New Pilgrim 2020

[Janetlee]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

Hello, Janet, and a warm welcome to the Forum.

Here is a link which also may be of help as you begin: Australian Friends of the Camino

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:

1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.

 

[henrythedog]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

Physically meet ? Not sure

Virtually meet? You’re in the right place.

At the risk of sounding boring:

1. Buy and read a guidebook.

There are many. I found Brierley accessible and sufficiently clear first time I did the Camino Frances.

2. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s complicated or overly difficult.

Apart from 3 of the 33’ish days on the whole Camino Frances it's a village-to-village walk through one of the most developed countries on the planet with a good number of like-minded people all going the same way as you.

If you stay on here long enough you’ll start weighing your underwear with electronic scales and believing that you must buy pacer poles / Osprey rucksacks / a specialist camera for blogging your packing list ...

 

[lt56ny]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

I think that both Dave and Henry gave you sage advice. There is little that goes unanswered for a new pilgrim here on this forum. So do follow Dave's advice regarding navigating the Forum and getting information. The "problem" may be you will get way too much information and as a new pilgrim your brain may go into overload. So follow Henry's advice and don't overthink everything.
I will just add this advice, walk your own camino, listen to your body not your head. Your body will tell you everything. The two most important things are taking care of your feet and having a backpack that fits you correctly. Check davebugg's feet and footwear advice. There may not be any person on earth that knows this better than Dave. Your feet are your babies when you walk. One shoe size larger and love them daily. One final thing. I still get freaked out before I start a camino. I have walked 4 already and walked about 4,000 k. But remember this, once you start walking all your fears and questions will slowly drift away. For me as soon as I hit the first big hill I forget all about what I was fearful of and start cursing the hill and asking myself why do I keep doing this to myself. When I get to the top I remember why. It may take you about a week to get there. Maybe even less if you listen to yourself, and I sure don't mean what is in your brain. Buen Camino

 

[Janetlee]

Physically meet ? Not sure

Virtually meet? You’re in the right place.

At the risk of sounding boring:

1. Buy and read a guidebook.

There are many. I found Brierley accessible and sufficiently clear first time I did the Camino Frances.

2. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s complicated or overly difficult.

Apart from 3 of the 33’ish day’s on the whole Camino Frances it's a village-to-village walk through one of the most developed countries on the planet with a good number of like-minded people all going the same way as you.

If you stay on here long enough you’ll start weighing your underwear with electronic scales and believing that you must buy pacer poles / Osprey rucksacks / a specialist camera for blogging your packing list ...

Thank you for your comments I’ll take it on board esp last paragraph;-)

 

[Janetlee]

Hello, Janet, and a warm welcome to the Forum.

Here is a link which also may be of help as you begin: Australian Friends of the Camino

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:

1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.

Thankyou Dave for your informative reply, it’s all so new albeit exciting great advice.
Regards
Janet

 

[Janetlee]

I think that both Dave and Henry gave you sage advice. There is little that goes unanswered for a new pilgrim here on this forum. So do follow Dave's advice regarding navigating the Forum and getting information. The "problem" may be you will get way too much information and as a new pilgrim your brain may go into overload. So follow Henry's advice and don't overthink everything.
I will just add this advice, walk your own camino, listen to your body not your head. Your body will tell you everything. The two most important things are taking care of your feet and having a backpack that fits you correctly. Check davebugg's feet and footwear advice. There may not be any person on earth that knows this better than Dave. Your feet are your babies when you walk. One shoe size larger and love them daily. One final thing. I still get freaked out before I start a camino. I have walked 4 already and walked about 4,000 k. But remember this, once you start walking all your fears and questions will slowly drift away. For me as soon as I hit the first big hill I forget all about what I was fearful of and start cursing the hill and asking myself why do I keep doing this to myself. When I get to the top I remember why. It may take you about a week to get there. Maybe even less if you listen to yourself, and I sure don't mean what is in your brain. Buen Camino

Wow great advice thank you so much support I feel better already I plan to walk May 2020 perhaps go a little earlier to familiarise myself. (Hoping this is s good time of year)
So roughly 33 weeks to prepare I look forward to reading as much as I can but not overload. , and will be great to go to meeting in October....
thankyou so much

 

[JMac56]

Hi Janet,
There is a Meetup group for Camino walkers in Brisbane. They meet every month. I'm sure they would make you welcome. Buen Camino.

 

[Janetlee]

Hi Janet,
There is a Meetup group for Camino walkers in Brisbane. They meet every month. I'm sure they would make you welcome. Buen Camino.

Thankyou I will look it up

 

[Kanga]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

Janet I see you have found the local group. This forum has so much information but it does take a while to learn to navigate!

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Welcome to the Forum Janet

Short notice but there’s going to be a wonderful Camino Conference held in Adelaide next month with a workshop on ‘Introduction to Walking the Camino’. It’s residential and very reasonably priced.

Otherwise all the information provided here - plus the local group - will have you well prepared.

 

[Sandra R]

Hello I am planning to walk Camino May 2020, I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I was hoping there was a group of like minded people who might meet to discuss previous walks future walks and just general information that could help me plan.
Thank you
Janet

Hello Janet- I too am planning my first Camino Frances in May 2020. I am so excited about it and finding this forum a wealth of information. I’m from Central Coast NSW - maybe I’ll see you on the way I’m starting in St Jean beginning of May cheers Sandra

 

[Kanga]

@Sandra R there are local groups in Sydney and the Central Coast - see here if you want to meet up with others who may be heading off in May 2020, or to get some face to face support from experienced pilgrims. The Sydney group meets regularly on the first Saturday of each month - follow this link for details. I think the central coast group regularly go for a walk followed by a coffee or other beverage, but you may need to contact David Barrett or one of the other admins from their Facebook page to get further information.

 

[Janetlee]

Hello Janet- I too am planning my first Camino Frances in May 2020. I am so excited about it and finding this forum a wealth of information. I’m from Central Coast NSW - maybe I’ll see you on the way I’m starting in St Jean beginning of May cheers Sandra

Hi Sandra - yes I too am excited and so happy to be able to connect to this forum. I’ve also found a local Camino group on FB that do walks I can’t wait to start training.
I’m starting in St Jean as well hoping to commence 1st of May? So yes maybe we will cheers Janet

 

[Sandra R]

@Sandra R there are local groups in Sydney and the Central Coast - see here if you want to meet up with others who may be heading off in May 2020, or to get some face to face support from experienced pilgrims. The Sydney group meets regularly on the first Saturday of each month - follow this link for details. I think the central coast group regularly go for a walk followed by a coffee or other beverage, but you may need to contact David Barrett or one of the other admins from their Facebook page to get further information.

Thanks- I am in the central coast group it is great Cheers Sandra