4 Maxims of Preparation

The Maxims of Preparation

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Camino to Go - Germany


Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense had a maxim about using military intelligence to plan a military operation:

• You know what you know.
• You know what you don’t know
• You don’t know what you know
• You don’t know what you don’t know.

The Via Jutlandica (which closely parallels the E1) will be my third German winter hike.

I began thinking of this hike in September of this year, when I thought it might be picturesque to explore the Baltic Sea.

Maxim #1: “You know what you know”

The very first decision is “When?”. I only feel like 2 or 3 weeks. I have classes from late August through the first week of December. However, I am an auditor, so since it is not for grades, I could miss a couple of weeks without penalty. Summers are reserved for hiking with my partner in Spain. Fall and winter are out because of classes, but that might change next year.

So the timeframe is obvious. I fly out Dec 2nd via Philadelphia and Madrid to arrive in Hamburg on the 3rd of December.

Using the Municipal Shelters

When walking the Camino de Santiago in any of its variations, pilgrim credentials get the peregrino into municipal facilities which is a bonus. They are basic, very basic, but also very cheap and are self-selecting in that one must be doing a pilgrimage. This is where the pilgrim’s credential comes in handy. It is proof that one is authorized to stay in municipal shelters. There are no municipal shelters in Schleswig-Holstein, as there are on the Camino Frances, or any of the other caminos in Spain. It will be hostels and AirBnBs. (booking.com, travelocity and VRBO will be handling my sleeping arrangements.)

Maxim #2: “You know what you don’t know.”

What I don't know is many of the cultural aspects, e.g. foods.

So I have been watching some videos about typical German foods and especially, typical foods in Schleswig-Holstein, so to speak the area-specific dishes.

And just as importantly, I am getting familiar with the names of the foods, so that I can order with assuredness when I am in the restaurant at night, or just grabbing a coffee in the morning or afternoon.

Maxim #3: “You don’t know what you know.”

The Language

I am unsure of my German. I believe that I am level A2 - B1, which puts me in a basic or lower level intermediate.

My listening comprehension skills are sorely lacking. If the people I meet speak rapidly and mush words together, I have not got a change of comprehension.

On the other hand, I can explain that I speak German but slowly. I can show them that I have a basic knowledge, and therefore it is worth their time to interact with me. I can demonstrate that I respect their culture by using the correct names for foods, instead of pointing. AND hopefully the Schleswig-Holsteiners will reciprocate by speaking to me in German where possible.

Information Surprise

And finally, I had much earlier made note of a web link to a facebook page, and promptly forgot about it. Today over coffee, I was browsing past stuff, and came across it again.

But I had to come across the 10th post in the group, and then follow a comment to get to the link to the  website "Camino To Go". See link at top of page. Amounts to almost pure luck.

According to the page, I can download a gpx file and albergue listing. I completed the form, and am awaiting the results. I did not know that I knew this.

And finally, Maxim #4: “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

I am an experienced through-hiker in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland and Germany; I have over 15 Caminos de Santiago under my belt through all those countries. I believe this is the maxim that will get me … due to overconfidence.

In most of the towns, villages and hamlets, where I will be stopping, no one speaks English. It is a blessing to be able to ask (in very basic German) for directions when I am lost or find a bar for a coffee when I am tired or learn something about the area where I am sleeping.

So how do I prepare for what I don’t know that I don’t know it.

As I mentioned earlier, I speak German, not fluently - maybe not well at all - but I do have a basic survival level. So for the unplanned for, unexpected for, unanticipated for situations, what I can do, will have to suffice.

I still have a lot more to do, but using these four maxims, I feel combat-ready, battle tested and eager to engage. Very shortly, I will hear “Herzlich willkommen nach Deutschland!” or I will at least read it on the Hamburg airport signs.