I have this sort of ominous feeling that I’m in my last few weeks of quiet and calm. Everything is still fairly relaxed: I’m going to work and seeing friends and family, going on hikes and occasionally picking up something to bring along on my Camino. There is still so much left to be done, but I don’t feel as if there is any hurry- surely, I must still have plenty of time?
And I do, kind of. I have about 2 months until I leave, and that sounds like a lot. Panic hasn’t set in, but it’s like I can sense it, waiting just around the corner. I’m afraid it’s going to suddenly hit and I’ll feel like I won’t have enough time: not enough time to train with my pack (which I still have to buy) or time to research all of my travel plans or time to work out what I want to accomplish on this long walk.
But that panic isn’t here, not yet. I’m still settled into this pre-Camino time, going on hikes when I can, and dreaming idly about my summer plans. It’s still a nice phase to be in.
Yesterday I went on a hike, at a nearby park. I’d been walking for over 2 hours, approaching mile 7, when I saw a deer. I’d been walking on a small stretch of pavement before going back into the woods on a trail, and the deer was positioned perfectly: far off in the distance between two lines of trees, standing in a still silhouette.
“Don’t move, don’t move,” I whispered, as I swung my backpack around to reach in for my iPhone, so I could snap a photo. The deer was far away, but because it was standing so still, I thought that it must have sensed me. I zoomed in with my phone and took a picture, but it was blurry and I could barely make out the deer.
So I inched closer, taking steps through the tall grass crunching under my feet. The deer was standing so perfectly still, and with each few steps I would take another photo. Two steps, photo. Two steps, photo.
I couldn’t believe my luck. That deer wasn’t moving!
I was still far away but finally, I realized that something was wrong. The deer hadn’t moved in a few minutes- not an inch. I blinked, and then shifted my position. Was that actually a deer? Or… a tree trunk?
I waded off-trail through knee-high grass to take over a dozen photos of a tree trunk that I thought was a deer.
So, these are my days, lately. Long spring hikes with my camera, dreaming about the things that I’ll see this summer.
I still think it looks like a deer…
Definitely looks like a deer, and better eyes than yours would be fooled as well!
Also I was just thinking about you not having your pack yet. 40L is enough. Anyone telling you that you need to carry a 60L was probably carrying like 6 pairs of socks or something ridiculous. Don’t buy a camelpack, buy 2 1L canteens (or one 2L, whichever). And because I’m too lazy to scroll to one of your previous posts RE your itinerary, I don’t know if you’re flying to Paris or taking the train there but in case you’re flying, a 40L backpack will fit into an overhead bin whereas a hulking 60L will have to be checked, and that’s an extra $40-$50 out of your wallet. Keep in mind I’ve flown Ryanair 4 times, Easyjet 2 times, and Vueling once, all without ever checking my bag, and those airlines are notorious for being scrooges about baggage.
I think I’m on the same page with you about everything here… I definitely don’t want a big pack, and I was planning to keep it 40L or under. I think (think!) I can keep my packing very light, and being able to keep all of my luggage carry-on rather than checking it is the way to go. Absolutely.
I was also planning to go with water bottles… but that’s just a gut feeling- I have no experience with camelbaks. Any particular reason you’re pro-water bottle? 🙂
Like I said, there is no reason you can’t make do with 40L. In fact, it might seem like too much space!
The only reason I prefer waterbottles over camelback is because a camelback goes inside your pack, and bottles are stored externally. I had mine hanging off the straps on my pack. In other words, it frees up space on the inside of your pack. If you’re only carrying a 40L then keeping a camelpack is going to a pain.
Looks like a deer to me! 🙂
I know!!
That is the most deer-like tree I’ve ever seen!