On March 4, I hit the Cathy Fromme Prairie Trail and did a couple of miles with my partner, Neil and my dogs. I wore the new Asolo boots and two pairs of socks, the liners and the SmartWool.  It felt a bit too much, and though I got no blisters, that left foot and the bone below the big toe were sore.  First day out, though, wasn’t bad.

The next  Sunday, we again took the dogs out and clocked about 3-1/2 miles.  I tried a different combo of socks and felt pretty happy at the end of the walk.

Reading through two years of on-line posts on the Camino de Santiago forum, a particular category of posts that deal only with the ongoing discussion about whether hiking boots or hiking shoes are best for the Camino, I came upon a little reference to 1000 Mile socks.  Hmm, I thought.  Really?  Guaranteed to last a thousand miles and NOT give you blisters.  Another hmmm . . .Not only is this apparently a legitimate item, but there are sub-names within the brand.  The one mentioned on the forum was 1000 Mile Fusion socks.  Ah. . . now I understand.  Not really, but I did a search, and of course since Amazon sells everything, I was not surprised to find that they broker for this UK product. I ordered a pair and was delighted to find  these supposed wonder socks in my hands within the week.

The next day I attempted four miles, but got a bit re-routed on the trail and ended with about seven miles on those new boots. My feet felt pretty good, though if I were really on the Camino, I would have stopped for lunch and a foot-soak in the stream that ran beside my path. And if I were really on the Camino, I’d have another 487 miles to go before I reached Santiago de Compostela.  With a 25 pound pack on my back.

So I am beginning. I’m also keeping a Camino prep journal, and perhaps I’ll discover as I jot down notes in this little journal some of the reasons why I seem drawn to do this pilgrimage. I am neither a body nazi nor a strenuous hiker. But I love to walk.