Thoughts on a solo camino?

[mariana1114]

Hey folks,

I'm new to the forum and have spent the past couple of days reading up and getting excited for a Sept/Oct 2011 camino my brother and I had been planning on doing together. However recently he decided he couldn't take the time from school he had originally planned and now all of my camino dreams are kind of hanging in the air. My original thought was that I'd still do it, just on my own. But my friends and family are concerned that it's not safe as a young female (I'm 22) to do it on my own. For those of you who've done it, what are your thoughts? It sounds like there are a lot of people who do it alone, though my loved ones have pointed out that most of them are men.

I'm not wanting to give up the trip all together, but I don't want to put myself in a bad situation. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[Covey]

The statistics show that just over 40% of those collecting their Compostella at Santiago are women most of whom started their Camino "en solo". That is probably slightly less than those who actually start out from all points of the compass and end up in Santiago.

The Camino is probably the safest long distance walk anyone can do, especially for females. The fact that is is one of the ancient pilgrimage routes tends to mean that those who choose to walk the Ways are like minded souls who make a point of caring for each other, and ensuring that nobody falls by the wayside. If anything, the male Pilgrims tend to be slightly over protective to lone females who set off across strange foreign lands to follow their dream. Pilgrims tend to fall into loose "families" based usually on language and walking pace.

I can understand why your family might have concerns for a young woman setting off across Europe with a pack on your back and a loose plan to be in Santiago "sometime". The only risk you run is being spoiled by kindness!

PS. I am a man!

[HuskyNerd]

I want to second what Covey has said above. I finished my third camino last week and, as usual, ended up with a delightful pilgrim family. All of us began alone, but soon met like-minded and agreeable people that became close friends. Our group of "singles" included 4 men of ages 53 (me), 35, 30, and 21 along with 4 women of ages 25, 21, 23 and 32. I saw single young women on the Camino this year as young as 19 and as old as, well, probably about 75.

There are advantages to doing a solo camino, the primary one being that you have the choice of people with whom you'd like to walk. This is a big deal since spending many days together is not fun if your partner is too fast, too slow, too talkative, too quiet, etc. You'll find many choices of young single women (and men) from whom to choose and you won't regret starting out as a solo walker.

[Lipka149]

The only risk you run is being spoiled by kindness!

I would echo what both of these experienced caminantes say. We walked with many young ladies and only heard of one problem. Some guy tried crawling over a lady in bed to open the window she was sleeping next to.

[Leslie]

both times when I walked the Camino I started walking myself, and both times I have ended up walking to Santiago with people that I have never met, before starting. Of course you have to be as sensible as you would be anywhere else. I think it's one of the safest places to be alone, and you don't stay alone for long, if that is what you want.

But then again I am male and I do like the time I get alone.

[mariana1114]

Hey all!

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm more pumped then ever. Buying my tickets this weekend!

Maybe I'll see some of you on the trail.

Cheers!

Mariana

[John Hussey]

Don't worry at all. You will make friends the first day. By the second day you will have many friends and become a part of a loose "family" that will continue to grow as the days go by.. Personally, I feel it is better to go alone. You can then easily choose...or un-choose your walking companion(s) or even choose to walk alone if you so desire.

If you start toward the Pyrenees in September-October, you will walk through the massive, famous vineyards of La Rioja at the beginning of the harvest, depending on weather, and each day can breakfast on those ultra sweet grapes, hanging from the vines. Take only those toward the bottom of the vine, though, as these are aften just dropped to the ground at harvest because the sugar content is less than those on the top.

Buen Camino

[grayland]

Not too sure I would advise anyone to pick grapes or other fruit from the farmers fields as we pass through. There have been a couple of recent threads on this subject and it appears that it is not welcome by those who have worked very hard to produce the crop.
I know that many do and think that there is no harm....but it appears that a lot of harm can come from thousands of walkers going by.
Easy to rationalize that your small portion can't matter..but.....
I had not thought of this until I read the recent thread.

[mariana1114]

This all sounds so awesome. Ticket is booked for Sept 22nd! Thanks again for all your help!

[Precious1]

Hi Mariana!!

As far as a woman feeling safe doing the Camino I would say a definite yes. As far as hooking up with, people to walk with, you'd have to be a misanthrope not to. lol I've journeyed alone many times when a friend was not available and met traveling companions easy enough, and doing the Camino is even a better venue for that.

But once the journey is over, friends made along the way disperse and it is rare one keeps in touch long or sees them ever again, as others have pointed out, and there is a real sense of loss there combined with the jolt of the Camino being over.

Whereas if one is fortunate to be sharing this life changing experience with a good friend, a Camino buddy , you will still make friends along the trek, but when it's over, you at least have a someone who is still there with you in spirit to share something extraordinary going through time, with the anticipation of coming back and doing more of it together. I see the Camino as a metaphor for the journey of life where, among other things, having a friend to share it with is what makes it all the worth while. Look at all the people who make it to the top and find themselves ultimately alone, no matter how many people they party with, and end up having to get on anti depressants. :]

A partner it seems to me would not be a partner if you could not find harmony in going slow or fast, together or solo, talking or being silent, laughing or not laughing lol. Also, with a friend you know well, much growth, insight, and changes for the better can take place as one walks the Way of Saint James.

Having said that, I would go back and do the Camino solo, if it came to that, but it would not be the same, no matter how many "adopted families" I would merge and make merry with, no matter how many email addresses and cell phone numbers I had accumulated in my journal.

Now, to work so I can trek sooner than later. :]

You will have the best time of your life, Mariana!!! Go for it.

[John Hussey]

Not too sure I would advise anyone to pick grapes or other fruit from the farmers fields as we pass through. There have been a couple of recent threads on this subject and it appears that it is not welcome by those who have worked very hard to produce the crop.
I know that many do and think that there is no harm....but it appears that a lot of harm can come from thousands of walkers going by.
Easy to rationalize that your small portion can't matter..but.....
I had not thought of this until I read the recent thread.

Well, I must humbly disagree with your assessment. Perhaps you have not walked through the immense vineyards of La Rioja around the time of the harvest, filled with row upon row of plants whose vines are laden with hundreds of pounds each of plump, ripe grapes dangling from them, nor spoken with the farmers or vintners responsible for those huge fields and grapes. I have done all three. Plus I am not sure that "thousands" would have passed through during the very narrow window of the October harvest. But, if not "thousands", certainly "hundreds" would have though, yet still not enough to make much of a dent in so many plants, even those contiguous to the path we pilgrims walk along. In fact, each plant had so many grapes, I cannot recall having seen any showing evidence of having had any their grapes pulled by the pilgrims who passed before me, yet I know that many did.

When I stopped for the evening at one alberque in a small village nestled amidst those vast vineyards, near Eunate as best I recall, I began chatting with the hospitalera who signed me in. It turned out both she and her husband owned & ran one of the small wine cooperativas there and after I expressed some interest in learning something of the wine process, she had her husband give me a tour that afternoon. He was kind enough to take me around for a few hours, since it did not get dark until so late, and showed me the equipment and storage facilities used, explained the wine making process, how the grape was collected, mashed, separated from seeds and debris, then stored, aged then blended. It was quite an educational afternoon, to be sure. But, I am chagrined to have to report, I learned that the grapes are no longer dumped into huge wooden vats at harvest time then trampled and mixed and mashed down by the dainty feet of all the young virgins of the village, all singing and dancing knee deep in the grape. Regrettably, for my imagination at least, modern machines now do that, though I do believe I still prefer to visualize the old-fashioned way!

When I passed through in 2005 I was told that since it was such a wet year the harvest was delayed and, because of that, it would be difficult to get enough help once the rain stopped long enough to do it. So, I offered my help for the following day and said that in the morning if it were not raining, I would remain behind and give what help I could for a day or so with the harvest. Regrettably, though, the following morning it was still pouring rain. Sadly, I donned my raincoat, pulled the hood up over my head, put my pack upon my back, stepped outside into the dim light of the cold, wet, morning and continued my journey walking to Santiago, looking for the first bar where I could get a hot cafe con leche and croissant, much, much wiser for the experience.

So, for any pilgrim passing through when the grapes of La Rioja are plump and ripe, you might just pull a bunch or two for breakfast or snack. Just be sure, though, to pull yours from those dangling from the bottom of the vine since the sugar content of those is lower than the grapes on top and so not deemed to be of sufficient quality to make good wine. Well, those may not have made good wine but I do recall they certainly did taste great and I have never had any fresher!

Buen Camino, Ultreia e Suseia

[Covey]

Frankly, I don't think anyone should "pull a bunch or two for breakfast"!

The farmers/owners of the vines are growing the grapes for themselves, to either sell to the local co-operative, or to turn in to wine for themselves. Helping yourself to a bunch or two is theft, and that is not what Pilgrims should be about.

A couple of years ago I saw a couple of German pilgrims (small p!) filling a carrier bag with grapes growing from the vines. I cannot imagine why anyone should think it is OK to help yourself to other peoples property. Picking berries from the hedgerows is fine, because they are wild and not cultivated.

The other risk is that the vines are sprayed with pesticides especially as the grapes are ripening, and any fruit should be thoroughly washed before eating, including fruit purchased from a shop or stall.

The free wine fountain at Irache is amusing, but Pilgrims are invited to take a drink by the Bodega. What I doubt the farmers are happy about is 200(ish) pilgrims a day helping themselves to bunches of grapes.

[grayland]

Yes I have been through the Riojas area several times.

I think Covey has it just about right. Helping yourself to others property just can't be anymore right on the Camino than it would be at home.
I did not do the research but I think that you would find that "hundreds" would pass through most DAYS during the crop season which would certainly add up to "thousands".
Here is an interesting discussion of the subject. The thread starts out about some airheads destroying things but then goes to a discussion of this subject.

Divine Providence/Crop Theft - Camino de Santiago de Compostela forum

Make your own decision as to the right or wrong.