El Camino del Norte

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I think that those that know me have at one time or another heard me talk about a trip of a lifetime that I want to do:  El Camino de Santiago.  I have been planning, reading, learning, inquiring, and basically obsessing about El Camino or The Way of St. James.  I have been wanting to do this pilgrimage for years but only in the last two years have I been seriously concentrating on how to bring it about.  Middle age bucket list or just a desire for adventure and a sense of freedom?  I don't really know but it doesn't really matter, does it?

For those of you that don't know this trek is a five hundred mile "hike" across northern Spain.  It has been going on for about one thousand years and the idea was that it would bring about absolution of your sins if you made it to the end. For El Camino Frances it starts in the French Pyrenees at St. Jean Pied de Port (some say that it really begins outside of your front door as you take your first step) and it ends in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela when you reach the cathedral.  If you walk it all the way through it usually takes about four to five weeks.  I am focusing in doing El Camino del Norte which basically works its way through the coastal areas of  northern Spain.  Guaranteed to be green, wet, cool, and challenging topography.

Well, for me it is even a bigger challenge because I am a type 1 diabetic.  This means that I have to plan everything carefully with my health needs first and foremost.  It is sort of coming up with a plan "A" for everything, with a plan "B" just in case that doesn't work, and possibly a plan "C" if everything goes wrong.  Whew!!!  I am tired and I have yet to take the first step.  If you are not an insulin dependent diabetic you probably don't quite understand what a challenge this is for me (or other diabetics).  I'll have to carry all my diabetic supplies with me, snacks and glucose tablets to compensate for the daily twelve to fifteen mile daily treks.  Plus, all the other items like clothes, personal items, sleeping bag, extra socks, underwear, shorts, shirts, pants, rain gear, etc.  All this has to weigh in at or less than ten percent of my body weight to avoid over packing and possibly injury.  Remember, you have to carry this stuff on your back for about five hundred miles.  Thing is that I can't wait to begin.  But as things usually work out it might not happen next year which is when I was planning on doing it.

We have to replace Susan's car as it is really tired and worn out.  We can't do that and save for a trip of this caliber.  Short of winning the lotto or maybe finding sponsors (major pharmaceuticals maybe?) it is just too hard to come up with the cash.  The three most expensive things are the airplane tickets, food, and lodging.  If it was just me then I could probably do it but Susan and Juan Andres will accompany me on this trek.  So whatever expense I have will be times three.  Regardless, I am buying my backpack this coming Father's day.  I plan on getting all our gear this year so I can spread the cost over several months.  I am a firm believer of paying cash for stuff.  I'll keep posting from time to time with pics of the equipment and progress reports.  Who knows, I might just get lucky and unexpected money will come my way?

Today is one of those days that make me feel very melancholic.  Thirty two years ago my grandmother Amparo died tragically in a car accident on a highway in Spain.  My sister and I were spending a month in Mexico City with our cousins while my parents, brother, and grandmother had flown to Madrid.  The purpose of the trip was to take my grandmother back home to Gijon, Asturias after she had spent the better part of a year with us.  She had undergone open heart surgery here in the US and the recovery period afterwards was spent with us.  I was only fourteen years old and I remember that it was a wonderful time spent with her.  She was looking forward to seeing my grandfather once again after the difficult time with her surgery.  I believe that my grandfather was also happy to have her back since he had spent that entire time alone in Spain.

Well, much to our misfortune the road to Gijon from Madrid was wet with a light drizzle.  I don't know if it is fair to lay blame on anyone or if it was just a sad and tragic accident.  The facts are that my dad, much younger then, offered to drive.  My grandfather, always in charge and not wanting to give up that authority decided against it.  They stopped for a family lunch not far from Segovia and my grandfather's rule of always sleeping in the car for about an hour after eating was quickly discarded by him.  Why?  Only God knows.  The sad truth is that shortly after eating they all got into the car and started to drive on the highway to Asturias.  My dad was uneasy because he could tell that my grandfather was a bit tired and not fully rested.  Also, my grandfather had wine with his meal as it was customary for him.  Nothing unusual since this was very common in Spain, although nowadays the police has really cracked down on drinking and driving.  My grandfather at the helm, decided to pass a slower truck in front of him.  As he was passing he realized that a much faster car was already coming from behind  trying to pass him.  He over reacted by trying to pull back into his lane but due to the slick road he lost control.  The car went out of control, sliding from one side of the highway to another destroying the metal barriers and the car as well.  The final blow that killed my grandmother was the car finally flipping over in the grass median and landing on its roof as it slid to a stop between the oncoming lanes and the lane where my grandfather was driving.  Everyone in the car was banged up but no serious injuries except for my grandmother's.  She was just too frail to sustain such a violent blow.  If memory serves me I think that she was killed instantly.  I got to see a picture of the car afterwards and it looked completely demolished.  I am always astounded that I did not lose my parents, brother and grandfather as well that day.  It's really hard to bring these memories back up.

I miss her.  I have missed her all these years and I remember her fondly.  She was always fiercely protective of us as we were her only grandchildren.  We all grew up living together in the same house in Gijon and I have nothing but wonderful memories of her.  Always loving towards us and she would do anything to please us.  I believe that we brought a joy to her that only grand children can.  My dad being an only son was intensely attached to her.  We all loved her greatly.  She was from Merida, Mexico and she exemplified the typical Mexican grandma.  I know that my father's relationship with his father was forever damaged after this tragedy.  The relationship had never been good between them for numerous reasons but I know that my dad has always blamed his father for my grandmother's death.  My grandfather has since passed away and I think that my dad has probably made his peace with him.  Only he can answer that question.  One thing that I do know is that my grandfather, never one to show emotion or too much affection, as he was in his last days of life in Gijon back in February of 2006, would call out to her "Amparito, Amparito..."  I hope that they are both together and that one day I will see them again when my time comes.  Os echo de menos a los dos.

Well, it looks like our minivan will soon be off to another "lucky" user.  We are now looking at new SUVs or as they are designated by the trade, CUVs.  We have been trying our different ones, sitting in them, looking at their amenities, etc.  They all have pros and cons.  Since it will not be my vehicle but Susan's she is quite excited to finally get a new car.  The finalists are as follows:  Honda CRV and Hyundai Tucson.  I have been doing the research, i.e. Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com, Cars.com, etc. and Susan has been doing the part she finds interesting, driving and asking what colors it comes in.  Oh, and does it have leather?  She is really big into leather interiors.

Anyway, I will be honest when I say that I will not miss the minivan.  This is a 2002 Chrysler Voyager with just the basics. Power windows and AC but not much more in the way of luxury.  It has been pretty reliable but due to age and manufacturer little things are popping up that need fixing.  I have taken care of most of these but I realize that this is the perfect vehicle for someone who needs a vehicle with lots of space and loves to tinker with their car.  That is obviously not me.  This Saturday we will get a chance to drive the Hyundai so hopefully that will seal the deal.  Which one would you choose:  2013 Hyundai Tucson  or 2013 Honda CRV?