One last blogpost ☺️....

...before my “Robotic Prostatectomy Surgery” (more on this later). Next blogpost will be published when timing for my next long walk is clarified...unless of course if the spirit moves earlier 😉.

Two objectives for this blogpost

- Final decision announcement on how I will keep myself busy during surgery recovery

- Stunning announcement about next long walk preparation

However before I get there...and I will get there ☺️ a few Public Service Information tidbits...a key feature of blogposts otherwise presentation is too boring 🤔

Do you need to lift your spirits and have a laugh...you do like to laugh right?

Hilarious 23 second video link…guaranteed to make you laugh or at least smile. If not I will refund your blog subscription fee immediately! This is what I really need for my next long walk 😉

Helium assisted backpacking 😂

Creative writing

Rivalling Rachael’s blogpost found in my Special Edition - When one is totally outclassed blogpost I introduce my longtime friend Cal PHD former System Architect and published author of the Six AI Series Emergence, Liberation and Ascension.  I am now prepared...and have Cal’s permission... to reveal Cal as the Friend of the Blog #4 in my Special Edition - Machu Picchu Recruitment Drive blogpost and publish Cal’s classic response to my Extra Special Blogpost - A lifelong dream is realized...

"Hi,

Anyone observing me as I read your golf news might have been seriously concerned. Why are his eyes enlarged? Why does he seem so pale? Why has his jaw dropped? Why is he making that gasping sound? 

Of course, those reactions were all symptomatic of the sheer joy I was experiencing at your extraordinary announcement: A hole-in-one. GUY GOT HIS HOLE-IN-ONE! 

When that moment passed and rationality set in, a different thought surfaced: Did this really happen? Is it true?

I mentally ran through my finely honed BS checklist: Did the emails come from the expected sources? Yes. In this era of deepfakes, are the photos legitimate? Careful analysis indicates they’re real. Could the messages have been generated by AI, perhaps by a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT, famous for generating credible prose based on completely invented “facts”? Verification of other information in the emails could find no errors or inconsistencies, so an LLM cannot reasonably be blamed.

Much deep thought has left me with two possibilities: Either you truly got the holy grail of golf lore, you got your hole-in-one, or... that’s not actually you in the pictures. It’s an android—a flawless, robotic replica of you, specially designed to mimic your ritual, pre-game declaration that this will be the day it happens and to NOT mimic your much-practiced, problematic golf swing. Yup, I know this hypothesis has little chance of being correct. However, neither can I easily disprove it.

So, I’m obliged and, yes, delighted to say..

.
Congratulations! You did it! You’ve joined the rarified ranks elite golfers? Amazing!

I look forward to shaking your hand sometime soon. (But I’ll probably be checking carefully to be sure it’s the real you.)

Once again: Bravo! Félicitations!
Take care,
Cal”

A very compelling book...an absolute delight of a movie hopefully coming to Canada

Treat yourself to a great book The Way, My Way by Bill Bennett - you do not have to walk a Camino to enjoy this book...”Thoroughly enjoyed it...touching and engrossing  5*****” writes Guy Arbez author of the wildly popular Walking across Europe - 2013 blog

"And so Bill Bennett, an Australian based film director, set off on an 800 kilometre walk across Spain to Santiago de Compostela, not sure why he was doing it, and not feeling entirely comfortable. His discomfort increased markedly a few days later when his knee gave out – so the rest of the walk was a “pain management pilgrimage.” But he kept his sense of humour, and his memoir is at times hilarious but also deeply moving, and insightful. In the vein of Bill Bryson and Eric Newby, The Way, My Way takes you on a unique spiritual journey, and gives you a hearty laugh along the way.”

Bill Bennett then proceeded to write and direct a Movie which is currently playing to sold out audiences throughout New Zealand and Australia. One can only hope it will make its way to North America...if it does I will be first in line to see it!

Publishing graphs from Excel - a new finding ☺️

An observant reader may have noticed a “few” graphs in recent blogposts...why...simple...it’s fun...do I need another reason? Initial sleuthing led me to Adobe Acrobat Pro and with additional trial and error crafted a multi step process to save my Excel graph into a jpeg picture file. However this came at a cost...exorbitant monthly fees 🥲

Then out of blue I right clicked on the frame part of an Excel graph and noticed “save as picture” as an option. Being a bright young fellow I clicked on this option and then I had a png file. What’s that? I then right clicked on my png file and a “share” option was available... lo and behold I could “save to “add to photos”. Voila a much simpler way to do this and allowing me to TOAST Adobe Acrobat Pro.

FYI there is a graph later in this blogpost 🤣

An amazing podcast series

I am always on the lookout for new interesting podcast series...very tired of current news stuff...here is my current favourite...BBC’s History’s Secret Heroes. "Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.” She...of Harry Potter fame as Bellatrix Lestrange... is an amazing narrator. 

Two examples of remarkable episodes

Charity Adams and the 6888

Skiing Commandos

Final decision announcement 🤣 how I will keep myself busy during recovery

Reflecting a bit I realized that this isn’t my first rodeo with health surgeries/procedures...by my count 4 surgeries with full anesthesia, 5 medical procedures localized anesthesia. Based on my experience...while I have been advised 6 weeks to full recovery (perhaps with some lingering issues)...the first 2-3 weeks hopefully will be main recovery time. 

I know that I will NOT be cutting grass (which I enjoy), taking out the garbage (which I receive nice thank you’s from son in law Steven...also for cutting grass ☺️), running any and all errands (likely my favourite activity), cooking large easy recipes, Costco shopping etc etc....oh and course long long daily walks. 

A surprise though was the statement “you are not going to wash dishes!”. Now I not sure if this was said in consideration of my need to properly heal or as result of...a recent discussion between Claire my youngest daughter and Dawn. Note I was not there therefore my description may not be entirely accurate...actually this is guaranteed!

Claire - “My oven is toast...it no longer works properly...I need a new one. However my new dishwasher is great...dishes are cleaned really well and properly dried. It’s super!”

Dawn - “Our new Induction oven and cooktop is fantastic (my note: last one bit the dust when control board was fried in an electrical storm...likely due to poor System Architect Design) however the dishwasher is getting REALLY old...dishes often have food left on them...drying is poor resulting in wet dishes being stored away...oh and drying towels are left with food stains”.

I understand great laughs were had...I thought it was hilarious when relayed to me...and... hmmm...I am the main dishwasher. I have really been trying to up my game since hearing this!!! 😳

I have also been reflecting on a selection of past Health issues...a few thoughts and in some cases interesting/funny outcomes.

Fall 1977 - Appendectomy Rushed to St. Boniface Hospital...teaching hospital where I was poked and prodded by a half dozen or more medical interns. Conclusion was obvious...yank the appendix. I was 20 years old...Dad was 19 when he had this same problem 😳. Post surgery had a visit from a University classmate in hospital...I was desperate given I was missing classes and asked Paul if he could speak to our third year Stats professor about keeping up with labs etc. while in hospital.

Problem was...for the first time in my life I somehow got on the wrong side of this professor as he concluded I was a wise guy or something...and I honestly thought I might fail this course. While not a Gold medal GPA winner by a long shot I was cruising along ok...B+ type range... 

Amazingly as I returned to 3rd year studies...likely much too early...my Stats Prof totally changed his approach...he became so attentive and helpful. Somehow I ended up with a B in this course. To this day I am 100% convinced that I did NOT deserve this grade...not sure what I learned from this experience other than initial impressions can change...sucking up also helps!

2005 - Heart Atrial Flutter Returned from a 3 week trip to Egypt with my Dad who was 82 at the time (his last trip). Within a few days...out of breath simply walking... went to a medical clinic...then to a cardiologist for testing WHAT MY HEART IS FINE I thought! I was convinced that an Egyptian mummy cave curse was the culprit!

 Atrial Fibrillation diagnosis...on to Health Science Center for some fancy test where they pump dye in and measure heart function. 

Female “Technician” who had previously been a fully qualified Medical Doctor in Ukraine...but in Canada 😰 told me “Your heart is functioning like you are running a marathon 24 hours a day...if you were my patient in Ukraine I would send you to Emergency immediately”.

So on I went...Cardiologist on call Dr. K...acknowledged as one of the top in Manitoba concluded I had been misdiagnosed...new diagnosis Atrial Flutter and revised all my meds. I spent the next year losing 50 lbs and in 2006 had a Cardioversion procedure to reset heart rhythm...ie defibrillator paddles. As the anesthetist was getting ready to send me dreaming I cheekily asked Dr. K “You’ve done this before right? Like you know how many volts to use? 🤣” He smiled and nodded yes...thankfully some time later I woke up.

From then on no heart issues however in 2018 a procedure called Heart Ablation solved this issue once and for all. Essentially they insert a small probe within the heart and in technical terms “spot weld” areas of the heart where the electrical impulses misfire. I was partially asleep yet I could hear the team say something like “there got it” after a little jolt a few times! A little unnerving!

2007 - Hernia operation Pretty routine from a medical perspective...right side hernia. When I came to after surgery I had 3 bandages...right side, left side and my belly button. So I asked why? “Fixed the right side, concluded the left side was weak and then also saw that you had a belly button hernia."

WHAT - who has ever had/heard of a belly button hernia. Well that solidified my thinking “I was essentially born at least partially a lemon” 😒. It is a well known fact that Super Bowl Monday is the least productive day of the year...estimates as high as $6.5 Billion in lost or poor productivity.

So I wondered...any correlation between Super Bowl Monday and my feeling like a lemon? Further sleuthing Super Bowl Monday was December 27, 1955...I was born Christmas 1956...so essentially a year later...seems a little too long considering the average 9 month pregnancy period. So wasn’t the answer!

2013 - Partially Detached Retina Emergency flight to Canada after day 17 walking the Via Jacobi (Switzerland)...doctor in Geneva gave me a choice “get back to Canada within 24 hours  OR we do procedure in here. Incredible help from everywhere Insurance company, Dawn & Heather (twin sister) and within a day+ was in Dr S's. office...again likely top Ophthalmologist in Manitoba.

Pneumatic retinopexy - insert gas bubble in the right eye (yes with a needle after the eye was numbed with a local anesthesia...it didn’t hurt) to push the partially detached retina against the back of the eye.  Recovery at home was 5 days lying on my side with maximum 10 minutes per hour allowed for getting up. Brother Marc purchased a CD with a Louis L’Amour Western classic...unreal as people died every 30 seconds or so...absolute drivel but it did the trick. We still laugh about it today. 

Returning to Dr.’s office he diagnosed a retinal tear so I had immediate laser surgery which essentially encased the retinal tear within a spot weld type box. I was told to stay still...believe me I was ZEN like however by the 40th or 50th laser burst I thought the back of my head would explode.

A few days later back in Dr. S’s office where I received a response to a question that I will never ever forget. “Did this happen because of the stress of backpacking. Is that it for me?” “Oh no it’s because you are old (56) and near sighted...go ahead and backpack all you want. The chances of a problem are very low however you know the symptoms”. Unreal...I was so pumped...resumed my long walk 3 weeks later walking 40+ days over 1,000+ kms in France.

2014 - Partially Detached Retina in left eye...this time in Winnipeg. Rinse and repeat 2013 procedure without retinal tear.

Soooo...I have some experience to lean on. Significant lesson learned is that I am a very fortunate person to have had incredible Health professionals time and again helping me.

2024 -  Robotic Prostatectomy...an intriguing surgery title...what is it? Off sleuthing (one of my significant skills 😉) and found this on John Hopkins medical site

"Using the advanced surgical system, miniaturized robotic instruments are passed through several small keyhole incisions...

For most of the surgery, the surgeon is seated at a computer console and manipulates tiny wristed instruments that offer a range of motion far greater than the human wrist.”

Now that is incredible...having worked 10 years on large scale system development projects (from the Business side) the one concern I have is...well...how do I say this gently...”System Architects had to be involved in the system design...hope they were as good as the ones I worked with 😉”

With that background 😂 among the many fine suggestions received I went a bit off script and have subscribed for a 3 month online access to The Great Courses website.  A current catalogue of 963 courses in all manner of disciplines is to be found there.

I have dabbled in Great Courses before with mixed results as some PHD presenters are a little dry...honestly watching paint dry would be more fun than listening to them. A few have been excellent.

My criteria for choosing the courses below is:

- Course has to be something quirky...capturing my imagination which frankly has always gone to fun things like ghosts, UFO’s, Bermuda triangle, Bigfoot etc etc. 

- Want to learn something new which can be used as small talk in my next Black Tie cocktail party 🤣...have worn Black Tie twice in my life way back in the early 1990’s and will NEVER EVER EVER do so again. Also ANY cocktail type party...would rather do anything else than this...anything!

So here are my choices:

The Real History of Secret Societies

Course Overview

The first rule of this course is you don’t talk about this course. The second rule of this course is YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT THIS COURSE.Welcome to The Real History of Secret Societies, a historical look at the true-life groups which, if you believe the myths, are the unspoken power behind some of the world’s major turning points, from controlling the British crown to holding back the electric car and keeping Martians and Atlantis under wraps.

Prepare yourself. In this course, brought to you in partnership with HISTORY®, you will be visiting some of history’s deepest rabbit-holes, across centuries and continents, in search of secret societies in all their varieties. You will journey to some very dark places and, frankly, some odd and sometimes silly ones as well. During 24 eye-opening lectures, Dr. Richard B. Spence, professor of history at the University of Idaho, guides you through the always fascinating, often mystifying—and sometimes disturbing—world of brotherhoods, sisterhoods, orders, cults, and cabals that have influenced human culture from ancient times to the present.

26 Lectures - Average 29 minutes each

1    Small-Town Secrets
2    Secret Societies: The Underworld of History
3    The Knights Templar
4    Masonic Revolutions in America and France
5    Bolsheviks, Masons, and Russian Revolution
6    Adolf Hitler and the Thule Society
7    Synarchy, Schemers, and Vichy France
8    Ancient Mystery Cults
9    The Islamic Assassins
10    The Medieval Catchers
11    The Rosicrucians
12    The Illuminati
13    The Freemasons
14    Ireland’s Secret War for Independence
15    Debunking the Elders of Zion
16    Mafia! Criminal Secret Societies
17    Aleister Crowley, Occultism, and Espionage
18    Red Octopus: The Communist International
19    Japan’s Black and Green Dragons
20    Italy’s Secret Government: The P2 Lodge
21    From the KKK to the Black Shriners
22    Bohemian Grove, Bilderbergers, and Elites
23    Secret Societies for Aging Swingers
24    Terrorism’s Long Tail of Secret Cells
25    Secret Societies: The Never Ending Story
26    UFO’s and the Elusive George Hunt Williamson

The Real History of Dracula

Course Overview

There are few fictional characters who have entrenched themselves so thoroughly in the popular imagination as Count Dracula. Although legends of vampires and other blood-thirsty creatures existed long before him, Dracula has become the ultimate apotheosis of the vampiric monster. He has spawned an entire industry of books, films, television shows, and other forms of media devoted to the vampire.

Dracula, as portrayed in the eponymous novel by Bram Stoker published in 1897, is an aristocratic monster—both seductive and terrifying in equal measure. Though the novel Dracula was only a modest success when it was first published, it has proven to be one of British literature’s most enduring classics. It continues to tap into our deepest anxieties and forbidden desires, just as it did for its original Victorian audience. And while Stoker’s novel is perhaps the most famous vampire story, legends of the creature have existed in various forms for centuries. So, why have we been telling stories about vampires for hundreds of years … and why do these stories still matter today?

10 Lectures - Average 27 minutes each

1    Why Dracula Frightens and Seduces Us
2    Surprises from Bram Stoker’s Dracula
3    Vampires and Bloodlust before Dracula
4    How Dracula Became a Count
5    Vampire Romance On-Screen
6    Why Dracula and Disease Travel Together
7    The Vampiric Threat from Abroad
8    How to Kill a Vampire
9    Once Upon a Vampire
10   The Vampires among Us

Secrets of the Occult

Course Overview

The term “occult” most often evokes images of the dark and sinister. Shadowy adepts performing magical rituals with dubious intentions and questionable ingredients. The devil himself may be in attendance. Yet, occult really just means hidden.

From spirituality to politics and science, the occult has had an astonishing influence on the human experience across the centuries. Perhaps, it may surprise you to learn that everyday activities like attending church services or reading your daily horoscope fall under the wide umbrella of the occult. As you will see in the 24 illuminating episodes of Secrets of the Occult, the mystic and obscure are threaded through our ordinary lives in more ways than you may realize.

This revealing course is taught by Richard B. Spence, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Idaho. It covers a wide array of subjects and experiences that address the occult and stretch from the ancient world to the 21st century. According to Professor Spence, “Occultism posits that we inhabit a limited spectrum of reality within a much larger one. We’re arguably surrounded by a larger world that we normally can’t see, or touch, or knowingly interact with. This larger world is hidden or ‘occulted’ from us. However, the beliefs and practices broadly referred to as occultism aim to reveal, access—or even control—elements of this hidden world.” Throughout these episodes, you will uncover these hidden elements and consider what these revelations have to say about our perception of the world

24 Lectures - Average 30 minutes each

1    What is the Occult?
2    Fauns, Fairies, and Djinn
3    The Christmas Tree and Other Rituals
4    Practical Magic: Love, Money, and Health
5    Alchemy, Astrology, and Divination
6    Talking with the Dead
7    The Occult Ancient World
8    Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies
9    Religious Faith and the Occult
10    Mysterious Places
11    Crime and the Occult
12    UFOs and the Occult
13    The Occult Russian Revolution
14    Hitler, Nazism, and the Occult
15    The Occult Soviet Union
16    Satanism and the Occult
17    The Occult Renaissance and Reformation
18    Witchcraft and the Occult
19    The Occult Enlightenment
20    American Occultism
21    The Occult’s 19th-Century Revival
22    Aleister Crowley’s Occult Life
23    Popular Occulture
24    The Techno-Occult

America’s Great Trails

Course Overview

What would make someone leave everything behind and walk hundreds or thousands of miles on rough terrain? Hiking is not just a physical journey but, perhaps more important, an internal one. Millions of travelers each year partake in this outdoor ritual on some level, whether for a day, a weekend, or many months, to immerse themselves in a special culture that has birthed unique traditions such as trail names, trail magic—receiving or giving small acts of kindness—and forging unforgettable bonds with kindred spirits along the way.

Now's your chance to sample life on six of the most spectacular wilderness trails in North America from the comfort of your own home. Guiding you through the visually arresting course America's Great Trails is expert Mick Davie—journalist, Emmy® award-winning documentary filmmaker, and avid outdoorsman. Mick will take you on an adventure through the rugged heart of the continent, revealing its most closely held secrets in six stunning episodes.

6 Lectures - Average 27 minutes each

1    Pacific Crest Trail
2    Hayduke Trail
3    Pacific Northwest Trail
4    Continental Divide Trail
5    Great Allegheny Passage
6    Appalachian Trail 

Now the graph 🤣. I developed a simple spreadsheet to plan out an approach for the first 14+ days post surgery involving these 4 courses...I will hop between courses on a daily basis. 

Three possible approaches:

- slow start in first few days with increases for a week and subsequent tapering

- even distribution throughout

- fast initial start and then pooping out in last week

TBD which approach works best...hope these courses will be as much fun as they promise to be!

- Stunning announcement about next long walk preparation

Ok so the next long walk (Via Francigena) or short walk (PEI Island Walk completion) is unknown (more below on this) however when their time happens I am prepared with stunning new HOKA shoes...9th pair of HOKA Bondi’s and 3rd pair of HOKA Speedgoats

PEI Island Walk - HOKA Bondi V8

Via Francigena - HOKA Speedgoats V5

Previous Blogpost identified shoe

Note reversing the shoe direction in these pictures was NOT intentional...it just happened!

Via Francigena (Revised)- HOKA Speedgoats V6

Feast your eyes on the coolest shoe EVER...oh my I can’t wait to wear these and fend off various jealous pilgrim comments...Greg eat your heart out! Paulo get ready! I am going to look very spiffy!!!

Where do I go from here - Clearly this is Unknown

On Monday April 29th I sent this message to Paulo. Why…I am not sure…I had this feeling based on good dr.’s approach…call it an educated guess...that the upcoming May 3rd visit would be 😰

“Paulo Friday is my day with dr…will let you know the story asap.   If no problem then we talk details…if a problem then I must know next Health steps. I know lead time is important for you given your family and HIGH position in Legal firm. Question: what would you say is your cutoff date for making a go decision. If May 3rd I totally get it… Question: Have you been to Rome? Do you hope to have personal session with Pope?”

Paulo’s almost immediate reply was he was a lawyer and as such he can make decisions whenever he wants to (close enough to what Paulo said)…suggested end of July 2024.

He also said that given the Pope is from Argentina he may not get a personal audience considering the football rivalry between Argentina and Brazil.

May 3rd happens...end of July happens to match expected recovery time for my surgery.  When I learned the prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery recommendation I had very few questions…likely in shock mode…however I did ask the dr. one question. “I was planning a long walk in the Fall…is that even possible?” He looked straight at me and said “that may well be possible”

So coincidences like this in terms of my asking Paulo, his timeframe response and dr.’s response make me wonder... Either PEI Island Walk completion or Via Francigena...or both...or neither are all possibilities in 2024.

No question I will listen to dr’s advice and what my body/mind is telling me…however as my good friend Ken has said to me in the past “One must live in hope” 

Long term dream is to one day walk a Camino route with one of more of my grandchildren...if that is to happen I have to move past this next health test...get back on my feet and start walking sometime!

EXTRA Special Blogpost - A lifelong dream is realized...

....55+ years...countless predictions that today was the day...thousand’s of swings...many straight in the bush...in the water...in sand bunkers...off to the left...off to the right...topped X yards off the tee...occasionally on the green and then it happened... 

Dentonia Municipal Golf course Toronto (yes to those golfers out there a pitch and putt par 3 course however still shot my lowest round ever 67 ☺️...at my advanced age it’s all good!). Friday May 24, 2024 @ 10:24 am 5th hole...111 yards...pitching wedge...the ball flew straight and true...a beautiful sight...hit close to the hole...rolled a few feet...and simply disappeared....stunned was not sure it dropped in the hole…minutes later casually plucked out of the cup by yours truly...☺️ What we call a HOLE IN ONE!!! 

Witnesses Steve W and son in law Paul...

Yes that’s me!

So nice to reach down and pick out that ball! Note extreme flexibility!

Geez...Steve the official scorer did not really make a nice 1 on hole 5 🤣

Never to be used again!

A few folks who are blog subscribers know the feeling or in some cases don’t yet 😉...Stefan (3X), Ken (2X), Guy (1X), to the best of my knowledge Cal PHD (nada or 0X), Steve W (nada or 0X), Andy C (nada or 0X)...others not sure 🙂. Cal with his scientific approach to the game I am sure it will happen. Steve...well...seen you curl and golf...there is reason to hope. Andy...geez...seen you curl but not golf...hmmm...well to be kind I would say don’t get too excited about your chances...what can I say there is hope ☺️ 

As per my usual approach started blabbing about this...phoned my golfing buddy Ken...quite sorry he did not witness this considering I have golfed with Ken (as per my records) 38 times in past few years. The course we play on has 13 par 3s and in advance of each hole & game he hears “I’m going to get my first hole in one” so best guess 532 times 🤣.

Yesterday I sent Steve a text “Just so you know Steve tomorrow I will be getting my first hole in one! Guaranteed!” Upon arrival at the course...when paying green fees...same comment to the fellow at the desk who proceeded to tell me has 35 holes in one...28 at Dentonia which he has played for 40 years. Well...can that really be true? 🤔.

So the moral of the story “persistence in dreaming pays off” ☺️

Ouch 😣 😂 One of the fellows I sent to a note to Brent...also has 3 holes in one...had this comment “Did you know that the odds of  an “avg” golfer making an ace is 12,500 to 1?  I have seen Guy play, and I would suggest the odds are “somewhat” higher in his case, thereby increasing the significance of the achievement!!”

This was followed up with Frank asking/suggesting if I had improved my odds by playing par 3s? You see for a number of years Stefan, Brent, Frank…all senior GWL leaders/former bosses let me join their foursome on men’s golf day. Why I have no idea as I was a much worse golfer than all of them! 

As for Stefan please see below… 3 bl**dy golf balls in a cup…the nerve 😆

Now I have my answer as they knew no matter how bad I was that my day would come and the well deserved needling would follow…I would never do  that 😇

Now Stefan who has 3 holes in one quickly sent me the picture below...I had previously sent him way way back my 3:37 finishing time for my first marathon the day before his first marathon which as I recall was 3:38+...oh so very close…felt so bad but... So payback time...😂

I was Stefan’s golfing partner for his 1st... Titleast 4

Dawn suggested I counter with the following picture for my current and future exploits 😉

Kirkland 2 Costco Golf Ball ☺️ hope there is enough room for the future!

I have been working on one last blogpost before I spend a little time resting, thinking about the next long walk and associated timing.  However this emergency blogpost was simply a MUST!!!

Special Edition - When one is totally outclassed 😂

Way too good to pass up…I have been totally outclassed not once but twice in last few days. Blogpost data details and blogpost creative story telling…more later.

However first I must express my deep gratitude and appreciation to so so many of you. On May 3rd after learning of my diagnosis and sharing it with family I proceeded to write a few notes to close friends with whom I had shared my prostate testing. Then on May 5th I published my blogpost.

The many personal messages with such positive vibes, expressing best wishes have been very uplifting and so meaningful...I cannot express how fortunate I felt in those early days. Merci infiniment!

Very early I expressed to a good friend “Damn life sometimes isn’t fair”. That sentiment simply vanished very quickly and as I told my baby sister Pauline (oh that might get me in trouble 🤣) this has absolutely nothing to do with fairness...”It simply is what it is” Proceed to next step - surgery then heal, rest and come back stronger.

Rest

Well I did say in my May 5th blogpost "Past experience tells me that surgery recovery time when I can’t be out and about is quite challenging for me...I must and will find an interesting project to work on...open to any suggestions! ☺️”

I did receive a number of suggestions...

"I suspect the biggest challenge for you is going to be surviving the rest & relaxation required. However, think of all the marvellous streaming services, movies, and TV series you’ll be able to watch. Simply watching (or re-watching) all the Marvel superhero movies on the Disney+ service could fill several days.”

Well meaning - Not sure about this one...sitting watching TV for long periods of time may well drive me nuts 

"Keeping you in “recovery-mode” while you’re recovering sounds like that will be a challenge - I can recommend cross-stitch, word puzzles, and online games like Wordle, Octordle (wordle x 8 simultaneously), Canuckle, and Canoku (sudoku with Canadian symbols).”

Many good ideas - Pa used to cross stitch and kept telling me I should try it...I will seriously consider this one. Wordle I downloaded some time ago...I see a 6 x 5 matrix  for May 15th and I see in first line B _ C _ P. all in green...so I think BICEP...press E and it replaces the B. Now what to do... totally befuddled...Octordle...😱🤣. Sodoku have done however I am sure my granddaughter Rose (9) is way, way, way ahead of my abilities here.

"you asked for suggestions of things to take up post-surgery. If you just read this blogpost every day, you’d have no time for anything else. Failing that, and given that you don’t want RSI to complicate your recovery, you could take up sock knitting. I dare you"

Well this is a very practical piece of advice considering the length of the May 5th blogpost 😉. As to sock knitting hmmm...how does one start knitting as that looks so very complicated. RSI = Repetitive Strain Injury I think?

Nice comments on the May 5th blogpost which made my day

"Entertaining as always - except the graphs which I skip 🥱"

“I’m good with the verbal parts and not so good with the graphs.”

“Happy blogging! You are so expressive and detailed. I can see a future book deal here!!”

Note my April 8, 2024 indicated I have published 6 books and sent another 7 books to fellow walking friends. Ok I suppose that does not constitute a “book deal”!

Finally maybe the best positive comments ever received (or did "I dream these up?”) were from my Brazilian walking friend Paulo...republished from the May 5th blogpost where I suspect many may have fallen asleep prior to seeing this ☺️

Me - Paulo I included a few graphs in the spreadsheet...have a quick look...just for the two of us...no point including them in the blogpost as no one is the least bit interested in my interesting analyses

Paulo - No, no, no my friend...do not think such things as I am very sure that everyone really loves these graphs. They are incrível e fantástico  and tell quite a compelling story. You MUST include them.

Me - Paulo...really...you must be on some crazy drug from Carlos (local Brazilian drug pusher) to think such nonsense...maybe someone notices the colours or something but they don’t give a hoot about this stuff.

Paulo - You are very wrong and here is why...I know such things...I understand people...you do not my friend! Let me tell you...first I am Brazilian, second I am a lawyer and lastly I am never wrong! Yes most people do not create graphs as a fun pastime...they do other MUCH more meaningful things however they hold you in the highest regard anyway. You are contributing knowledge for fellow walkers the world over.

And please remember my friend the longer your blogpost the better...excellent reading for falling asleep quickly at night. 

Me - As my maman would say “Ça pas d’allure ce que tu me dis Paulo”. Ok we can agree on the falling asleep part at least...I will include a few graphs...it’s just what I do 🙂

Funny Comments

Humour always lift spirits...

“That has got to take the cake for the longest blogpost ever! I think I got RSI just from the scrolling. It also made me LOL”

“Cannot be published comments”

These come from a couple of cronies in what I like to call the “Old Foggies Curling league” an absolutely great group of fellows out trying to show one another that they can still curl half decently. Most of us fall quite short of this but have good laughs. These two fellows whom I will refrain from naming St*v* and *nd* (Wordle fans go to it 😊) simply outdid themselves (I may have contributed to the exchange 🤣) and these were very timely fun exchanges.

However TOP prize came from a long time friend...who in his usual classy manner expressed kind thoughts. He then proceeded in a followup communication saying:

"PS. At my last Dr visit he told me I had a “perfect” prostate!”

This struck me as the most ridiculously funny (my language may have been a little more colourful) thing I have heard in a very very long time. What is a “perfect” prostate? The suggestion on the home front is maybe he should donate it to Science at the appropriate time!

Ok the two areas where I have been totally outclassed!

#1 Blogpost Statistics

Some have commented 🤣 about my stats, graphs, analysis etc as being a little 🤣 too detailed...maybe as far as being over the top

Well please meet an outstanding young woman named Sarah Williams founder of Tough Girl Challenges. I throughly enjoy following her Instagram posts toughgirlchallenges.

Her recent 2024 walks include the 3,000+ kms New Zealand North and South Island Te Araroa trek and the Camino 1,000+ kms Via de la Plata walk in Spain. These were completed with very little time between these two walks ... incredible! Her other walks are a who’s who listing of long walks including the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail in the US. 

Background from Sarah William’s website.

My mission is to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure, physical challenges and exploration. 

​

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Tough Girl Challenges serves as a valuable resource for those in search of inspiration, motivation, assistance or guidance for their upcoming adventures or challenges. Explore the blog and discover diverse experiences and achievements of exceptional women from around the globe. Engage with the content through podcasts, vlogs, blog posts and social media updates.

Here is Sarah’s latest post of stats captured from he Via de la Plata walk in Spain. Absolutely amazing stuff...I am in Kindergarten as compared to her PHD stats. Do I even try to up my game 😉🤔?

Greg, please note her favourite snack foods

🥾 ℹ️Total Stats ℹ️ Camino Via de La Plata, Spain 🇪🇸

Join me as I delve into the numbers behind the adventure, offering a glimpse into the practicalities and realities of walking the Camino. Let's dive in! 

🥾Walking Days: 31
From: Seville Cathedral 
To: Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela 
Rest Days: 0
Travel days: 2
🗓️Start date: Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Start time: 11am
🗓️End date: Saturday 4th May 2024
End time: 4.30pm
Number of stamps in Pilgrims Passport:34

🥾Total Km: 1,042
Average daily km: 33

🥾Total Miles: 651
Average daily miles: 20

🦶Total Steps: 1,338,589
Average daily steps: 41,831

⏰Earliest start time: 6.35am - Day 3 Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Almadйn de la Plata
Latest start time: 11am - Day 1 - Seville to Guillena
Earliest end time: 11.50am - Day 8 - El Carrascalejo to Alcuéscar
Latest end time: 6pm - Day 10 - Caceres to Cañaveral
🦶Longest time on feet: Day 10 - 10hrs 40 mins - Caceres to Cañaveral
🦶Shortest day: Day 8 - 4hrs 30 mins. El Carrascalejo to Alcuéscar
🥾Biggest Day: Day 30 - 2nd May. 29 miles, 47.2 km, 60,867 steps. Cea to Silleda. 

Average start time: 8.08 am
Average finish time: 3.07 pm
Average walking time: 7hrs
Walking speed: Approx 4.5/5k per hour 

🛌Accommodation: 

💷💶Total Accommodation Costs:  £335 / €390
💷💶Average Accommodation Costs: £11 / €13

Private Albergue/Hostal: 8 
Municipal Albergue: 24
Room to myself: 3 
Cheapest accommodation:€3 - 27th April. Day 25. Lubian. 
Most expensive accommodation €40 -26th April. Day 24. Puebla de Sanabria 

🍽️Food: FYI - I’m gluten free. 

💷💶Total Food Costs: £358 / €417
💷💶Average Food Costs Per day: £11 / €13

🛒Most expensive Food Shop: €58
Pilgrims meals included in accommodation: 2
🍷Glass of wine: 1
Shot of dodgy Liquor: 1
Favourite snack: Snickers & crisps

Travel: 🚗✈️🚎🥾🚕✈️

💷💶Travel Costs: £249 /€290

🎒I needed to pay an extra €110/ £95 Euro for my backpack on the way home  - which I wasn’t expecting to have to pay! With out that my travel costs were low….  
🚝I caught the train to London £59 - but I got this refunded as it was delayed. 
✈️My flight to Spain was £10 and paid with points. 
🚕€23 taxi to Santiago airport and that’s it.  

So my travel costs out to Spain were £13. (BA Flight & bus into the city)
Return would have been £61 (2 Easyjet flights Santiago - Geneva - Manchester)  - but I needed to pay an extra £95 for my luggage.

📲Travel Apps: Buen Camino, Hiiker, booking, EasyJet, Google Maps.
📡📲Communication Device: ZOLEO - connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage

💷💶Misc costs: £81 /  €94 = This was new trainers, pilgrims passport and certificate, plus compeed for blisters and painkillers. 

Total Costs:

💷💶Total Costs: £1,045 / €1,216

💷💶Total costs not including travel: £796 / €926
💷💶Average costs per day (31 days walking): £26 / €30

Weather
☀️Sunny days: 20 
☀️Sunny & hot: 3
🌧️Rainy days: 8 - pretty much all towards the end of the trip

Subjective feeling out of 10 on:

😀Total Enjoyment: 204/310= 66% Enjoyment - I liked that it was less busy, I liked being in the countryside. 
😫Total Fatigue average: 120/310= 39% - I’m surprised this wasn’t a lot higher. I felt very fatigued towards the end. Which is probably to be expected as I’d had no rest days. 
⛰️Total Ease of terrain:  114/310 = 37% I found the terrain very manageable. The ascents and descents were nothing in comparison to New Zealand. 

To make these % more useful, I think it’s interesting to compare this data to the other caminos I’ve walked. 

😀Total Enjoyment: 204/310= 66% Enjoyment - slightly lower compared to other caminos. I would put this down to dealing with blisters, poor weather and feeling tired. 

Camino Finisterre 93%
Camino Primitivo 83%
Camino Frances 69% 

😫Total Fatigue average: 120/310= 39% - the lower the % the less tired I was. Pretty normal and makes sense. I actually thought this would be a lot higher. It felt like I was more tired. 

Camino Finisterre 40% 
Camino Frances  34%
Camino Primitivo 28% - I felt super good on this camino and was doing big days, and early finishes and lots of rest. This was Sept 2023 - before New Zealand. 

⛰️Total Ease of terrain: 37% - It was a longer journey compared to the other caminos 
Camino Frances 35% - challenges on the Caminos for me are not the terrain. It’s generally, weather, finding accommodation & dealing with too many people
Camino Primitivo 34%
Camino Finisterre 33%

Let's dive into the highs and lows of the Camino. 🥾⛰️ 

The Challenges: 

🥾Blisters - my Inov8 trainers were too small and caused me massive blisters at the start. I also lost a toe nail on my left foot. I needed to buy a new pair of trainers on day 7. I ended up wearing one of each!

🌧️Weather: was great to start with and then it was rain, cold, wind, rain, cloudy, fog. I’m not a fan of being cold and wet (I can do it - but I don’t enjoy it as much)

📲Youtube: I was trying to create daily shorts and did 9 days. I find it very difficult to produce video content while walking. I will go back to filming on a GoPro and editing the footage later. 

🚦Least enjoyable sections: The walk out of Ourense was not pretty. Road, traffic, pollution followed by steep climbs. (Day 29 - 1st May). 

✨The Highlights: 

🍽️I had 2 pilgrim sit down meals (the food wasn’t the best quality - but I really appreciated it). 
I enjoyed the conversation with other people on the trail. 
🏔️The mountain views, the wildflowers. It was a really beautiful walk. 
🚝I also enjoyed seeing the high speed trains go past and would love to experience that in the future. 
🐾Being joined by 2 large white dogs on my final day walking into Santiago.
❤️Favourite Sections: Day 26 & 27 - Lubian - A Gudina - Laza. Stunning mountain views. Wonderful! 🥳

While the statistics offer a glimpse into my journey, they're just numbers. 

The true essence of the Camino Via de la Plata lies in the experiences, challenges, and connections forged along the way. 

As I reflect on the miles walked and the memories made, I'm grateful for the opportunity to share this adventure with you. Thank you for being a part of it. 

#2 Creative Blogposting

I have been called out...maybe even accused of stretching out a story...spinning a yarn however the following blogpost from Camino Forum member Kiwi-Family (Rachael, the Mama of the family) from New Zealand outclasses anything I have done!

A little summary of what I know of Rachael’s background will give you some perspective.

- Traveled as a family for 15 months with her husband Rob when the kids were 2 -14 years. Flew to Singapore and didn’t get on another plane until they came home from Istanbul. Kids turned  3 - 15 years. Self described “Best year of my life! “  How many kids you ask? English - eight, let me repeat that in French - huit, German - acht, Spanish - ocho, Portuguese - oito.

- Many Camino paths including but not limited to the Frances, Via de la Plata, Salvador, Primitivo, Madrid with all sorts of combinations of family members, cobbled routes and even 80 year old Grandpa.

- Home schooled all 8 children

- Now walking solo in a time of self reflection on the Camino Frances at a reduced km pace (hence the graphs) as Rachael nurses an existing achilles injury.

- Sense of humour...how can one not have one having survived the above!

Without further comment here is Rachael’s latest blogpost...quite the creative storytelling twist...note my graphs and a few past blogposts are mentioned. ☺️. Someday have to make it to New Zealand (YES Jeanne... my middle daughter who spent 7 1/2 months there and will rub it in gleefully if given the chance...I will somehow get there! 😉) and pay Rachael and family a friendly visit.

15 May connected even when off Camino

Rachael May 15

 

Photos are displaying strangely on the blog, but at least all the info you need to see on those two screenshots of my phone^^ is clear!! (in case you can’t see it, someone very dear to me, who suggested I get a private room so I could rest, rang me at 5am and again at 7am, and both times I was asleep!)

Seeing as I’m awake and have five hours until I need to check out, I’ll write today’s blogpost!….

It all started over a raincoat.

There was this guy I had been following online (as you do) (following, not stalking, mind). He kept an interesting walking blog…went a bit overboard on the data analysis at times, but the engaging writing well and truly made up for that. He could make a story out of nothing! You think I’m exaggerating? He was going to walk the Primitivo when Covid hit, and so he completed the entire walk in his own Canadian back yard…and blogged every stage. You’d think there’s only so much to say about walking circles in your garden for three weeks, but, as I say, he can make a story out of nothing.

You’re wondering what that has to do with a raincoat, right? Well this guy (who is actually called Guy) put out a call on the Camino Forum, where I had first come across him, for advice about rainwear. I waxed eloquently about my own choice, the Packa, and you know what? He listened to me. That made him a firm friend! Things got off to a bit of a tricky start though when his Packa arrived in the mail and he tried to use it. Honestly, just between you and me, I don’t know what he found so difficult, but he made a whole video of himself trying to put the e*x*p*l*e*t*i*v*e thing on and it really did look hard, if not impossible. I implored him to practise as the benefits of mastery would far outweigh any momentary trouble…although in his case, I did start to wonder.

And YOU are wondering what that has got to do with my Camino.

It’s just setting the stage for today’s blogpost.

You see, this guy, Guy, got some rubbish news nearly two weeks ago. Prostate cancer. He’s written about it here and gave me permission to say whatever I like about him. Silly him!!

Since then we’ve been messaging back and forth a bit and having a few laughs. Mostly about his data analysis. And haemorrhoids. Guy comment: NOTE sorry Rachael…not mine as I have enough problems already…thank you!

But at one point he said I really needed some graphs on my blog. Actually, he was far less bossy than that:

My apologies meant to say “a graph or two would be welcome for your next blogpost” 😂

When I said I’d see what I could rustle up….

Well that really would be a shame I think if you spent time creating a graph as your time is much more valuable exploring,  talking to other pilgrims, family members etc. I on the other hand can’t help myself as it’s too much fun….and it will get worse during surgery recovery. 🤣

At this point in the conversation I had my own tooth treatment and associated recovery time to look forward to, and anticipated graph making might be a fun way to while away my time, although, as I pointed out to him, I had no idea how to do it on my phone.

This guy, Guy, needed no further invitation 

Well you could always send me the data that you desperately want graphed…I volunteer to do so…save in jpeg form and send back you 😂

Ideas on a per day basis…kms walked, stork pictures, maybe interesting doors…great conversations with others etc etc. I would think coffee per day would be a mite boring considering 1 coffee for past 30 years!

And in my own post-treatment-euphoria, I sent him some numbers. 

Even before my anaesthetic had totally worn off, there were four graphs in my inbox and a full analysis of the numbers accompanying them that made me laugh out loud. Literally.

There was also some advice

In fact if they [the graphs] find their way in your blog it is critical that you distance yourself from this nonsense I created 😊.

Done. Now you know why I told you so much about this guy, Guy.

{Note: all Guy’s number notes are in bold so they are easy to find - or avoid, depending on your preference}

Graph 1 - Weekly Max Goal vs Actual Walking

Two graphs 1st including to July 1st…2nd to May 6

-  Bar chart is Actual with Camino in Red (april 8th start)

- Line chart is Max Goal

All was very close heading into the Camino walk…now as you have indicated in recent blogposts Camino Walking is starting to stretch above pre established Max Goals

But he didn’t stop there. He couldn’t help himself. He made it all cumulative - something which I subsequently pointed out to him I was never going to do, as it’s only getting worse as I go on, so why would I want to highlight that? Incidentally, I think he’s sending a subliminal message by putting my walked-too-far-weeks in red. Hard not to agree, right?

Graph 2 - Cumulative Max Goals vs Actual Goals

- Same story as Graph 1 for info as of May 6th week Cumulative Max Goals 

And he didn’t stop there, either!

A little analysis: 

- As of April 1st week Max Goals was 470 kms vs Actual 466 kms

- As of May 9th week Max Goals was 820 kms vs Actual 866 kms Guy comment NOTE: these were switched around for Rachael’s blogpost...I revised them here...geez hopefully not to many of Rachael’s followers will give her grief over this!!

So for Camino Walking Max Goals to date were 350 kms vs Actual 430 kms or 22.9% higher

Guy: comment NOTE: Rachael all is not lost as there is a way to avoid “it’s only getting worse as I go on” and that is to slow it down as you guessed I was getting at ☺️. Here is the math...You have 962 kms left in your cumulative Max Goal (kms) to reach 1,782 (kms). You have only 886 kms left in Actual walking kms to reach 1,782 (kms).  So if you modify your Max Goal (kms) by 92.1% you will get there!

I have taken the liberty to work this out for you as shown below ☺️ 🤣. Max Goal (kms) is the first number, Actual Goal (kms) is the second number in ( ). As my granddaughter Elodie would say “Easy Peasy” 😉

-    Week of 13-May-24    91 (84) 
-    Week of 20-May-24    95 (87)

-    Week of 27-May-24    104 (96)

-    Week of 3-Jun-24        114 (105)

-    Week of 10-Jun-24      125 (115)

-    Week of 17-Jun-24      131 (121)

-    Week of 24-Jun-24     144 (133)

-    Week of 1-Jul-24        158 (146)

Your Weekly graphs and Cumulative Graphs would look like the following with May 13, 2024 weeks+ in purple

So even on my days off the Camino, staying in a wee room away from pilgrims, I have felt connected to the Camino in the same kind of special way as if I were walking.

Thanks Guy, you’re a great guy!

PS This post is written by 9:30am. Clearly it does not include what is going to actually happen today. As I will be taking a late-ish bus back to Castrojeriz, I may not get to do a post until tomorrow morningwhile I wait for the museum to open. Then tomorrow evening I’ll be at San Nicolas without electricity or cell reception, so what-has-become-my-standard-posting-schedule is going to be disrupted for a couple of days.