Already Almost November?

Was it nearly a year ago that I took my first hike on a whim, that day I developed a love for hiking, that day when all the talk began about doing The Camino? The Camino Santiago de Compostella that is.

Yes, it was last November, the 18th. That beautiful autumn day that Rich, one of the guys on my cycling club, put together a hike on The Pinnacle, a mountain in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. I only learned about it the day before. I never hiked a day in my life but what the hell, I figured I would give it a shot - even though that evening was the cycling club's year-end celebration party which I couldn't miss as I was team captain!

So, as a shoe snob who does not and hopefully will not ever own a pair of sneakers, I headed out to REI that evening to pick up hiking boots, keeping in mind that I could always wear them while shoveling snow if I chose not to hike again. Also picked up a day pack and justified that purchase with the thought that a good backpack would always come in handy.

Without going into detail, the hike to the Pinnacle was just amazing. It was a strenuous hike, particularly for a first-timer, but I was hooked. I loved the camaraderie, the physical challenge, the scenery and most of all, that sense of "something I can't describe" but experienced as each step took me closer to the top of the mountain.

The hike took a bit longer than planned and left me only enough time to run home, take care of the dogs and run back out to the cycling party. Though my hiking companions of the day all promised they too would not shower and change, they did. I did not. Oh well.

The following morning, the e-mails started. Great hike, next we'll do the Appalachian Trail. Soon, there was an inventory of everyone's desk food - all were ready to go then and there. But, I had a better idea. A few weeks prior, I had read an article in Der Spiegel, a German news magazine, about the Camino Santiago. Though I had never hiked, I saved the article, something about it intrigued me in a way that few things do. I sent the link. And that's how it all began. And culminated in doing the Portuguese route of The Camino last May.

While this narrative hops around a bit, I wanted to start at the beginning. Now, it's already almost November. The cycling club's year end party is this Saturday though this year, I will be showered! It's been a year already and what a year it's been! But, because it's already almost November, it's time for me to get serious about planning My Camino 2009, the REAL Camino!

I've put the link for the Der Spiegel article that got the whole thing started here: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,512057,00.html