And Then There Were Three

Our next big vacation is six months away so I'm going to have to be careful and avoid boring you with all of the details of our trip. But right now, we're in the initial stages and our excitement is getting the better of me, so I hope you'll indulge me for a bit.

After all, we have yet to purchase our tickets and probably won't do that until the coming weekend.

Kid 1, who lives at home, has heard DW and I talk about our trip, and has seen us watching endless videos about the Camino Portugués, told us on Sunday that she's like to join us on our trek from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. We are excited to have her come along, as we think it will help her grow on her life's journey, as well as have her see another part of the world from a unique perspective.

Of course, she'll have to do some research to see what this multi-week trek entails and ensure that she's well-prepared—mentally, physically, and with the right gear—just like DW and me. We've recommended some videos that she should watch and have encouraged her to start walking.

I, on the other hand, have already been committed in my training. I've walked a few trails over the past couple of weeks, covering a minimum of five kilometres whenever I head out, and using our treadmill on days that I don't get outside. (I took a wrong turn on one trail and added almost four kilometres to a route that was supposed to be just over eight kilometres already.)

I've acquired a backpack that I think will work well on the Camino and purchased trail shoes, which I wore all weekend, throughout the house. I'll be wearing both as I do my training hikes.

Though I bought a rain cover for the backpack and I have a lightweight rain jacket for damp days, I also found a couple of ponchos that DW and I bought when we lived in South Korea. I tested it over my backpack and it's perfect for days when the rain is falling in earnest.

DW and I also purchased lightweight sleeping bags, that have a silky fabric on one side and a thinly quilted layer on the other. It's meant to be used when bedding isn't provided at an albergue or if it is and we're cold at night.

We bought some merino wool clothing and I got myself a thin puffer jacket. The jacket will probably take up the most room in my backpack but it's light and is still pretty small.

On previous trips, I've often packed more camera gear than I've packed clothing, but I have to be minimalistic for this trip. Every gram counts. Initially, I was only going to bring my smartphone, my Insta360 X5 and selfie stick, and my DJI Neo 2 drone. Even then, with the required charging cords and spare batteries, I was adding on extra weight (though, for the drone, I won't be bringing the large remote controller because my phone can double as one).

I wasn't planning on taking any other cameras. I had decided, when I bought my Sony α6700, that my Nikon D750 would no longer join me when I travel abroad because the Sony weighs so much less than the Nikon, but for the sake of travelling light, I would leave both of these cameras at home.

But over the weekend, I reminded myself that I'm a photographer first, a videographer second. And while I plan to document the journey in a video, I'll still want to capture stills of things we see along the way.

I'll leave my telephoto zoom behind but I'll have a small lens on the body, and combined they'll weigh less than a kilo. I have a clip that attaches to the shoulder strap of my backpack and will carry the Sony there. (The last time we were in Portugal, I had my D750 with the 24–70mm f/2.8 lens clipped to my shoulder the whole trip, and I wasn't bothered at all.)

Kid 1 will also have to look at what she's already got and what she'll need, and DW and I will help make sure she's set for the vacation. We'll also encourage her to join us on our training outings.

I can't wait until we go. We have six months until that day comes but there's so much to get done in preparation. The excitement is spurring me on to be ready.

I just hope that I don't bore you when I share details. Cheers!