.  The claim that walking yourself into fitness on a long hike seems to hold up.  I'm more pleased to have identified that my pointy shoes are crap for my wide foot. Something that hasn't bothered me on short walls.  I also used a small pack yesterday.  I'm guessing its about 20 litres capacity & I'm really thinking it's enough for a Camino walk when camping & sleeping kit are not needed. A light pack equals great joy & simplicity.                          *          *          * i have a theory that pilgrims are heavily drawn from among society's more well off. Of course the world's indigenous peoples, * at the other end of the scale, the greediest money makers are unlikely to ever attend,  but i am miffed that blue or  green collared workers are under represented.  This morning I picked up a book & after learning t

 Last September I signed up to the The Better Challenge to ride 500k, this year,  to walk 90k. Yes it raises finds for research into Children's Cancers,  but it also locks me into way too high goals for the month.  It's wonderful how motivating it is going for greater mileages thinking about sick kids coping with much worse.   Today, wanting to test my cheap shoes, walking pack & 61 years old legs,  I settled on 14k over 3 + hours.  I suspect my pace  was too fast & my shoes too narrow. But,  I did it & when things settle I'll be stronger & wiser. The Vacy Loop My stats   A bee on jonquils. After leaving the car by the Vacy pub I grabbed my daypack & headed north towards the bridge.  It wad quickly evident that the ground was sodden & to avoid soggy feel & blisters,  I'd need to hog the road.   After exiting the village i donned me hat & grabbed out my hiking pole.  I thought it was odd having one pole, it was,  & felt lop-sided for t

 If getting up through the night to hand feed baby goats doesn't make you enough of a zombie. Last night i also stayed awake to  watch the start of the Golden Globe Race (solo,  no technology & unsupported). I read that "the off"was 2030 local time but they were milling about the docks then,  so I hung on until they started motoring offshore. That took an age & I think they crossed the line at 0400 today.  I keep watching till my phone fell on the floor.   My favourite sailor is Elliot, the youngest. Apparently he got snagged on the thought of racing a few short years ago after taking up sailing.  His budget is tiny by comparison & he doesn't have a record of decades of professional  sailing or armed forces training behind him.  Just an average dreamer that bit off more than he can chew. This is my favorite boat though. She's a Gaia 36, a bit narrower in beam & a lot less freeboard than all the others.  She's being sailed by a Finn who came &qu

The Distance Walking podcast   I picked up on 2 things from Chris Howard "The Coast Walker " & "Chases   The Distance Walking podcast provided,  Chris Howard onspontaneous goal setting & setting off,  in order to build confidence eg 3 weeks from conception to setting off for an 11 000 mile round Britain coastal walk.  Here's his list of smaller projects:- Then " Chase Mountain " mentioned Piriformis causing sciatica.  Did some Googling & found some remedies.  What damage can gentle repetitive stretching do? List includes; neck rolls, hammy stretching ( on my back legs pulled up, standing leg on chair & crouching,  hip twists while on back,  back extensions from tummy position.     

 I've signed up to a children's cancer fundraising challenge again.  Last September I cycled 500 klm's over the month.  I felt good about:- ○ actually producing something from my exertions, that would benefit others. ○  pushing out from my comfort zone and upping my weekly cycling distances.  ○ improved fitness.  ○ getting others,  mostly family,  to focus on kids who were unwell & to reflect on our own health.   There were no "cons" with the thing, so I was looking forward to participating again this year.   So,  what will I do? Walk for 90 klm's. So my thinking is to take it out in one or two big hikes. I'd like to say its Camino Practice,  but no I can't really think that far ahead yet.  A quick look at my bank balance would convince you of that.   As it's raining & blowing a gale & there's a possibility of local flooding,  I spent some time getting my kit together.  At this point I've packed:- Sleeping bag & pad.   Cooki