Day 13 - All about packing

I know I only have to start packing for the camino in about 21 months time but I admit, it's nagging somewhere in the back of my head already. The fact that I'm going to have to pack almost everything I need for about 30 days in one backpack.

That just doesn't seem possible to me.

I'd like to show you what the bed in my spare bedroom looked like the evening before I left on my Kilimanjaro trip. Everything you see in this picture had to go into one backpack and one duffelbag. The sleeping bag wasn't even in the picture yet, as I picked that up in Tanzania.

Get the picture? I'm not a good packer. I won't admit to too many flaws but that certainly is one I can't get away from. The Kilimanjaro trip really has taught me quite bit though and I'm hoping that when I finally have to pack that camino bag that I will be an expert on what to leave and what to take.

It's going to be a long walk and there are no porters or sherpas, so I'm going to have to be a sensible packer for once in my life. I've started searching all the sites for packing tips and I've come across a wealth of information already.

I am going to have to sift through all the suggestions and make it fit for myself. One thing I've learnt from the Kili trip is to transfer shampoos, creams, toothpaste etc into small containers. It's surprising how long one can make shampoo eg. last if you really have to!

To give you an idea of the difference in my size moisturiser and the number of wetwipes I packed, compared to that of my friend who shared a tent with me, here is the evidence...

Looks like I have my work cut out for me!

Day 12 - Exploring the countryside

Our trip to Ladismith (http://www.ladismith.org.za/) this weekend was everything I expected it to be and so much more. There is an energy in that beautiful part of our country that one simply can't ignore. I experience it as a vibrant, yet peaceful feeling that makes me want to stay there for much longer than we normally have time for.

This time we stayed on a farm about 12km from the town and our main reason for going up there was because of the 80km Seweweekspoort mountainbike race held there every year. My roll is that of supporter and photographer, my husband is the one who gets on the bike!

He bikes and I hike. That works for me! His biking takes me all over the world and I certainly don't have a problem with that! In Melbourne I volunteered to help at the 'Around the Bay in a Day' cycle race and in New Zealand I drove the campervan around Lake Taupo while he took part in the race that circled the lake.

A pity my love for photography was still somewhat dormant at that stage, if I think of all the amazing shots I could have taken! I do have a few snapshots though, come to think of it, I'll have to go dig around for one or two to post.

Here are some of the weekend's encounters..

Only in Africa!

Our lunch stop in Greyton - lamb shank was good!

Our Abbey - enjoying farm life!

We met these two in Montagu - tired or bored, not sure!

Thinking back about this wonderful weekend we had also makes me a little sad this morning. One of my brother's childhood friends is lying in hospital today, fighting for his life. He celebrated his 39th birthday a few days ago and it seems as if the battle he has been waging with cancer is about to defeat him.

A few weeks ago he had surgery in the USA and there was tremendous hope that the treatment he received there, that our doctors were unable to offer him here at home, would give him time and healing. That wasn't to be though.

It just seems so sad and unfair. A young man with three small children and a future that is ebbing away. We all have our own journeys but his is taking him to places that he certainly could not have wished for.

I also can't help thinking about how his journey is affecting so many close to him and in fact shaping theirs. It just brought home to me how our journeys are intertwined and connected, whether we wish for it to be, or not.

My prayers are with this young family today and I hope that God fills them with love, acceptance and understanding - things that must be difficult to feel when someone close to you is having to endure such incredible suffering .