180 Days

My annual camp/cabin trip was this past weekend. Basically it’s the same group of guys every year, with the occasional comings and goings.

Back in the day, we camped. One particular weekend, about seven or eight years ago now, it rained so hard that it put out our campfire. Since then, it’s been U.S. Forestry service cabins.

This is the same outing (and location) where back in 2012 I walked my inadvertent Camino day.

My friend Charles and I had a fun hike up to the ridge above the river and road. Not a long distance (maybe 5 miles) but a thousand foot gain in elevation. It wasn’t particularly difficult, but the rapidly dwindling oxygen meant there was a lot of huffing and puffing.

The way down was much more difficult than the way up. All in all, it was a pretty good workout.

I didn’t remember a camera, but Charles did, so these are his photos.

We probably would have gone much farther, were it not for a promise of haggis for lunch waiting for us back at the cabin. The haggis was delicious (thanks to our buddy Adam).

I took a small stone from the top of the ridge. Perhaps I will leave it at Cruz de Ferro next year.

Speaking of which – it’s only 180 days until Francine and I leave on our next Camino!

We’ve got a full slate of planning for this week. We’re applying for TSA Precheck, and our interviews are tomorrow. I’m planning on mailing my passport renewal later this week. Once those things are sorted, our paperwork should all be in place.

After that, there are a few equipment things to straighten out. I’m going to need some new hiking pants; the ones I have are trashed. And of course, after the turn of the year, I’ll need to get the shoes I plan to walk in. And of course, there are the bits and bobs on my wishlist.

It’s all starting to feel frighteningly real.

(Originally posted to Pilgrims on the Way.)