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[kath]

Just Do It

just got back after walking from Ponferrada to arive in Santiago for 25th July, Feast of St James. I am late 40s, overweight and not particularly fit. Living in Wales I am well used to mountains and sudden torrential rain and I didn't find the Camino Frances particularly arduous. Some days the temperature was 34+ which was energy sapping , I ran from tree shade to tree shade. Cooling down for 5 minutes helped a lot. I drank 3L of water every day and hardly needed to spend a penny. Each evening I thought my feet were too hot and sore to ever walk again, I was crippled. Its surprising how you recover by the next morning, everything stops hurting and you find you are able to just get on your boots and do it again each day until it becomes the normal thing to do. The Camino is like life, you just get on with its challenges or give up, miss out and gain nothing. Met loads of interesting pilgrims along the way all good spirited people which makes the walking much easier. You get carried akong with the spirit of it all. Initially I was dreading the whole thing and was a very reluctant pilgrim but I had a great time and surprised myself. If I can get up and walk each day, anybody can. Just do it peregrinos!
I also felt at home as Galicia is very much like Wales, very Celtic. The only problem I encountered was that vegetarianism is an alien concept, I didn't get to eat very much as meat and fish is the norm for this region yuk! I am therefore somewhat gutted because despite the combination of a daily 25Km hike and a starvation diet I didn't lose any weight at all. Buen Camino Prergrinos!

[lizzyjo42]

thank you so much for your response. did you do the 500 miles--30 days? I wasn't clear on that from your email.
thaks,
Liz

[Mambru]

Hello, I am new to this foro

I have walked and cycled several Caminos, the last one was from Granada to Santiago in May cycling.
The next one will be in Septembre, the Camino Franc?s, the first I walked.

It is a long time for me not writign in English, so, I am sure you will forgive my mistakes.

If there is anything I can do for you from Spain, let me know.

Ultreia et suseia

[cairde]

Hi Leslie,
Just came across your site......looks interesting.......have walked parts of the Camino Frances for the past 2 years ....... started in St. Jean both times........realised second time round it's not about getting to Santiago but really more about the journey we make with those we meet along the way (although when I was struggling to get over the Pyrenees in poor weather the second time it wasn't so readily apparent to me then).......heading back again next May for about 10 days with a few friends...... would hope to experience all that the Meseta brings to us.

Will be keeping in touch over the next few months.....hopefully can give a little advice to some peregrinos based on my journey todate

Sl?n,

[Alpal]

Hi Leslie
I started walking from Pau on April 3rd this year and finished at Finistere on May 15th. It was my first trip outside Australia, and what a way to start my travels! It was a great experience. I spent much of the trip with the delightful company of a Dubliner, and every day met unforgettable fellow pilgrims who inspired me, enthused me, and humbled me.
I hope to walk from Malaga to Compostela in April/May 2011, God willing. It is so long to wait! I will take my old back-pack and my old walking staff with me, but I will need new boots. The old faithfuls that took me on the long trails through northern Spain have just been retired to the cupboard, where they will stay warm and dry from now on.
To all of those contemplating going on one of the greatest adventures that ordinary folk like us can embark on, I wish you Buen Camino
Alan

[Snow Moon]

Hello,
I just signed up yesterday and started a thread re: riding Spanish Colonial of the Americas also known as Spanish Mustangs via the Camino Frances. I'm British living in southern Alberta, Canada for now and planning to move home to the UK in a couple of years bringing some of these amazing horses with me.
Great idea creating this forum to bring people together and I'm amazed at how many people have and continue to make the journey to Santiago de Compostelo.

[Meg]

Just saying Hi from Australia, I am so excited to find this forum My husband and I are hoping to travel to Spain next year to walk the Camino

[Rose]

I'm so excited- about to book the time off work to head out in April. Am scared of the blisters but I know it'll be worth it! I'm going to keep a journal so if anyone wants to read it let me know and I'll post it somewhere. It'll be my 27th birthday while I'm out there- what a great way to celebrate! Thanks for this site- it's so useful.

[Nightwalker]

Hi, this is the first forum I've ever written on so please excuse my lack of web etiquette...

I walked the Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago during September and October 2008 having driven in my car from Brighton, England.

What can I say? It was the hardest, most profound, exciting, painful, joyous experience of my life. Like most people I met along the way, I too had my reasons for walking - relationships, loss, career, health, existential questions - all were common themes among my fellow pilgrims. And when you're doing nothing but walking for 5 - 8 hours a day, everyday, for more than a month, you can't help but feel you are getting closer to some answers... Heady chats over some young Rioja wine and plenty of tapas also did their bit for self discovery!

I'm glad to find this forum. Thanks Leslie for your hard work in founding it. I've kept in touch with a few of my camino buddies around the world but in the true spirit of the camino, I'd be happy to share some insights, stories or just plain'old questions about what to carry.

Hasta luego.

NW

[Snow Moon]

Well done Nightwalker and it sounds like it was a most uplifitng experience for you in many ways. I'm the (some might say crazy) one who is planning to ride one of my Spanish Mustangs on the Camino and I know St Jean Pied de Port very well and have some happy memories of there. I've chosen the horse I plan to ride (Snow Moon, my mare, of course!) but I'd like to know - did you meet anyone travelling the Camino by horseback?
Hope you took some good photos. Agree - great forum.
SM

[exkimo]

I am looking to walk the trail in early april, but haven't found anyone to go with yet. Is anyone planning on it then? I am living in Spain for 4 months and would really like to hike sometime this spring!

[Jaola]

Hey everyone, I'm looking for someone to walk with between late April-June-ish in 2010 because my mum keeps freaking out about me going alone but none of my friends are crazy enough to come with me.

[cairde]

Hola Joala,
Tell your mum she can put her mind at rest.....if you choose to walk the Camino in 2010, you will find it to be one of the safest places you could journey alone, although within a very short time you will meet with and make some lifetime friendships. As a peregrino who heads back each year to walk the Camino and has neither heard of people experiencing problems with others on the route, nor indeed ever seen anyone encountering anything other than the goodness of fellow pilgrims freely giving their all to other travellers, I could only recommend to your mum to encourage you to undertake the journey.
Perhaps your mum might consider undertaking the journey with you? She would have no regrets. If your mum has any serious concerns, tell her to e-mail me and I will try to answer her queries and hopefully allay any concerns that she has.
Buen Camino

[Nicci]

Hi there
Im new to this - just found it today! im a huge fan of the camino having walked part of it in 2007 - walked from St. jean to puenta de la reina...will be back this june to go as far as Burgos...such a cool walking experience...did anyone stay at Jean Jacques at the top of the pyrennees..such a great spot..myself and my sis and her hubbie stayed in the tents out the back - was during sep when they had that freakish wet weather..Jean took care of us though...we loved the banquet dinner we got!would definately recommend staying there for anyone kicking off the trip...cant wait to go back in June.

Cool idea with the website Leslie

[peacefulsoul]

Hello,

Firstly I'd like to say thank you for this site. It has been a great source of information and inspiration for me. I am walking the Camino in May. Starting from Roncesvalles and hoping to walk it to the end... I have been planning it in my head for the past 7 years and now that its nearly here, I dont think i am anywhere near prepared. Whatever will be will be though and I am determined to walk and learn from this experience.
Thanks again and all the best.

Peace

[Hali]

Hello all!

Just found my way to this forum and am looking forward to spending lots of time going through all the information gathered here. Great website, Lesley!!!!
I'll be walking with my fianc? Ubbe and this will be our first camino experience.
We are a bit worried about the heat in July, it was the only time we could get away this year. It's also a worry that San Fermin is going on when we walk through Pamplona, we hope it will be possible to find place in one of the albergues in Cizur Menor.
I've already testpacked my backpack (the planning is so much fun!!!!) it weighs 3.5 kg which feels great on our training walks.

[Hali]

Oooops, sorry, I saw that the right spelling should be Leslie!

[sore feet]

I have just joined - I think the site is a really useful tool to communicate, keep in touch & share experiences & information. I am off to Galicia with some friends in July. We will start at Villafranca & end up in Santiago on July 23. Can anyone tell me or direct me to where I might get information on St James Feast Day? I want to know about religious services, processions, celebrations, festivities.......Really appreciate any help.

[green_tea]

Hello
I am a girl from Lithuania and after some coincidences I desided to walk Camino de Santiago from Paris to Santiago de Compostela together with my dog (she is going with me everythere I go). I found this forum and I think it is very useful - I am only in planing stage so I hope I will find many answers to my questions here

[PabloElFlamenco]

...wondering if I'm not slightly overextending in wishing to go all the way from St Jean Pied de Port to the Galician capital.
On 25th of August I should be sixty, and I'd like to leave home on the 26th, trying on the "3+1" (days walk+rest) principle I've read the Roman Legions used. Sounds more reasonable to me than walking each and every day for 30+ days on end.
The challenge appears daunting, but I've had the idea for years that this is something I'd like to do.
BTW, thanks for this forum, Leslie. I'm gathering plenty good information here, as well as some Spanish and one Flemish site I came accross.
Greetings to all
Pablo

[Snow Moon]

Hello Paul - if this is something you've wanted to do for years then go for it. Follow your dreams as life as I have discovered is way too short. As we get older planning sensibly is important too and I think your 3+1 idea is a good one.
My dream is to ride the camino on horseback as I've posted somewhere else on this forum as it too is something I've wanted to do for a long time for many of the pilgrims in the past travelled by horse - and I will do it.
Nice that you mentioned the Roman legions.
Good luck and you chose a nice time of year to set out on your journey.

[ken huocj]

Hola Pablo, In dec i'll have 7 more than you; i begin my 5 to 6 weeks Sept 11th, no 3+1, just a slower pace. Let me know where i can read more about your journey. Buen Camino

[PabloElFlamenco]

Thanks very much for your wishes, Ken.

In preparation for the camino, a lot of elements enter. Collecting "light" clothes, "light" items is one part of the activities.

A training program is another, like with almost 10 weeks to go I walked 3 hours on saturday, wearing my new boots, 50 minutes sunday (NOT wearing my new boots!), and this feet-on training program is of prime importance.

Changing your mind is another... To make it short, I've fixed it all up by booking a flight into Madrid for 26 August, and I know where to take the bus to Salamanca. I've asked the local camino federation to send me my credentials with departure point Salamanca. I know this city well: it's where I learned Spanish, and I consider that beautiful town "mine". Also, it's "only" 480 km from there to Santiago, via some of the latter stages of the Via de la Plata and, starting from Zamora, the camino Sanabr?s (also called the camino de Fonseca). This to avoid the reportedly large numbers of people on the "Franc?s". I can't see myself all stressed up in a competition to get a bed in a refugio. Part of my motivation is to deepen my knowledge of the castilian language; I expect there will be more spanish speakers on this less-known route.

I'm quite sceptical about being capable of doing some of those "over 30" kilometer stages. Right now, I'm reckoning with "20 a day". I guess I'll have to see how that works out in the actual event. All this is quite an adventure to me, and I'm not that adventurous a character.

I haven't made up my mind yet as to whether I will go "internet" on this enterprise. I could revive my dormant blog. Or not. I'll make up my mind later.

?Ya veremos!
Pablo

[Snow Moon]

Good luck with the trip Pablo and let us know if you decide to write up your blog.
Sarah
(Alberta, Canada)

[redrat]

Great site!
Going back to Espa?a this time I will walk not drive. I met people walking and the bug got into me, so I will be there in October and maybe I will meet one of you there.

[AMNUSA]

Hi Paul - I hope you have decided to walk the Camino this month. My husband and I (he was 76 and I was 64) walked the Camino from Roncesvalles to Santiago in 2006. It took us 35 walking days. We took only one extra day of rest in Burgos and Leon as we wanted to explore the cities. The following year 2007 we walked from St. Jean Pied du Port to Astorga but unfortunately had to stop because my husband got sick. In 2008 we walked the Camino del Norte from Irun to Ribadisella and then because of time restraints took the bus back to the CdF and walked the last 100K to Santiago. Unfortunately earlier this year after a tragic accident my husband passed away. But, here I am 67 years of age starting another Camino (Aragones) October 1st, joining CdF in Puenta la Reina and walking to Santiago. So, as you see, age has nothing to do with it. Just make sure you have put in some practice walking with your backpack before you go. Buen Camino

[PabloElFlamenco]

Hi all (and Amnusa, thanks).
Here's the blog I've been occasionally feeding for a while (and don't let the picture scare you - it was taken in the fantastic, wonderful museum of popular art in Mexico City)

You might visit the blog, as it contains "the latest"

pablo el flamenco

And, yes, I'll try to feed it during my camino.

Hasta luego, ?que les vaya bien!
Pablo

[Bex]

Hello, everyone. I'm new to the site. I haven't walked the camino yet. I will someday, just not sure when. I have two small children and I could not leave them for that long. Money is also an issue right now. Right now I trying to absorb any and all info that I can find. I love to hear about others experiences on the camino.

[Sohail]

My friends just got back from walking the pilgrim route from france and I am so inspired. I am intending to take six months off and start in Palermo Italy, I want to walk from there to Paris, then from Paris to Santiago de Compostela. I plan to read through the forums but if anyone has any advice about this I'd love to hear it.

Thanks,
Sohail

[Paula Canuck]

This is an inspiring place! I've wanted to walk the Camino ever since I heard about it 8 years ago.

I have a 3 year old daughter now and my husband and I don't have a lot of money either so it's going to be a while.

I do know exactly when we're going to do it though. I'd like to arrive on July 25, 2021 which will be the next Holy Year (after 2010) for the walk. It will also be my daughter's 15 birthday!

If I put away a buck a day for the next 11 years, we'll have about half of what we need. I figure we can fundraise the rest.