Greg's Wanderings

Author: Greg H

  • Buzz Cut

    Buzz Cut

    In the summertime, I normally get my haircut every three weeks. If it goes any longer than that, I feel like I’ve got a giant heavy mop on the top of my head. So what’s a guy to do when he’s going to be at least six weeks between haircuts? My answer: get it buzzed off. 

    Before
    After

    I’ve gone to the same woman for over 30 years to get my haircut. Once 20 or so years ago, while we were deep in conversation, she accidentally used a number 2 razor guide on the top of my head – which I normally only use on the sides in the summertime. The look on her face when she realized what she done was priceless. This time, it was me who had that look after she took that initial swiped down the middle of my head. But it’s what I wanted and it will keep me cool and minimize my hair care needs for many weeks.

    

  • Final long training hike

    Final long training hike

    Last Sunday, I met some friends for coffee at St. Honore’s bakery in Lake Oswego. On the way home, my navigation suggested a route I had never taken before and I realized that LO was much closer to my home than I had previously thought. Close enough, that I could create a training hike that would take me back to the bakery as a mid-point rest stop.

    That evening, I used a route-mapping app to create a loop that took me from my Garden Home neighborhood to Lake Oswego via Tryon Creek State Park and then back again over Mt. Sylvania along Kerr Parkway.

    The weather was overcast, but quite muggy. But without the sun blaring down on me, it made for a pleasant 16-mile adventure.

    For the past two days I have been practicing my “trail laundry” tactics. After returning from hikes and taking a shower, I’ve been hand-washing my clothes. This is to both ensure the process I intend to use works and to make sure my clothes are dry by morning when left hanging.

    From this experiment I’ve learned two lessons that will serve me well on the trail:

    1 – wash socks after everything else. The first day I tossed all my clothes into the sink together. The water immediately became murky due to the dust that my socks had picked up from four miles hiking on dirt trails.

    2 – use a micro-fiber towel to help wring out clothes. My first attempt included hand wringing each item before hanging to dry. Twelve hours later, all items were still damp and by morning the socks were still too damp to wear. So for my second attempt, after hand wringing, I laid each piece flat on top of my travel towel. I then rolled up the towel and wrung it as hard as I could. After unrolling, it appeared that the clothes had lost perhaps half of the remaining moisture, which in turn meant they were all dry by the next morning.

  • One week to go

    One week to go

    I’ve been planning my trip for so long that it feels surreal that it is now only a week away. As I write this, I’m literally exactly a week away from my departure from Heathrow to Lisbon.

    I’m definitely in the home-stretch mentality at this point. I literally have my bag completely packed with only my iPhone to be added. I have hikes planned throughout this week to test and make sure everything rides comfortably.

    I did a solo 6.5 mile hike yesterday, will hike 5 miles with my MeetUp group this morning and then have a 15-miler set for Wednesday.

    About the only thing I really feel behind on is learning some basic phrases in Portuguese and Spanish. I fully expect that I can get along with English, some pantomime and Google Translate, but I feel it is important to be able to at least attempt to speak to people in their native tongue.

    I used an AI tool to generate a list of common phrases that would be helpful to me. It produced the list and categorized them in groups such as navigation, accommodations, dining and basic pleasantries. Now, I just need to practice them.

    As part of my home stretch preparations, I did a thorough cleaning out of my refrigerator, not only removing those things that should have gone away weeks ago, but also things that will expire during my trip that I am not certain to use in the next few days.

    A tight fit, but the door will close!

    My biggest accomplishment has been cleaning out my garage sufficiently so that my car can spend the time inside and the my daughter and son-in-law can utilize the driveway during my absence. It’s a tight fit. The sensors on literally every part of the car scream warnings of impending collision as I slowly drive in. It then takes some contortionist moves to get out of the car. But it fits and the garage door will close. I’ll chalk that up as a victory.

  • Miscellaneous items

    Miscellaneous items

    I’ve tried to categorize and organize my packing list entries, but I’m at the bottom of the list with a few that either didn’t fit with other categories or were recent additions. So to round out my packing list, I have the following items:

    Journal, pen and waterproof pouch – While I intend to post daily updates to my blog, I wanted to keep a written journal as well. I found this Hiking Journal on Amazon and liked its size, weight and how each hike is provided with one page of standard prompts (to/from; distance; weather; hiking companions; etc.) and a blank page for general notes. At 102 pages, it gives me space for 50 days of hiking entries. As I want to keep my records from being damaged by rain, I will also have a waterproof pouch (the medium size of the 3-pouch set I also will use for my passport) and a pen. Collectively, these weigh in at 204 grams (7.2 ounces).

    Water bottles – Taking advice from a variety of people, I’m going to travel with two empty Smart Water bottles. These are made of a much sturdier material than many single-use bottles and include a flip top cap which lets you use then to squirt water. They weigh about an ounce each (30 grams). I don’t expect to need two full bottles of water most of the time, but for 30 grams, I’ll carry an extra bottle. And since they are essentially disposable bottles, if they start getting gross, I can dispose of them and purchase new ones along the trail.

    Sachets – My hiking friend, Barbara – who is left yesterday with her husband Richard on their third Camino – gave me these two sachets filled with lavender, eucalyptus and other dried fragrant flowers to deter bedbugs from hitching a ride on my pack. I’m happy to add these 20 grams of weight if it will help keep the nasty critters at bay.

    Mini Swiss army knife – I was debating about whether to pack a knife before I left or to purchase one once in Portugal. Having just received this little guy as a birthday gift (thanks Mom & Dad), the decision was made for me. Weighing just 30 grams, the Victorinox Ramble Swiss Army Knife has a 2″ knife blade – small enough to pass through TSA, but large enough to cut sliced of cheese – scissors, a file, bottle opener and a tooth pick. I envision all five of its features will be utilized during my trip.

    Microfiber towel – I packed my towel with my daily clothes, but didn’t mention it in that post. This quick dry towel weighs in at 163 grams (5.75 oz). Its large enough to wrap around my waste and just have enough to tuck in. I’ve test used it and am please both with how well it dries my body and quickly dries.

    Electrolyte powder – I struggled to find an electrolyte powder that didn’t taste horrible and had the necessary elements I wanted in a hydration supplement. I found what I was looking for in Trevi Sugar Free Electrolytes. The pouches weigh less than 6 grams each and I’ve found all the flavors pleasing. While I’m sure I’ll be able find suitable products along the trail, I will travel with a handful of these for both the first few days and for emergencies.

    Traditional pilgrimage items: Rock & Seashell – Both the rock and the shell have symbolic significance on the Camino. The rock can represent a burden you are hoping to let go of by embarking on the Camino. Others carry a stone as a remembrance. Stones are left along the trail on mileposts, cairns, and on the Camino Frances, at the Cruz de Ferro. I am carrying a stone inscribed with the word strength. This was given to my deceased wife, Shirley, as she struggled with her medical issues. It seemed an appropriate way to honor her. The anniversary of her death will be near the end of my journey and I intend to leave the stone behind on that day.

    The scallop shell with the red cross of St. James is the emblem that many pilgrims carry hanging from the back of their pack. The most widely recognized explanation for the shell is that early pilgrims used them as both a drinking vessel – scooping water from streams – and as an eating utensil when they reached their alberges.