Things you learn when you travel

More Observations Posted

trekker2013's Blog

Seat bottoms are very hard in an Airbus !

Jet Lag lasts more than a day !

Brews are very tasty. Spend 2 Euros for a tall brew and you get 5 Euros worth of Tapas for free. How does that work?

A Quarter Pounder with cheese is called a McRoyale. Ha.

Buy a soda and it comes with a glass ! NO STYROFOAM CUPS.

If you get a glass with one ice cube, it is like a lotto win.

The United States is the trashiest place you will ever find.

Truth in advertising?  Saw a billboard in front of a cafe, Great pictures of the table fare. A great looking “Sub” type sandwich was pictured, loaded with meats, cheese, tomato and lettuce.
Couldn’t communicate what I wanted so I took the proprietor outside and polnted. Oh, Si Si Senor. Soon I had a 4 ” sandwich. A hard roll…

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Santiago Espana

Santiago Spain is a beautiful place. The cathedral is a very emotional experience.  I´m sorry there are no photos at this point. Lost Ipad yesterday and camera today. Think the lightweight battery charger killed my batteries. Still taking video and still photo with video camera. Many pictures to follow when we return to US.  Starting tour of north coastal regions of Spain tomorrow.  Back injury is no problem today, so hoping for some good days ahead. 

Tomorrow is the day…………

Tomorrow morning, The journey begins…………Well, sort of…..

 My Camino friend from Florida , Dr Bill, gave me some advice to just let thy will be done……… Been thinking a lot about that piece of advice. it’s as good as it gets.  So my Camino starts tomorrow, but thinking about it, My Camino actually started months ago.  Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of the Camino….

I am still struggling with the fact that the actual Pilgrimage has been shortened.  Just may have to go back next year if my body holds up. I am about as fit as I can get. My last training walk was this morning and I aced it.

Thanks for all the Prayers and Wishes. I will be carrying all with me……………

Trekker

Pilgrimage Changes

It has been a while since my last post. I have had some hard decisions to make. The decisions are made and I am back on track for the Camino.

The Biggest change is the decision to break the Camino into segments. This due to my back is giving me fits again and I have had a second surgery on my hand. Dupuytrins (sp) Contracture is not fun. I started therapy yesterday and have threatened the therapist with DEATH numerous times. I need additional time to complete therapy.

Changes:

My first segment of the Camino will be from Ponferrada Spain to Santiago. A little over 200km. I am staying in Spain for an additional period of time. If my back is not screaming at me when I complete the Ponferrada to Santiago section, I will shuttle back to do another section, hopefully, the Pyrenees. If I am not able to trek further, I will roam Spain/Europe for a couple of weeks by car/train.

Airfare is purchased. Leaving on September 17th. Flying to Madrid now with these changes. Then train to Ponferrada. I am reserving a car in Santiago for two weeks of auto travel. Have you ever seen a Ford KA? Looks like you should have one on each foot. Ha. A big difference when you are used to the ‘Monster’ trucks etc in Texas.

I continue pounding out the miles of training walks. Not as easy getting conditioned as it once was… It’s been a “Rough week in Lake Wobegon”, but I am back on track………… Wish I was leaving today……

Buen Camino Friends.

Fathers Day 2013

Dr. William Klein

I just knew that my ‘Brother’ Dr. Bill would post today. Sure enough. There is no doubt , he is one of the all time best Fathers. I have followed him throughout his Camino with his son Cullen. Being an emotional person like Dr. Bill, I think I shared many of his tears. Only Faith in the Blessed assurance has seen him through. God’s Blessings to you and your family……….

It is time now for me to say goodbye to the “Reposts” from Dr. Bill.  I can only hope he has touched as many of my friends the way he has moved me with his love and courage. A small part of Cullen will help guide me through my Camino that begins in 78 days………

Enjoy his post at the link below.

http://dogtorbill.wordpress.com/2013/06/16/dear-god-thank-you-for-this-family/

The Cathedral at Santiago Spain

And so it comes to pass that Bill and Sharon enter the Cathedral at Santiago Spain on the 17th of May. All through the  Pilgrimage, I wondered why Doctor Bill punished himself by making daily treks way beyond What should be considered rational. It’s the Date! They had to be there on that DAY ! Buen Camino and Bravo!

One exception I take with the movie ‘The Way’,  Religion has everything to do with it, EVERYTHING !

Please read & enjoy the link below……………

http://caminowithcullen.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/catedral-de-santiago-de-compostela/

Training for The camino de Santiago

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz25ij_corpus-christi-bayfront-training-for-the-camino-de-santiago_travel#.UW1_xGso4dU

This training exercise was a struggle………..I intentionally over-packed my backpack by about 10 pounds. Big mistake. Then I extended my intended trek by one hour. That turned into two more hours. Huge mistake.

These things were done because I knew I would be only able to train a small amount this week. Yesterday, I had surgery on my left hand. Duypuytren’s Contracture. What? It’s a genetic thing that happens primarily to Dudes of Northern Europe decent. That would be me. You will see it it the video below. Scar tissues cause a finger to fold over the palm and eventually lock. Well, my left pinky Locked. Today it is 75% straightened and my hand is really sore.

Friday was as good as it gets around here so it was off to the Bayfront………. Where I live……

I have a New Camera and a new Video editor that I got from http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware . It was free (the software) so you have to figure out how to use it yourself. I am learning, so bear with me. Had difficulty seeing images in the bright sun. Thus some images were zoomed in (like the Pelicans and sadly the pretty joggers) when I did not intend. A lot of Video on the cutting room floor. haHa.

Or

Sorry, This will probably be my last blog with a long video. All the commercials were NOT entered by me! To see the Video without commercials, go to: http://www.dailymotion.com . Then enter the search bar bayfront walk april 2013 reload Sorry for the trouble.

Hey, it will not win any Oscars, but it is FREE……….

Just Do It

Buen Camino Friends

Camino de Santiago – Explained

Just Do It

A friend emailed me the first link below. So after viewing it, I thought all the Trekies would like this one.

The Point where a Pilgrim first sees The Santiago de Compostela

The Video below is quite long but worthwhile. The transformation of this guy is quite amazing.

Buen Camino

The Electric Connection

Got a tip from my Brother-in-Law that I should think about Solar energy for the Pilgrimage. What? He said I should get a small panel that could attach to my pack so electronics would charge as I walked. Electricity may not be plentiful in the Albergues or Hostles. Hmm, Cell Phone, Ipad, Ipod, Video Camera & Digital Camera. That’s a whole lot of charging. Everytime I come upon a Wifi ‘Hotspot’, I would be able to Blog without waiting for batteries to charge.

Radio Shack says sure, they have a Solar Panel that charges any device that has a USB connection. Hmmm, that’s my stuff. Price, $100 + TT&L. Ebay? $12 shipping included from China. (How do they do that?) Worth a gamble. Received it yesterday. After a guick charge, I hooked it up to my Tablet (75% indicated charge) It charged to 100% quite quickly.

It came with a 120/220v wall adapter, a USB cord and adapters for about anything you can imagine. $12 well spent.

Today, I installed it on the ‘Camino Taxi’. I am planning some extreme tests for it. So far, I am well pleased.

The Solar Panel. Very light

Devices to be charged plus Cell Phone

Installed between Cup Holders

Tablet Charging

Pilgrimage preparations and a Look at the Ranch

Today, I sent a video clip from the Ranch in Rockdale Texas to a New Friend in Colorado so she could get a better understanding about the Trekker. Then I thought that most of you have never seen the Ranch either, so here is a brief tour as seen from the seat of my ATV. I challenge anyone to drive a ATV and film at the same time.

Before we start the tour, I have news on my trek preps. Some time ago I started having problems with a spot on my neck. If I scratched it, It took a long time to get it to heal. Yes, I knew what it was, but denial is a powerful tool. So Off to the dermatologist. She says, “L@@ks like cancer to me”. Thanks for the sugar coating. Then she says, “I don’t like this either.” So 5 Biopsies later, That’s a whole lot of needles, all 5 areas were Basal (sp) cell carcinoma. Gulp! Two surgeries, One Burning and the rest “Deep Fried” with Aldura (sp) cream. (Note: this cream over the counter price is $999.99 for 24 single use packets. double gag. Call Canada Pharmacy, $137 for 36 packets. Go figure!) Well, the bottom line is yesterdays’ check-up = all clear. Wahoo! :=)

Meanwhile back at the ranch, we start our driving tour along the West side of the farm that runs about 1/2 mile North South.

Continue along toward the North end………

Now down to the ravine. We call it the “Soggy Bottom” because at times it is quite Soggy.

Then it’s on to the Cabin…

And Last but not least, Our lake. That’s my Baby boy fishing…………

Hope I didn’t Bore you…………..