T -5 dae

Nog 2 werksdae en totaal 5 dae voor ons op die vliegtuig klim Barcelona toe. My “to do” lysie tik ek stelselmatig af maar nes ek dink ek het aan alles gedink, dink ek weer aan iets wat op die lysie gesit moet word. Wel teen Maandagoggend is hy of klaar of wat daar op is, is glad nie meer belangrik nie.

Dit reën op die oomblik in Kaapstad en dan kan ek nie help om te wonder hoe die weer op die Camino gaan wees nie. Daar kan ek niks aan verander nie, so “what will be, will be”.

Ek het vanaand die klere en dinge wat saamgedra moet word op die bank uitgepak. As dit op so hopie lê dan lyk dit min genoeg, maar pak dit nou in daai rugsak en skielik is hy vol. Die een advies wat almal vertel en wat mens orals lees is dat jou rugsak nie meer as 10% van jou liggaamsgewig moet wees nie. So klim ek toe maar met gepakte rugsak en al op die skaal en wonder bo wonder is ek net onder die 10%. Selfvoldaan loop ek bietjie rond in die huis met rugsak op en skielik besef ek my fleece en reënbaadjie is nou net gewas en moet ook nog ingepak word. En my bladder vir water is ook leeg. So daar gaan die mooi pak en net onder die 10% bly.

In the “A pilgrims guide to the Camino de Santiago” by John Brierley writes

You will bring too much; everyone does. Be prepared to give away, leave behind or post back items you don’t need and notice which option you choose, why and at what stage of the journey.

I thought I’ve been smart in my selection of essentials that will be going with, so I will let you know what I don’t need and what I do with it at what stage of the journey.

Ek weet wel dat my rugsak minder weeg as wat hy geweeg het tydens die Otter trail. Die verskil is die Otter trail is 5 dae en die Camino is minimum 35 dae. Die gewig van die rugsak is dalk ook ‘n metafoor vir die emosionele baggasie wat mens saamdra. Ek is glo sterk dat ek daarvan ook op verskillende plekke op die Camino van ontslae gaan raak.

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Philadelphia

I went to Philadelphia today, not the one in the US of A, but the little dorp close to Durbanville. I’ve lived in Cape Town for 10 years and I’ve never been there. What a hidden gem so close to Cape Town. In the past three weeks different people have told me about Philadelphia. I made a breakfast date with Rina who lives in the area and thought today is the day to go there. I also wanted to go to Magic Minerals in Philadelphia and it was the perfect opportunity. Little did we know that everything is closed on a Monday.

Everything except Magic Minerals and the reason being they are busy with some renovations. I was looking for two specific stones which I found. At least one I knew I had to get and the other one found me. They are going on the Camino with me.

When we were ready to pay the owner said she had a bigger stone for the one that found me but when I told her the reason for picking the smaller stone, she told me that doing the Camino is on her bucket list and could I please come back after the trip for coffee and to share my experience. She then told me she wanted to give me something to take with and went into the shop, picked a stone and gave me a Selenite to take with. I am amazed at the generosity of people and what I am given as tokens. And how each one has a meaning which pertains to my journey. A big hug later and I was sent off with love.

Miracles happen every day but we should just be open to recognise them.

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Afrika

Ek is vandag Langebaan toe gewees. Op pad terug het ek besluit om deur die Weskus Nasionale Park te ry. As mens daar ry en jy sien al die fynbos en die daisies wat nou blom dan kan mens nie help om gelukkig te voel nie. Ek het Wimpie se dak afgehaal en wind in die hare (sure) gery met son op my gesig.

That’s when it hit me that just over a week I will be in Spain starting the journey of a lifetime. Whilst walking on the beach in Kraalbaai I realised walking is what I’m going to do every day for at least a month. For a moment I wondered why I’m doing this? However walking on that beach with no one else around made me realise it’s for the peace and quiet and connecting with Mother Nature but most importantly to connect with myself.

Wat ek wel besef het is dat ek Suid Afrika gaan mis, maar ek dra wel happy memories saam. Dit gaan awesomeness wees soos ‘n vriend altyd sê.

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Hola!

Ek vertrek 01 Oktober 2012 Spanje toe om die Camino de Santiago te begin. Ek gaan saam met my goeie vriend Marcel hierdie pelgrimsreis aandurf. Ons praat al meer as ‘n jaar hieroor en dit het al begin toe David nog gelewe het. Beide Van ons pak dit aan vir ons eie persoonlike redes.

Die uiteindelike beplanning het letterlik binne twee weke gebeur. Alles het net skielik in plek geval hiervoor. Dit is asof alles net gelei het tot hierdie punt waar dit die regte tyd is vir my om dit te doen.

Ek is van plan om hierdie blog te gebruik om my ervarings neer te skryf. Ek is geensinds ‘n skrywer nie, so dit sal in my eie skryf styl gebeur.

Although Afrikaans is my mother tongue, I will be mixing my musings in both languages. That way my non Afrikaans speaking friends will be able to follow my blog.

Groeten,
Johann