I would like to extend a special thank you to my family and friends for supporting me through the first half of my journey of preparing for this trip.
Mom - Thanks for understanding why I want to and have to do this. I know you think I should spend my 30th birthday on a much more leisurely vacation someplace in Paris or another fabulous place in the world. And thanks for funding my plane tickets for this trip :).
Eric K., thanks to you, I am able to keep the weight of all my stuff that I'm taking down to 8 pounds, your advice and backpacking expertise has been absolutely invaluable in getting me ready for this trip. Now I have the room in my pack for some Jamon, some cheese and a bottle of delicious wine for a picnic. I will just need to find a fellow peregrino with a bottle opener and we'll be set for a great afternoon on the Camino.
My dear NYC Camino friends - I am thrilled beyond words to have met you all in the last couple of months. You have kindled the Camino spirit in me before I even got a chance to experience the journey. Seeing you all on weekly basis for the last four months, talking about all things Camino, comparing gear, our endless trips to REI and going on practice hikes helped a great deal to get me ready to take on the 200 mile journey. A special thanks to Damian, Roseann, Jessica, Marc, Tara and Paula, for being my core group, for coming out to every single event that we've planned since the inception of our group, and for being my biggest peregrino supporters. I cant wait for all of us to get back from our Caminos and share our stories.
Paul and Jim - Thanks for supporting this venture from the day of its inception and letting me abandon you for a couple of weeks while I wander the Spanish countryside and ponder on the important things in life. I could not have asked for better bosses to work with. Jim - thanks for introducing me to the Camino. Had I not stolen this trip idea from you, I would not be packing right now to embark on a trip of a lifetime, and thanks for donating to the Camino Survival Fund :). Paul - I absolutely love my birthday present. It's a perfect piece of trail jewelry that I will treasure for many years to come. And thanks for ordering me to stay home today; staying in bed, taking naps and feeding my cold has done wonders for getting me to feel better before I have to get on the plane tomorrow and spend a day traveling to my starting point.
Arthur & Jossie - Thanks for my lovely birthday present. This will easily fund a couple of days along my trip and thanks for taking the time that each of you took to write me a letter. I cant wait to read them. Jossie, If I know you well, your letter will make me laugh (the envelope along already has), therefore I'm saving your letter for my toughest day along the Camino. I know that of all the people in my life, you will have me rolling on the floor from laughter, and no matter what punches the Camino may have thrown at me that day, you'll make it all much better. They say laughter is the best medicine.
And finally, all my dear friends who have taken the time out of your busy days to think of and write me a letter. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and so glad that you get to share this Camino journey with me. I received 15 letters, and will get to open one on each day along my trip starting with when I get to Madrid on Saturday morning. Michelle being the first one to send me a letter will get the honors of being the first letter I read. For the most part, the rest will be random (unless you have specifically told me when to open yours). I look forward to having you share this journey with me,and upon my return I plan to write each of you a letter back.
As I embark on this journey, I will for the most part be off the technological grid the moment I arrive in Leon, Spain. This blog will be my only way of communication with my current world here in New York. So as you check it out from time to time, feel free to leave me comments under the "comments" section at the end of each post.
So, on this lovely note, I will end this post and go pack all the stuff into my ultralight 10oz backpack.
Stay Tuned!
Nina
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