PLEASE NOTE/VEUILLEZ NOTER
I have temporarily changed the heading of my blog to My Camino, for the duration of my trek. :)
W--e--l--l--, I wrapped up my last training hike with a bang this morning. I hiked up the JR hill ten times (461 total metre elevation), in 20 degree heat at 8:00 in the morning, at 71% humidity. I didn't realize I had so much determination.
Did I say with a BANG? S-H-A-B-A-M!!!! They blew up one of the smokestakes in Darlington (the former Power Plant) just as I was beginning my second climb. Let's just say it shook my world, and was a fitting end to my training, don't you think?
I must say that I kind of feel like a bride, on her big day! When I actually set out on this adventure of hiking El Camino de Santiago, I will have something old (my clothing) something new (expensive wool socks from my mother), something borrowed (backpack, sleeping bag), and something blue (a beautiful blue ring (BLING!) given to me for good luck, by a woman at a garage sale, when she heard about my upcoming trip). So sweet of her. No groom in sight, and that's alright!
For my last week of my training, I started packing THE backpack for my trip, so I took only my little one on my treks. What did I put in it, to give me 15 lbs on my back? A bag of flour and a bag of sugar, to start. You know, they travel well!
J'avoue que je ne me suis jamais promenée dans une pluie battante. Pourquoi faire ça au moins d'être obligé de le faire? Je me dis que je ferai face à ça sur El Camino même, si l'occasion se présente. Je n'aurai pas de choix, n'est-ce pas?
Pendant ma mise en forme, moi et Vimy, on a parcouru plus de 335 kilomètres de routes, de chemins de travers, de ruelles, de chemin de fer, et d'allées de la Côte Nord du Nouveau Brunswick. J'ai eu mes petites aventures, bien sûr!
Un matin, à Pointe Verte, un vieux bonhomme à velo m'a saluée avec un "Bonjour Monsieur!" Quoi? Je portais un pantalon de yoga Lululemon, avec un frison sur chaque jambe! Sans doute, quelqu'un qui a besoin de meilleures lunettes.
While out trekking these six weeks, I have been stared at, smiled at, tooted at, waved at, barked at, yelled at, and given the "THUMBS UP" sign by a group of bikers. Turns out the biker gang was my brother Pierre and my sister-in-law, out on an excursion with their friends. It is always wonderful to be encouraged by family, over randoms, don't you think? :)
SURPRISE, SURPRISE, I was even catcalled! This happened back in "the colonies", so to speak. That might explain it. I don't think they see too many women on those back roads. Maybe someone in that group of men forgot to put their glasses on that day! Or, obviously someone was as blind as the gent who mistook ME for a man.
In all my travels, I only found 37 cents on the roads! No jewellery, no money, no nothing of any importance or significance, other than garbage. So I won't have a treasure in my pocket, that I can say I found while I was out hiking the North Shore of our beautiful province. Dommage!
However, memories of incredible vistas, beautiful sunshine, big fluffy cumulous clouds, winds that caressed my face, showers that cooled me off, the soothing, ever changing waters of my Belle Baie, the marvelous sights and sounds all around me of another a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y perfect summer day, day after day... THOSE are the real treasures that I found while hiking.
PRICELESS!
PS: Thank you for sharing my journey as I prepared for my big adventure.
NB: Merci d'avoir partagé ma préparation vers ma grande aventure.
safe travels!!
ReplyDelete¡Gracias ahijada!
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