The final preparations are underway for the pilgrimage on The Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela. It started as a COVID dream and at the tail end of Covid en route to see my father in Los Angeles. I purchased a little book in my favourite bookstore in Portland, Powell’s Books, called The Portuguese Way To Santiago de Compostella by Sérgio Fonseca. It has provided the inspiration, the history, and the practical information to get me this far. I have joined the requisite facebook groups and digested many YouTube videos. My husband has developed the ever so detailed itinerary for the pilgrimage and arranged for Portugal Greenwalks to book accommodation and carry everything but our day packs to the town. Since this route has become so popular, we were reluctant to depend on our speed to guarantee a spot in the auberges along the way.
I am now well aware that many do not finish their trek, largely because they are unprepared. My initial assumption that we were well prepared because we are bikers, skiers, snowborders and walkers. Not true. The weight of packs, kinds of socks and footwear all come into play. Most important is the training for many consecutive days of walking. My husband like many, wears the errors of youth in his knees. He is now fully aware that the fraternity stunt involving jumping off a balcony for an undisclosed purpose, was a bad idea.
St. James used a staff for additional balance on his pilgrimage. In Vancouver the people on the seawall using trekking poles often people struggle with mobility and are using them as canes. Many physiotherapists extoll the virtues of using trekking poles for muscle and bone strengthening as well as balance. However, the consideration of trekking poles for my husband and I went under my radar until I started watching the YouTube clips of the Camino Trail. The more I’ve learned and using them has made me a convert to Nordic Trekking Poles.
What first caught my attention was that Nordic Walking poles reduce compression from the knees by bearing some of the weight. The biggest advantage of hiking with trekking poles is that they absorb some of the shock your joints take when you step – especially on ascents and descents. This could make all the difference for my husband. One guy on a You Tube recommended cutting off the straps. Don’t do that! The straps apply pressure on the poles.
What really appeals to me is the promise of an upper body workout for improved posture, strength and toning. Right away I noticed the poles force me to stand up straighter. It is good to have a force to counter way too much time spent on screens.
The poles work:
- Arm muscles, with a focus on forearms and triceps.
- Back muscles – particularly your lats and traps.
- Chest muscles – pecs
- Shoulder Muscles – including deltoids
Although my husband in over 6 feet tall and I’m a good 8 inches shorter, I am the fast walker. I suspect its genetics from my father. The Nordic poles actually propel me forwards helping me to walk faster, raise my heart rate and expend more energy. I aspire to slow down on the pilgrimage to ponder life but I do like a quick stride. We may not be walking together the whole time.
The biggest challenge will be getting the trekking poles to Portugal to begin our trek. We were trying to avoid checking baggage. Although we can fit our telescoping poles into a carryons, major airlines do not consistently allow them on board. It is an annoyance to have to pay to check the bags but the biggest concern is whether they will arrive. Last trip home from Portugal, we each arrived with a bag of port in hand but no luggage. Fingers crossed that we arrive with all we need to start the walk. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Inquire2Empower 