Camino walkers in California

[Larry]

Hi

My name is Larry and I would like to start a Camino walkers club/group/forum for those who have walked or would to walk the Camino. I cannot go this year, it would probably be too crowded this year anyway, but I would like to walk it again soon. I am a 59 y/o male so anyone who thinks they are too old to do it is in error and I met several people in their 80's doing it. Anyway, if there's anyone in California that would like to start a group, please e-mail me at larrypardun1@gmail.com.

Good hiking.
Yours in Christ.
Larry

[Edwin Saramosing]

Hi Larry, that would be great if there is a camino group from California. I am going to do my camino within two weeks time starting SJPDP. I am interested of being part of the group.
Regards,
Edwin S.

[Larry]

Edwin

Thanks for the message. I walked the Camino last year; I started alone but met a lot of very nice people along the way. I was dressed mostly in grey so I picked up the nickname of the "Grey Pilgrim", so LOTR. Keep in mind that it is going to be very hot. I went in March and I drank all of two liters a day. Take a hat for sure. As I and my fellow walkers got to within 150 kilometers of Santiago the albergues filled up quickly and once I had to get a hotel room and as this is a Jacobean year it may be even more crowded. I don't know how fit you are but the first day from St. Jean to Roncevalles is a killer. It's only 24 K or so but the altitude gain is over 900 meters and most of that in the last third of the walk. I was 58 at the time and was used to walking 10 miles/day but it took me 13 hours of walking to make it.
I could go on and on about the trek; it took me 32 days to do it. Make sure you have good treking poles.
Yours in Christ
Larry

[Edwin Saramosing]

Hi Larry,
Thank you for the helpful tips. I read your posting about puritfying water. Where do I get this tablet or chemical to purify water?
Two years ago I visited Compostela which was actually not part of my travel plans. I saw a bus headed to Compostela on a night trip from San Sebastian and just came into my mind to take that trip and arrived the next day to save a night of accommodation. I was moved by the devotion of the pilgrims and promised to do the walk on a holy year. An American lady I met there shared me her experience on her walk from Sarria to Compostela. She gave me her pole as she had no intention of bringing it to Chicago. Well, I still have this pole and I plan to use it in my camino this year. I am not sure how reliable it is but I hope it will be as good as the treking poles we find at the outdoors stores.
I have done a lot of travelling but this is my first time to do a long distance walk. I have been doing some physical preparations and just notice an aching knee lately. I hope this would not act up during the journey. Any advice on the camino is very much appreciated. Thanks.
Best regards,
Edwin S.

[Edwin Saramosing]

Larry, the pole I have is a wooden type with a shell which is commonly sold at any souvenir shop. The lady took the shell and gave me the pole. I had to check in this pole since it is considered as a oversized item and I guess for security reasons. Thanks.

[Larry]

Edwin

First, throw away the wooden treking pole. There are several very steep sections of the trail where you will need to lean on your poles, if it breaks and you gore yourself, you're dead. I bought a pair (you'll need two) of Black Diamond poles at REI, I bought all my stuff at REI. As for water decontamination I used just plain old bleach, unscented, unsoapy, just plain old bleach-it's what water districts use to kill bacteria and the like. There are a host of sites on the web. I used 6 drops of 3% sodium hypochloride (bleach) per liter. You'll find the concentration listed on the side of the bottle; some of it is 6% so just use 3 drops. As far as the knee goes, I've got a messed up right knee so I know your concern. Go to the first pharmacy you find and get a cream that has diclophenic (I think that's spelled right) in it. It's a godsend. The real difficulty is in the last 200 k where there is a lot of ups and downs. Plane about 10 miles (16 K) per day. You may be able to make more that that; I met a lot of younger people doing 20 miles, and quite a few that did what I did. You'll meet a lot of people on the trail-but you'll have a lot of alone time, too. Far and away the best map to get is Camino de Santiago Maps / Mapas / Cartes: St. Jean Pied de Port/Roncesvalles - Finisterre Via Santiago de Compostela by John Brierley. It not only has terrain and route but a host of practical and useful information. I bought mine at Powells Books in Portland but all through the trip I hap people consulting my may because theirs stunk. On a less happy note the trail, as it leaves Villafranca de Oca, ascends very steeply and up into a forest. The forest is patrolled by the Guardia Civil of Spain, and for good reason. Gangs of North Africans, Spain's illegal immigrants, lay in wait for lone pilgrims and rob them. It didn't happen to me but it does occur often. Be sure to walk through that area with others. Also, there is no water between Villafranca and San Juan de Ortega so, as always, keep your water bottle filled and a little extra food in your pack. I posted a note on what to take and not to take but the short list is if your pack weights more that 10 kilo, it's too much, get the best hiking boots you can afford, and wear sock liners, any good outfitters will have them. Wear a smile on your face and a song in your heart, and you'll have the time of your life. Some stretches are a real test for the mind, body, sole-but if it was a "walk in the park", you'd go walk in the park, right?
Yours in Christ
Larry

[Edwin Saramosing]

Hi Larry,
Thanks a lot for all your suggestions and insights on the camino journey. As the date of my pilgrimage gets closer, I have mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety of what lies ahead within the journey. I do welcome the idea of meeting lots of people, but I value the experience of having the time for myself to reflect on this experience.
I have more or less the things I need for the trip, but I will look into getting those poles at REI. I do have a copy of John Brierley's book on the pilgrim's guide to Camino de Compostela. I am flying from LAX to Madrid then take a plane to Tolousse. I will take a train to Rocamadour to visit the black Madonna and then head to Lourdes before going to SJPDP where I will begin the walk. I have reserved a place to stay at L' Esprit du Chemin. They don't allow pilgrims to leave earlier than 6:30 am which concerns me whether I could get to Roncesvalles before 4 pm. I am bringing a thermarest mat and a sleeping bag just in case I don't get a bed at the next albergue and lie under the night sky. I will put every concern I have in God's hands and I am sure answers will come soon to all these questions. Perhaps, one of these blessings is your willingness to share your camino experience with first timers like me. Take care.
Always,
Edwin S.

[Larry]

My Friend Edwin

I'm sure you'll have a great time. Read your guide. There is a halfway point on the road to Roncevalles and there are many new, private albergues that I'm sure you'll be able to find room in. Just outside of Pamplona there is a great little alberque that is little used, run by three monks. Just after you cross the bridge over the river the Cofradia De La Santisima Trinidad De Arre. The monks can seem kind of gruff but they're really very, very nice. The showers are hot and have a great enclosed courtyard. The sound of the river over the falls is very soothing too. I'd attach a picture but I don't know how on this site. Pamplona is an easy walk from there and just as you cross the river again going into Pamplona there is a great albergue just outside the walls of the old city, run by two men from Germany. Very friendly and very nice.
You're going to have a great time, and don't worry about alone time, you'll get your fill. I so want to go back again. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Enjoy the passeo in the evening in Pamplona.
Buen Camino
Larry

[Edwin Saramosing]

Hi Larry,
Your experiences make me feel the need to really do the Camino this year. You mentioned that you completed the entire journey for 32 days. Did you have any rest stops in certain towns/cities and stayed more than a day? Would you recommend any city or town to spend more than a day and rest then enjoy the place? Or did you walk the entire distance and stayed only for a night in all albergues? I have alloted 37 days for the entire walking pilgrimage from SJPDP to Compostela. Did you happen to attend mass or service in any town? The monk experience is one thing I am looking forward to.
You are truly a camino inspiration! It would be nice if we get to try all the camino routes, but this all depends on a lot of factors like health/fitness and of course, budget. I enjoy reading your entries and you really encourage me of doing this journey. Take care and God bless.
Always,
Edwin S.

[Larry]

Edwin
So many questions all at once. Yes I did stay in some towns more than once. I planed as many days as the map I told you about suggested and then gave myself 4 more but, you see, I retired that year so I had lots of time. The most wonderful mass was at Roncevalles and Santiago. As for other places, well.........
You should know that the Way goes by EVERY church along the way. A lot of small villages are built upon hills so the trail goes up the hill, past the church (and the font) and then down the hill. A shortcut is to take a circular route around small villages....but then you'll miss little local idiosyncrasies; like the bread truck that comes into town sounding like an ambulance (scared the you-know-what out of me the first time). I stayed two nights in Estella (with the permission of the keeper of the alberque-be sure to ask) and the English lady friend I made had her 61st birthday while we were in Leon so I did something special for her (which is not repeatable on even a semi-open website like this) I took the train from Sagahun to Leon because my right knee was toast and a taxi for 10k to O'Cebreiro (a Celtic enclave in the highland of Spain) The Tunnel Way has always intrigued me.
Most days I only spent one day in each alberque and after I got into my grove that was all I needed. Everywhere there is SO much history and people are SO supportive and friendly; I just LOVE Spain.
You WILL come across evidence of Basque separatist movement. You WILL see a BIG bill board in the frontier stating "Take no pictures, Light no fires, we are watching you" in several languages and on the ridge crest you WILL see a MASSIVE fort. This is the Spanish army keeping track of things. Thank them; they are protecting you. The Spanish Police are not to be screwed with but they are, generally, the most helpful, friendly police I have ever met. If you get out of line they will tell you, ONCE. EVERYONE complies and, as with any foreign country a person travels in, a wise traveler does what they say. They are VERY unobtrusive and I never had any problems with them.

The service in Santiago on the holy days is very beautiful. Important: when you go behind the bust of the Saint-do so twice. The second time will be be, shall I say, extraordinary.

Study your map. Burgos is a 7 k trek to the old city from the airport IF you take a shortcut and don't follow the path. That was my longest day, 48 k.
You'll love it.

Larry

[Edwin Saramosing]

Thanks Larry for the postings you have made. It gets overwhelming knowing all these bits and pieces of information. I will take into account all your suggestions. Take care and have a great summer.

[BHinSanDiego]

Hi, I just returned from Europe on Tuesday evening to San Diego after traveling around to Germany and England visting friends I met on my Camino. I started on May 22nd in St Jean and completed my walk on June 23rd at 9:55 AM Santiago time, doing the Camino in 33 days. I had one rest day in Burgos, thought about more but never really needed them. The best part of the Camino to me was getting to know the people that I met along the Way, in life you never really get an opportunity to meet people in this manner, that is meeting them getting to walk with them, maybe not seeing them for 3, 5, 7 days or even longer but then they come back into your life. There was nothing like after resting and walking to the nearest bar and finding a friend, there are no lack of friends on the Camino. I only met 4 Americans on my walk and only one was also from California. I think it would be a great idea to have a group so count me in.