- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23
This really would make an interesting Poll I think, but I'll resist
For many of us, a Camino is best undertaken as a Solitary journey.
At least at the start.
And if we meet 'kindred spirits' along the way that may change for a period.......or the rest of the Camino.
Yet others, like nothing better than setting out with friends, relatives, loved ones (not necessarily one and the same)
I've tried both.
Has your Camino been 'shaped' by others? For better? For worse?
Here are some examples to kick things off.
Setting out with Partner/Spouse. Been there, done that. Whilst it was still a great experience it was very different. In my head at least, it became 'their' Camino not mine. I had already had the benefit of a lone Camino and this one was for them to have the best experience possible. And Yes, at times I resented it! We have agreed that if we do this again, we may walk separately through the day and meet up at the end of the day.
But I have seen others make it work.
Setting out with Friends. I've never done this and I'm not sure I would risk it given my experience above. But I have seen other life long friendships crack under the pressure! I think it would need a strong set of 'ground rules'.
Pilgrims you meet along the way. I think this is the most interesting and to a degree unexpected impact. In a truly 'Camino driven' way.
Your best laid plans may be dashed by the amazing people you meet.
So have how your 'plans' changed, as a result of who you met?
For many of us, a Camino is best undertaken as a Solitary journey.
At least at the start.
And if we meet 'kindred spirits' along the way that may change for a period.......or the rest of the Camino.
Yet others, like nothing better than setting out with friends, relatives, loved ones (not necessarily one and the same)
I've tried both.
Has your Camino been 'shaped' by others? For better? For worse?
Here are some examples to kick things off.
Setting out with Partner/Spouse. Been there, done that. Whilst it was still a great experience it was very different. In my head at least, it became 'their' Camino not mine. I had already had the benefit of a lone Camino and this one was for them to have the best experience possible. And Yes, at times I resented it! We have agreed that if we do this again, we may walk separately through the day and meet up at the end of the day.
But I have seen others make it work.
Setting out with Friends. I've never done this and I'm not sure I would risk it given my experience above. But I have seen other life long friendships crack under the pressure! I think it would need a strong set of 'ground rules'.
Pilgrims you meet along the way. I think this is the most interesting and to a degree unexpected impact. In a truly 'Camino driven' way.
- I have walked much too fast for my poor legs and way too far in one day, just to keep up and enjoy the conversation with an amazing young man originally from Galicia. To use that old saying we 'put the World to rights' as we walked. The meaning of the Camino, religion, politics, global warming........... one of those 'instant connections' where you could talk into the wee hours about anything and everything. In the end, I just couldn't keep up LOL.
- I changed my planned stages a bit so that I could walk with a retired teacher from Texas. Another of those very fast and very deep 'camino connections'. Whilst staying in different places, we would usually meet up for dinner, and agree a starting point and time for the following day. sometimes walk together or meet at coffee stops along the way. That lasted about a week, until injury on her part caused me to be the one to move ahead and lose touch.
- The Camino family. I was on the periphery of a couple on my first Camino. Many of them stayed in the same Albergues, a few of us were in various private accomodations. As one family moved ahead of me, I fell in with another. Then they moved ahead and I finished the last 10 days or so alone. That was quite nice. We would stay connected on whatsapp. And at the end of the day people would announce what town they were in, who was with them, where they were having dinner. That had a small influence on my stopping points, and certainly on my dinner location choices, as it was nice to share meals with them. But the 'families' got quite large, and I'm more comfortable in smaller groups.....
- Injury Status. Above all, that tends to dictate how far I plan to walk each day.
- Mindset/Emotion. Some days I just want to dawdle, others I'm up for more of a challenge.
- Other Pilgrims. Those can be the most pleasant impacts on the best laid plans.......and I think provide the 'secret sauce' to what makes the Camino so special.
Your best laid plans may be dashed by the amazing people you meet.
So have how your 'plans' changed, as a result of who you met?
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