Checklists Prior to Leaving

Preparation Checklist

 1. Check expiration date on credit/debit cards.
 2. Check passport for expiration date.

 3. Verify any visa requirements. (Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland)
     Currently, US citizens can travel to Europe for up to 90 days without any sort of travel authorization. Starting with 2021, US citizens visiting parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union. The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, will require "pre-travel screening for security and migration risks of travellers benefiting from visa-free access to the Schengen area."

      I plan to hike in Switzerland (requires entry to France and exit in Italy), Spain and Portugal. These countries are in the Schengen Area. Note that Great Britain and Ireland are NOT in the Schengen Area.

 4. Health Care: Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the U.S. Purchase travel insurance the provides for, at least, major medical, transportation while injured/sick and return of remains to U.S.

 5. Plane ticket. 

     Consider getting a TSA Global Entry Card to expedite processing on your return to the U.S. Can also be used for TSA Precheck within the U.S.

     Consider getting the TSA approved Mobile Passport app for your smart phone.

 6. Test out all your electronics, e.g. chargers, tablets, cables/cords. Bring equipment designed for your electronics. Have your power adapters available. Adapters differ among the U.S. Great Britain/Ireland and Spain/Portugal.  See pictures below.

Household Checklist

1. Mail

2. Pets

3. Plants

4. Auto

5. Bills

Basic HTML Table

		Comments
Spanish/Portuguese Power adapter
Great Britain/Ireland Power adapter

Thoughts on Destinations

Since I've started hiking the Camino de Santiago in 2014, I slowly broadened my interests in other trails.

In 2018, I flew from Santiago to Ireland for the Kerry Camino, and then to Portugal for the Camino Portugues (Central). If there was any takeaway from those experiences, it's that the world can be a camino.

So what's for 2019. Well, I'm still interested in Europe (altho' I can see that changing). I also have some unfinished business. 

Ireland: The Kerry Camino is a 3-day portion of the 7-day Dingle Peninsula Way. I have this yearning to return and complete the Dingle Way. Ireland was beautiful and the people amazing. I need to learn more.

Portugal: Hesitant in 2018, because I don't speak Portuguese, I headed to Porto regardless. I needn't have worried. This is a beautiful country with marvelous moments waiting to be discovered. I learned that people hike from Santiago to Fatimah. I've met people who've hiked the coastal route of the Camino Portugues. These options sound magical and are calling me.

Switzerland: Several months ago, I reached out to someone with whom I hiked for four or five days on the Via de La Plata in 2016. Jos and I made tentative arrangements for 2019 to spend about 10 days here. The Via Francigena passes thru Switzerland with five flat days for the first half and then five days crossing the Swiss Alps. Who could pass that up?

Spain: So much to do, so much to see. But I am called back to the mother country of Santiago de Campostela. There is the Camino Ingles, and a new extension that runs along the northern coast of Galicia from where the Norte end to where the Ingles begins. Sounds breathtaking.

Training for the Camino

Let's Talk about Training

I've added some new routines to my training plan.

Whereas many folks talk about 'get out and hike', and while I don't object to that idea, I've found more success in all-around training to get the mind, body and spirit in a condition of 'being toned' rather than 'ready for hiking'.

So here is my weekly routine (all subject to modification).

Sunday -> Hiking club ( 5 - 8 miles: can be easy / moderate  / strenuous. Hike leader decides.)

Monday -> 1-mile run (under 10 minutes), flow yoga

Tuesday -> Fit circuit (30 minutes), swimming (30 minutes)

Wednesday -> Pickleball (3 hours)

Thursday -> Pilates, Zumba

Friday -> Rest day.

Saturday -> (My YMCA killer combo): Zumba, Pilates and Yoga

Now I know that you don't see a lot of serious hiking in there. I fit it in around the other activities. For any given week leading up to my departure, I will fit in another 10 - 15 miles. It may sound like heresy, but I've learned that given three or four days, my body adjusts to the hiking, but if I am not physically toned when I start the camino, then it's too late once I'm out there.