Monday, May 19, 2014

Sidney's Tales from the El Camino (from 5/6/14)

TALES FROM THE EL CAMINO TRAIL - 1st of SIDNEY’S 500 MILE UPDATE

Most of you have heard Izabela and I are leaving May 14, 2014 for France to trek across the French and Spanish Pyrenees then walk across Spain for 500 Miles. It is true and many of you have supported our Charity Work with the children in South Africa  as a result of this walk.  I will be doing updates about every week to 1 1/2 weeks to keep you posted about the tales on the trail.  If you prefer not to get the updates please send me an email before I leave so we can take your name off the list - no hard feelings. Since I am not a “tecky,” I won’t know how to do this on the trail.

So!  This is the first pre-trail tale.... A dear lady, Pat Peck, did the trail last year.  She was 70 years young and made the 500 Mile distance, so I am inspired.  Pat offered to talk with us and give us some hints and tricks of the trail.  The two biggest complaints on the trail are the snoring when you are in a room with 50 other pilgrims; and blisters.  The “Maxi-Pad” trick was especially interesting to me.  Apparently, you get a container of Maxi-Pads (I’m nearly 74, so this hasn’t been on my shopping list for some time).  Pat said to put the pad on my orthopedic insole in my boots, and wrap the “wings” around the insole to hold it in place and it offers a wicking effect to help keep feet dry and prevent blisters and it also gives extra padding.  Which is important on a 15 mile a day walk.

As I was walking, I got to worrying about the “Maxi,” thinking maybe I shouldn’t have
stuck the WHOLE thing down, because Pat just mentioned sticking the “wings” down.
What if it stuck so hard, it wouldn’t come off?  At 7.5 miles, I was so worried, I had to look.  Sure enough, it was S-T-U-C-K!  I was in Burger King and first tried to pry it off with one of those little plastic knives.  It wouldn’t budge.  Now, I’m really fretting.  Do I go to the pharmacist and show him the Maxi-Pad clad to my orthopedic insole and ask for help?  I was horrified at what he/she might think....
and could just hear them saying very loudly, “Lady, that is NOT how you wear a Maxi Pad.  You don’t walk on them, you sit on them.”  My life was over.  

By now I was at the 12 mile mark and I desperately called  Wayne.  He had to meet me on the route while I cried out my dilemma!  Wayne can fix anything... BUT, he said, “I WILL NOT ask ANYBODY how to get a Maxi Pad off of an insole.”  Did I mention how stubborn that man can be at times?  When we got home, my Knight saved me.  He got out his Tool Box and was able to separate the things.  This much I can report...  It did work!! I will walk on the Maxi Pads....     Love, Sidney

TALES FROM THE EL CAMINO TRAIL - 1st of SIDNEY’S 500 MILE UPDATE

Most of you have heard Izabela and I are leaving May 14, 2014 for France to trek across the French and Spanish Pyrenees then walk across Spain for 500 Miles. It is true and many of you have supported our Charity Work with the children in South Africa  as a result of this walk.  I will be doing updates about every week to 1 1/2 weeks to keep you posted about the tales on the trail.  If you prefer not to get the updates please send me an email before I leave so we can take your name off the list - no hard feelings. Since I am not a “tecky,” I won’t know how to do this on the trail.

So!  This is the first pre-trail tale.... A dear lady, Pat Peck, did the trail last year.  She was 70 years young and made the 500 Mile distance, so I am inspired.  Pat offered to talk with us and give us some hints and tricks of the trail.  The two biggest complaints on the trail are the snoring when you are in a room with 50 other pilgrims; and blisters.  The “Maxi-Pad” trick was especially interesting to me.  Apparently, you get a container of Maxi-Pads (I’m nearly 74, so this hasn’t been on my shopping list for some time).  Pat said to put the pad on my orthopedic insole in my boots, and wrap the “wings” around the insole to hold it in place and it offers a wicking effect to help keep feet dry and prevent blisters and it also gives extra padding.  Which is important on a 15 mile a day walk.

As I was walking, I got to worrying about the “Maxi,” thinking maybe I shouldn’t have
stuck the WHOLE thing down, because Pat just mentioned sticking the “wings” down.
What if it stuck so hard, it wouldn’t come off?  At 7.5 miles, I was so worried, I had to look.  Sure enough, it was S-T-U-C-K!  I was in Burger King and first tried to pry it off with one of those little plastic knives.  It wouldn’t budge.  Now, I’m really fretting.  Do I go to the pharmacist and show him the Maxi-Pad clad to my orthopedic insole and ask for help?  I was horrified at what he/she might think....
and could just hear them saying very loudly, “Lady, that is NOT how you wear a Maxi Pad.  You don’t walk on them, you sit on them.”  My life was over.  

By now I was at the 12 mile mark and I desperately called  Wayne.  He had to meet me on the route while I cried out my dilemma!  Wayne can fix anything... BUT, he said, “I WILL NOT ask ANYBODY how to get a Maxi Pad off of an insole.”  Did I mention how stubborn that man can be at times?  When we got home, my Knight saved me.  He got out his Tool Box and was able to separate the things.  This much I can report...  It did work!! I will walk on the Maxi Pads....     Love, Sidney



There are many interesting "Legends" about the El Camino Trail.  I hope to tell you a few before we leave.

There are many interesting "Legends" about the El Camino Trail.  I hope to tell you a few before we leave.

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