Somewhere Slowly

… and suddenly it’s April, and I am supposed to fly out to Porto later this month! How did that happen? How does it always happen? I feel like I have missed a month or something. The truth is, I have been trying to get stuff done to make room for my four week walk with my dear camiga Nanci, and while I was busy doing that, time skipped quietly ahead!

Though I am not quite at panic stations yet – I do have some experience in packing now, and suspect I could do it blindfolded, on pure muscle memory – I have started micropacking. Yesterday I emptied out the cables, chargers, power bank and sundry stuff from my cable bag, swapped a slow charger for a brand new fast charger, removed superfluous cables … then back into the pack. One thing done!

This morning I went to order new socks as the ones from last time were looking a bit tatty … but then I emptied my kit box, and there were three pairs, brand new, ready to go! Must have bought them in the sales and forgot. Either way, my socks and underwear collection is now updated and laundered and nicely packed. Another off the list.

And for the last month I have been testing shampoo bars and lip balms, SPF face cream and solid lotion bars. I am slowly populating the clear airport ziplock bag with bottles and tubs and tubes though they will go in my checked bag; the ziplock will come in handy en route, when all the liquids have been spread out to their rightful places. For now it’s just easier to have them all in one place for instant stock checks (ie to stave off mild panic).

Right now I am sitting here waiting for a phone call and checking that all my useful camino apps are present and correct on my new phone: AlertCops, What3Words, Wise Pilgrim, Google Translate with offline Spanish pack … I have set the lock screen to a recent, recognisable – more important than flattering! – photo of me in pilgrim mode, so in case God forbid I should lose it, it’s easy to prove that it is mine. I have also added my Scouse Spouse’s phone number on it in case of emergency.

And so the countdown to departure begins – not with a bang but with a whimper and some micropacking, laundry, restocking purchases and a lot of trying and failing. Next week I shall probably be panicking.

Happy Easter or similar to those that do, enjoy your days off and try to get a nice walk in!