Made up my mind

[heartstrings]

So exciting to have found this forum! I'm Matt Rogers, a musician from Austin, TX USA. It's been a longtime dream of mine to walk the Camino Frances. Just recently, I made the decision to finally make it happen. I'm saving up money at the moment, and still in the planning stages. Really I'm just trying to find the best time of year to walk the Camino and adjust my life/schedule accordingly. My walk will be for spiritual purposes, mainly just to disconnect from everyday society so I can clear my mind and "hear" the universe again. I hope to bring an instrument on the walk because I write music constantly, and I can't even imagine the inspiration I'll get on the Camino. I have a "nest egg" of money for my Camino that is slowly growing, so it will probably dictate when I'm able to go.

Very excited and happy to be on this forum! Any advice is whole-heartedly welcome.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Matt ~
Congratulations! You'll have a wonderful time, and the fact that you'll make music along the way is an added bonus for those who walk with you. I walked this year again, this time along with my son, Luke, who brought his older guitar. At first the guitar was a bother, but as he finally found a way to strap it onto his pack the annoyance of carrying it turned into joy as he shared music with many, many people along the way. He was generous about loaning his guitar to others who also wanted to share their music, and I hope you will be, too, with your instrument.

One caution: you'll likely be charged extra baggage fees for your instrument (assuming its a guitar or something of similar size), and since most airlines allow only one carry-on bag you'll have to check your backpack (ouch) or your instrument (double ouch). If it's something like a smallish guitar or harmonica, no probs. BTW, two women we met this year had small guitars with them and spent many of the evenings singing and having a blast.

As far as time of the year to walk, I'm in love with walking in May/June. The green fields of the Meseta are amazing, and the temperatures are within reason. The "high" season of July/Aug is much hotter and more crowded. The other "shoulder season of Sept/Oct is beloved by many, but to me couldn't possibly be as amazing as May/June since the fields are plowed under. On the other hand, the grapes are ready for harvest in the wine regions through which you'll walk, so that's a plus of fall.

Buen camino!

[heartstrings]

Thank you so much Sandy for the warm welcome! My income (professional musician) has its high points from festivals we play in the spring and the fall, so it looks like end of May/early June will be the time for me. I just can't wait to embark on this adventure! I was planning on going alone, but a couple of close friends have expressed an interest in going with me, so we'll wait and see what happens with them. Just to have made the decision to do this gives me something so magnificent to strive for! Thanks again for all of your advice and sharing some of your memories. -Matt

www.heartstringslive.com

[Earthfire]

Now that you have committed to walk, I hope the journey to your camino is straight and without obstruction.

I hope your dream is made real.

Peace.