The Team

Going the full 5000 kms;
Alastair Taylor from Perth
Mark Collins from Canberra
Walter van Praag from Turners Beach - Tasmania

Starting from Hanoi;
Eleanor Blaney from Brisbane (2 weeks)
Jim Reeder from Canberra (3 weeks)

From Ho Chi Minh;
Andrew Edwards from Port Moresby, PNG (2 weeks)
Heather Lea from Revelstoke, BC, Canada (2 weeks)

From Bangkok;
Karina Deans from Adelaide (to Singapore!)
Cindy Brazendale from Turners Beach, Tasmania (2 weeks)

From KL;
Mirjam van Praag from Amsterdam, Holland (to Singapore!)

Coughing de Camino

Ai, it has been a little while since I updated this blog. I obviously arrived home safely from Vietnam and made my way back to Tasmania. Then I got the call to confirm my availability for project in PNG, it was definitely on and I should get my act together!

With Cystic Fibrosis getting out of routine is always fraught with danger, I just survived Vietnam. So I beefed up my exercise, made sure I rode a little  more, walked a little more and got myself in good shape to go help my mate Andrew in PNG. He is aware of my health, I stay with him, and he promises to look after me and take me to the gym regularly.

I am there now, to help out for three weeks. Three weeks I deem max without fresh air and good aerobic exercise. And I am just now entering my third and last week here. I ran with the Hash House Harriers a few times (life saver!) as they happily run (safety in numbers and good local knowledge). But I am starting to struggle now. Taking three different antibiotics and a barrage of other stuff, and I think I will be fine. Of course if it comes to the crunch I'll be on the first plane out.

Whilst here I am reading my second book on the El Camino de Santiago de Compostella, my next adventure.

EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

The Way of St. James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, together with Rome and Jerusalem. Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. St James incidentally was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus.

And why would a good Jewish born person like me attempt an 800+ kilometer walk with backpack? I will do it to bring attention to Cystic Fibrosis and Organ Donation and provide inspiration to people with disabilities. Of course I also think it would be fun, and might even be the source of another book or documentary - like www.coughingthedistance.com.

Slowly I am starting to work on logistics, taking names of interested people to join me, looking for sponsors who might like to donate money or goods. If you have a good reason to be involved, like to walk or support for 2-6 weeks in September/October 2012 do let me know (pilgrim@coughing4cf.com). Although I will carry my own gear, we may have a support vehicle with us. The vehicle may not be seen for days at a time, but will carry team members that need a break (that won't be me!!) and do some sightseeing. Of course it is also important to have a vehicle for emergency backup as I do have Cystic Fibrosis and tides can always change - besides I am on the wrong side of the life-expactancy bell-curve). Things can always turn ugly, but really it also means people who want to come but not necessarily walk the whole way have the option to come along.