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  1. Caplen

    Hypothetical meeting

    .
  2. Caplen

    Couples that walk the camino together

    My guy is naturally a much faster hiker than me, but we always walk together. We might be in silence the whole way, but we want to experience our walks together, and take care of each other, physically and emotionally, when necessary. I did my first Caminos 12+ years ago, solo. I'm so excited...
  3. Caplen

    Why are we walking the camino?

    Just a thought or two about not overthinking..... Everything you need and everything you need to know is already inside of you. There is nothing particularly special about the Camino, except for the way it seems to prompt many to hear - learn to listen to? - that inner voice. But the voice...
  4. Caplen

    Prayer without words on the Camino ?

    I don't believe in prayer or "creation", per se, but silent, solitary walking - especially the repetition and rhythm of it, day after day - was certainly a beautiful daily meditation, no words required. It filled me with calm and peace and gratitude, and made me feel more connected to the...
  5. Caplen

    Bed bugs at Refugio Ave Fénix in Villafranca Oct 19, 2013

    Ha! That's a great visual - Jesus taking a blowtorch to his beds..... :) Yes, that must be very frustrating, a constant battle, often largely out of the hospitalero's control.
  6. Caplen

    Bed bugs at Refugio Ave Fénix in Villafranca Oct 19, 2013

    This doesn't surprise me about Ave Fenix. I stayed there 12 and 13 years ago, and the place - and Jesus the hospitalero - are full of character. And he is a bit of a hard-headed, crazy man. I remember some very spirited conversations with him (he did not approve of my vegetarianism at the...
  7. Caplen

    Ciao?!

    My partner Carlos and his family are from Colombia, and they all say "ciao". Interesting that is the case in Spain too. It wasn't, to the best of my recollection, 13 years ago.
  8. Caplen

    Reasons why we take the Way of Saint James

    I walk because I have always felt compelled to walk. Can't quite explain it. But my greatest challenge in daily life and in walking life is to live in the moment, enjoy the journey. Walking is my meditation, and my challenge to "be here now". Walking is grounding for me, and illuminates...
  9. Caplen

    bed bugs 2013

    Hmmm, the headline of that article doesn't exactly match the content of it. The article actually cautions against over-reliance on the effectiveness of any consumer remedies, including the chemical pesticide Steri-Fab. All the article is really saying is that serious infestations require...
  10. Caplen

    Camino & the world's greatest walks?

    My Caminos have been 2 of the greatest walks I've ever done. But hiking between refugios on a populated path is a completely different experience than my other greatest walk. August 2012 I hiked the High Sierra Trail from the Giant Sequoia Forest to the top of Mt. Whitney (highest US peak in...
  11. Caplen

    Unplugging

    Very well said! I'm of that generation as well. I still do plenty of backcountry hiking where, even in 2013, there are no signals and no point in lugging a phone along anyway. Left to my own devices (pun intended), and I have so far survived to tell the stories. And I walked my first Caminos...
  12. Caplen

    Unplugging

    I don't think anyone here is trying to talk anyone out of (or into) anything. It's all just food for thought. It's good for people (I include myself in that) to be challenged to examine their fears, motivations, priorites, needs/desires, perspectives...... I've been really motivated by a...
  13. Caplen

    Smoking?

    Smokers are not harmed or harassed by clean air. But when a smoker smokes, so does everyone around them. A smoker's "rights" include the freedom to smoke away from those who do not wish to smoke. A smoker does not have to leave the area if it is full of clean air like a nonsmoker who cares...
  14. Caplen

    Smoking?

    I find the idea of "smokers' rights" to be.... perplexing and laughable. One's "rights" do not extend over the line of infringing on someone else's rights, as smoking necessarily does! Imagine - an alcoholic sitting down next to a non-drinker in a public area and not just downing a bottle of...
  15. Caplen

    Smoking?

    Gee, that's nice. Though isn't smoking one of the factors that leads to snoring and all its related health issues? Me, personally, I'm not as concerned about the snoring. That's just one of the relatively lesser health and quality of life issues with smoking. But no "yummy" smell is ever...
  16. Caplen

    Smoking?

    disgusting
  17. Caplen

    Smoking?

    Hmmm, I tend to find clean air more "refreshing". It's a top reason why I hike. :D Yay for Canada! Texas anti-smoking zealot here. But I could be considered biased since I'm currently watching both my parents die slow, painful respiratory/cancer related deaths due to lifetimes of smoking. I...
  18. Caplen

    Unplugging

    Yes, they can be. And I'm always looking for new ones. But I hope that many may also consider taking up the challenge of "fasting" from technology while on the Camino. As an old-school peregrina, I can attest to the fact that survival is likely, even sans IPad or daily WiFi. And the...
  19. Caplen

    Unplugging

    When I walked in 2000 (Autumn-Frances) and 2001 (Summer-Norte/Frances/Finisterre), there was virtually no technology to be found on the Camino. I only occasionally saw a cell phone being charged at a refugio, and only a couple of times saw a peregrino walking and talking on a cell (which...
  20. Caplen

    Camino Negatives

    I walked the Frances in early September to early November of 2000. Saw every kind of weather. Literally. Every kind. Mostly cool, some very cold, and a couple days of a heat wave. Rain, pouring rain, deluge. One light rain day walking along vineyard dirt roads all day had a sucking mud. All...

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