Looking for a walk partner

[roxannewellens]

Hi,

I'm Roxanne, an 18 year old woman from Belgium and I leave the 4th of Augstus to walk the Camino Frances from Sint Jean Pied de Port.

Recently, many people warned me for problems on the road, specifically with men.
That's why I'd feel more safe when I knew someone to walk with or behind.

Let me know!

 

[SabsP]

Hi,

I'm Roxanne, an 18 years old woman from Belgium and I leave the 4th of Augstus to walk the Camino Frances from Sint Jean Pied de Port.

Recently, many people warned me for problems on the road, specifically with men.
That's why I'd feel more safe when I knew someone to walk with or behind.

Let me know!

Hi Roxanne, fellow Belgium! Hallo and bonjour!

Don't try to worry too much starting alone. The 4th of August is still high season when it comes to the Camino. I don't have any doubt that from Saint Jean on you will meet lovely people and you could ask them if they would feel ok that you join them.
When it comes to safety : be vigilant like you would be in Belgium. Yes there have been incidents towards women on the Camino but normal vigilance and common sense will help you. Like I said for the longer and more remote stretches : try to make some arrangements with the pilgrims you will be walking that particular day.
If the Camino learned me one thing : pilgrims do look out for each other.

Warning from me who could be your mum : try to make some arrangements with the homefront in regard to calling home, texting or whatsapp so people at home can have some peace of mind. It is easy in the Camino flow to forget about time etc...but trust me the homefront will be less anxious if you talk it through with them.


Good luck!!!

 

[roxannewellens]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your reply.
Your answer and tips make me feel more at peace.
When it comes to my family, we should make an arrangement indeed. They're so worried, that they even think I'll never return home. So they scare me as well!

Thanks again
love Roxanne

 

[SabsP]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your reply.
Your answer and tips make me feel more at peace.
When it comes to my family, we should make an arrangement indeed. They're so worried, that they even think I'll never return home. So they scare me as well!

Thanks again
love Roxanne

Cheers Roxanne! Please free to do a PM to me if needed. And you can also add your name on the Calendar here on the forum https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/calendar/

And important in life and on the Camino : Trust your instincts. If you feel in any way unsafe or uncertain in a situation or with a person : walk away from it!

Have fun en amuseer je.

S.

 

[MinaKamina]

Hi Roxanne, you can also download the alert-cops app on your phone

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/alert-cops.36208/
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/alert-cops.36208/
Buen Camino!

 

[tylerpsych]

Hey Roxanne,

I'll jump in with what everyone else is saying. Be as mindful as you would be back home, but don't lose any sleep over it. I'll be walking on August 3rd, but I'm taking the Camino del Norte. I walked the Camino Frances about 3 years ago by myself, and I can't tell you how many young women I met along the way that were walking "alone". I will tell you from my own experience at least, I didn't make it much past Roncevalles before I had a walking partner (a 25 y/o woman from Romania), and by the time I hit Pamplona I had my own Perigrino family. Keep in mind this was in April, when things are much slower. So I'd be shocked if you made it more than a day or two without someone to walk with.

Buen Camino!

 

[Rick M]

Just like at home, the vast majority of people are good, honest, and decent. The Camino is mostly filled with those people. While you may feel very alone at the beginning, you are not. Your fellow pilgrims are also alone, and there is a strong tradition of pilgrims looking out for each other. If you are really nervous, find a group (it won't be hard) and tag along with them. When we did the Camino, one particularly nervous German girl we met "adopted" an older man from the UK, and traveled with him. I expect he welcomed the company, and she welcomed the security. Neither is in short supply on the Camino.

 

[notion900]

I got to the airport in Bayonne, saw another girl with a backpack, and jokingly said 'are you going all the way?'. She said 'yes, are you?' I was too and we walked together up to Burgos. It's that easy. Lovely Natascha is back in Honduras and we catch up occasionally on Facebook.

 

[Felipe]

If you spend the night in an albergue, you will know other pilgrims with whom you can walk next day.
In my experience, young people form easily merry groups. They walk together and care for each other.
The stage from Saint Jean to Roncesvalles will be quite crowded in early August. There will be people before and behind you, at short distance, all the time.
Buen camino!

 

[bunnymac]

Hi,

I'm Roxanne, an 18 years old woman from Belgium and I leave the 4th of Augstus to walk the Camino Frances from Sint Jean Pied de Port.

Recently, many people warned me for problems on the road, specifically with men.
That's why I'd feel more safe when I knew someone to walk with or behind.

Let me know!

A good tip if you intend to walk alone is to leave early in the morning. That way you almost always have someone behind you. I have made my three Camino trips alone and the only time I have felt a little insecure is when I slept in late (9am) and walked almost the entire day alone. I'll be a couple of days behind you on my next trip.

 

[jadalmiro]

I will also start from SJPP on 6th of August. Since I will arrive very late I suppose I will spend the night resting in Valcarlos.
As the other guys told, you will find very nice people on the way.
Buen Camino!

 

[roxannewellens]

Thank you all for your kind and helpful messages.
I hope to meet the ones of you who are walking the camino as well.
Lots of love