My personal Lana whingeing and planning thread

[Takahiwai]

So, in about four weeks, I'm supposed to be starting this route. My plans have been somewhat upended by being summoned from my home town to the commercial capital of Burma, Yangon/Rangoon, in order to cover for another teacher. Yangon is a horrid place to try to do practice walking sessions, because it's very polluted, and pedestrian-unfriendly. On the bright side, I'm staying in the flat of the teacher I'm covering - he lives on the 7th floor. Plenty of climbing and descending practice for me! Under the current regime, power cuts are widespread. Here, we have power for only 8 hours a day - four hours of which are given overnight. Need a warm shower -get up at 4 a.m. to make sure you get one.

After 10 days in the capital, I feel exhausted, physically and mentally, and I'm thinking that I might go back to NPT for a few days before I try to join the Lana. Just thinking it right now - might not do it. Maybe I'll adjust to the timetable and end up feeling much more energetic.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Maybe take a few days in Spain before you start walking.

 

[jungleboy]

It seems like this is more of a Burma whingeing thread than a Lana whingeing thread

 

[VNwalking]

Yangon is a horrid place to try to do practice walking sessions,

I do feel for you, because that air and lack of walking space is definitely no fun. A bit of reassurance: I was astonished how fit I was able to stay by walking back and forth in my corridor in Mingaladon, and that was flat, without stairs.

After 10 days in the capital, I feel exhausted, physically and mentally, and I'm thinking that I might go back to NPT for a few days before I try to join the Lana. Just thinking it right now - might not do it. Maybe I'll adjust to the timetable and end up feeling much more energetic.

Ooof. A long way to go. But once you get to Spain this will all be like a dream.

 

[dick bird]

I spent 18 months working in Yangon. I learnt to walk in a totally different way, sort of gliding along the street in such a way as to minimise any actual physical activity. Don´t do what I did, fall into a drainage ditch on the way home from 19th Street, and if you do, follow the advice of an emergency nurse who happened to be with us, douse yourself liberally in Betadine ASAP. But I have very fond memories of Yangon in spite of everything. The Lana is a solitary walk, but unexpectedly beautiful and absolutely wonderful people live along it. There are some very useful threads on the forum about the Lana, and some good Wikiloc tracks, which you will need as the waymarking is sporadic. Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions, we did it in 2023. Buen Camino

 

[Gerard Griffin]

For the Lana, all tribulations are worthwhile, and these and all memory of such will vanish, once this wonderful journey begins.

 

[JLWV]

Hello, you say LANA; where would you start, Valencia or Alicante?

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Hello, you say LANA; where would you start, Valencia or Alicante?

A little bird whispered in my ear that @Takahiwai will walk from Alicante, or take the Camino del Alba and then join the "regular" Lana! If I am not mistaken.

 

[JLWV]

A little bird whispered in my ear that @Takahiwai will walk from Alicante, or take the Camino del Alba and then join the "regular" Lana! If I am not mistaken.

In such case there is no problem.
In case it was Valencia it should be necesary to check how is the way between Valencia and Buñol, as the epicenter of the DANA of octuber was in this leg.
Buen Calino.

 

[Freewalker]

I live on the 5th floor of an 11 story building and use the stairs for training. I usually start without a pack and then add heavy pack 2 weeks later. Good fast music does the trick therefore not as labourious ! Happy training. I too am preparing for the Torres this spring.

 

[Takahiwai]

Maybe take a few days in Spain before you start walking.

Will definitely be doing that - it's a part of Spain with which I'm completely unfamiliar, and looks to be full of interesting places.

 

[Takahiwai]

It seems like this is more of a Burma whingeing thread than a Lana whingeing thread

You're quite right - the whingeing is hopefully going to be confined to my frustrations with preparing. I'd better add some planning content to brighten it up!

 

[Takahiwai]

I spent 18 months working in Yangon. I learnt to walk in a totally different way, sort of gliding along the street in such a way as to minimise any actual physical activity. Don´t do what I did, fall into a drainage ditch on the way home from 19th Street, and if you do, follow the advice of an emergency nurse who happened to be with us, douse yourself liberally in Betadine ASAP. But I have very fond memories of Yangon in spite of everything. The Lana is a solitary walk, but unexpectedly beautiful and absolutely wonderful people live along it. There are some very useful threads on the forum about the Lana, and some good Wikiloc tracks, which you will need as the waymarking is sporadic. Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions, we did it in 2023. Buen Camino

Ah, the perils of a night out on 19th St!
Thank you for your offer of help - I'm sure I'll be in touch!

 

[Takahiwai]

Hello, you say LANA; where would you start, Valencia or Alicante?

I originally planned to start in Alicante, but am currently looking at starting on the Camino del Alba, just because I can begin with a couple of really short stages to kick-start my walk. This would involve a bus ride up the coast (wish there was a train service). Alternatively, I could take a tram to Benidorm, and change for Denia, from where a branch of the Alba begins, joining up with the main route after a mere 10kms.

 

[Takahiwai]

I live on the 5th floor of an 11 story building and use the stairs for training. I usually start without a pack and then add heavy pack 2 weeks later. Good fast music does the trick therefore not as labourious ! Happy training. I too am preparing for the Torres this spring.

Just as with hills, I'm finding the going down part far more taxing than climbing up. Buen camino to you!

 

[Freewalker]

Just as with hills, I'm finding the going down part far more taxing than climbing up. Buen camino to you!

Suck in those abs especially going down the stairs, takes pressure off the knees. I try to keep all aligned ie: shoulders directly inline above hips, hips inline above knees and bent knees never past the toes. During the power cuts wear your headlamp ! Happy training !

 

[Takahiwai]

Planning, rather than whingeing - I am almost certain that I am going to go the Alba way. It pains me, because if I'm starting a new route, I like to begin there, but I need to be practical. There's nowhere to stop on the route out of Alicante, before 25km, and I'm not sure, with my lack of preparation, whether that would be a good idea.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Planning, rather than whingeing - I am almost certain that I am going to go the Alba way. It pains me, because if I'm starting a new route, I like to begin there, but I need to be practical. There's nowhere to stop on the route out of Alicante, before 25km, and I'm not sure, with my lack of preparation, whether that would be a good idea.

That is correct: last cafetería at the cemetery in the outskirts of Alicante - if you catch it open - then nothing before Orito. But Orito and the Cueva de San Pascual are kind of cute!

 

[Takahiwai]

That is correct: last cafetería at the cemetery in the outskirts of Alicante - if you catch it open - then nothing before Orito. But Orito and the Cueva de San Pascual are kind of cute!

I know! That's why I'm torn! Although, having read, admired, and enjoyed your various threads on the Lana, I don't think you've done the Alba intro have you? Maybe you would like it?

 

[Takahiwai]

Well, I've just phoned the person who invited herself to my camino last year. Apparently, things haven't been going well for her. .She asked me, 'Are you going walking this year?'. but carried on ranting without waiting for an answer, luckily. I think I might let her know where I'm going in Phase 3 of my walk, the Invierno - I think I could cope with the company then, if she wanted to join me.

 

[VNwalking]

Well, I've just phoned the person who invited herself to my camino last year. Apparently, things haven't been going well for her. .She asked me, 'Are you going walking this year?'. but carried on ranting without waiting for an answer, luckily. I think I might let her know where I'm going in Phase 3 of my walk, the Invierno - I think I could cope with the company then, if she wanted to join me

Grf. She ruined your camino once already. That's once too many. It's not like you live in Spain with time on your hands.