LIVE from the Camino Hello from the Camino

[trecile]

I'm now 11 days and about 240km/150 miles into the Camino. For about the first week I was walking with a nice little Camino 'family', but we have become scattered. Two of the group had to take a couple of days rest. I think that the heat got to them. One guy walked on farther than the group. Another joined a group of younger people closer to his age, then two days ago I was feeling like I was becoming too dependent on the remaining two, a married couple. I wasn't having to make my own decisions, or find my own way. Plus, they had decided to take a slower pace than I wanted to for a few days.

So now I'm in search of new walking partners, which I'm sure I'll find. But I'm already feeling nostalgic for the early days of my Camino.

I'm also very grateful for all the good advice I got from this forum. Love my Pacer Poles and my hands free umbrella! And I thoroughly enjoyed staying at Corazon Puro and Orisson.

The two merino wool dresses I made for the Camino are wonderful to walk and sleep in. If you see a woman with Pacer Poles wearing a dress with an umbrella attached to her pack, it's me!

 

[C clearly]

Good to hear from you! Have you tested your Parcho yet?

I know what you mean about feeling that you are becoming too dependent on the same companions. On one trip I forced myself to separate from a group of extremely nice people, because I was beginning to feel that I was at summer camp. That isn't what I wanted. It is good to go through the experience of being on your own again, with the good and the bad, and finding new people you like or don't like.

 

[trecile]

Good to hear from you! Have you tested your Parcho yet?

I know what you mean about feeling that you are becoming too dependent on the same companions. On one trip I forced myself to separate from a group of extremely nice people, because I was beginning to feel that I was at summer camp. That isn't what I wanted. It is good to go through the experience of being on your own again, with the good and the bad, and finding new people you like or don't like.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I was wondering if I made a mistake by separating, and I may not have if the original group had stayed more intact. I am in contact with my friends from that group, so I can always arrange to meet them somewhere along the way, though that would probably require that I spend a day or two longer at some spot.
I have a goal in mind as to the day I want to reach Santiago or Finesterre, so I'd have to weigh that desire against the desire to meet up with them.
But I still have weeks to go.

As far as the Parcho goes , I have used it just as a makeshift pack cover, and it worked well for that. The couple that I was walking with had Packs, and I have to say that they are very nice. The price tag was pretty steep on those though. But after the time it took me to make the Parcho I can see that the Packa may be worth the price. It is very well designed, and much lighter than an Altus.

 

[SYates]

@trecile Remember always you walk your Camino (not in the sense that you own the Camino, but in the sense to walk the Camino which is right for you at that given moment) As much as you like your initial Camino family, the Camino will provide other opportunities to connect or re-connect. Just one step at a time ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[VNwalking]

Hola, @trecile!
That's the spirit: trust and walk....
It's so easy to hang on and much harder to let go into the flow. But you have! Wonderful.
There will be other 'families,' but in the end you have to walk your own walk at your own pace and in your own company. Walking this way is so empowering and confidence-building and deepening...and holding onto nothing, everything comes.
Buen Camino and ultreia!

 

[Annie Little]

I'm also very grateful for all the good advice I got from this forum. Love my Pacer Poles and my hands free umbrella! And I thoroughly enjoyed staying at Corazon Puro and Orisson.

So good to hear you are having a great time .
Does anyone know if the handsfree umbrella can be purchased in St Jean ?

Thanks
Anne

 

[RobertS26]

Just think of the wonderful reunions you'll have down the Camino when you run into members of your original family. Those moments are so precious.

 

[gerardcarey]

Does anyone know if the handsfree umbrella can be purchased in St Jean ?
Thanks, Anne

Hi Annie,
I note Ivar lists one model on the forum shop.
I would imagine he could forward to your accommodation address.
You'd need of course to organise this with them in advance.
Regards
Gerard

 

[Dancing Rain]

We walked at a very different pace to most (very slow), and yet we collected up our own dispersed and precious Camino family. Some we didn't meet until after Sarria. Others we met early, they departed, and somehow in the mystery of it all we reconnected in Santiago or Finesterre. I came to understand more of how in our lives on this planet we meet, we join, we part, and with some our paths entwine in beautiful and unexpected ways. A vast mysterious labyrinth.

 

[Stephen]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

 

[Jakke]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

Hi Stephen! I certainly have. I can think of one reason. I grew up in Holland and moved to Finland in 1972. Each new name in a strange language was a new word to learn. That soon became impossible. So I switched off. Unfortunately, that switch stayed off and I have a hard time remembering any names. The funny thing is, I remember some names and tend to forget others like you do. I'd just admit it. Or go for the white lie: "What was your name again?" Answer: "John". Your reply: "Of course I knew that. But your surname?"

 

[VNwalking]

@Stephen, the comforting thing is that you're not the only one who is experiencing this! The people whose names you've forgotten? They've forgotten yours too, probably. The Camino is such a great leveler.

 

[wayfarer]

People will come and go throughout your Camino trecile, the important thing IMO is to get contact details of the ones you really like and connect with. I still deeply regret not having done this with a few I met.
Enjoy it all.
Buen Camino.

 

[Annie Little]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

Are you kidding ? Happens every day to me .... No one seems to mind

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

Names are merely labels... I'll bet that you remember who they are and the experiences that you've shared and THAT'S far more important

 

[kristeL]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

Hi Stephen
Yes I know this too. My trick was to ask names twice and then I really could remember them better. Asking it the second time I just explained myself that I need to ask it twice to be able to remember and then You get a big smile back ;-)
Buen Camino

 

[gerardcarey]

It also h

Hi Stephen
Yes I know this too. My trick was to ask names twice and then I really could remember them better. Asking it the second time I just explained myself that I need to ask it twice to be able to remember and then You get a big smile back ;-)
Buen Camino

It also helps if you say the name out loud, maybe even twice.
Like, "Bill Smith eh? Pleased to meet you Bill Smith."
Looking directly at the person's face while saying this helps reinforce the connection between the name and the face.
Regards
Gerard

 

[Jakke]

Hi Stephen
Yes I know this too. My trick was to ask names twice and then I really could remember them better. Asking it the second time I just explained myself that I need to ask it twice to be able to remember and then You get a big smile back ;-)
Good Way [/ QUOTE]
Exactly. They smile because the experience is all too common - probably also to them.

 

[domigee]

Are you kidding ? Happens every day to me .... No one seems to mind

Same, but ...my children mind...when I mix THEIR names

 

[trecile]

On the long, hot walk between Burgos and Hontanas yesterday I could have sold a dozen umbrellas! If someone set up a stand selling them they could make a fortune.

 

[Waka]

May the good weather last your whole journey.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm meeting some nice people along the Camino. We introduce ourselves and I'm ashamed to say within minutes their names have gone from my head. I think the heat must be frying my brain. (
Has anyone else experienced the likes of this?

I'm bad at this too. I have a solution that I haven't had the guts to try because, while I like taking pictures, I'm reserved when it comes to taking pictures of people.

I've thought of taking one of those kid's sketch pads with a wax base layer, a grey plastic cover for it and a clear plastic cover over that. You know, you write on the top layer and then you pull up on the top sheets to erase things. So, the idea is that you ask to take their picture and then you do it again with their name and their (or family's) email written down "so you can send a copy of the first photo" when you get to wifi.

Can come in handy writing down information about scenery shots too.

 

[Adrian Metcalf]

Arrived at Molinaseca today after the walk down from the Cruz de Ferro. Weather still fantastic. Being a religious holiday hard to find the Pilgrim meal but had a superb main course in the town. Another religious procession tonight.
Met a number of people today. We started at Leon so takes time to realise who you are walking with.
Hard day tomorrow 32 Kms. Enjoying the whole experience.

 

[Adrian Metcalf]

I did ask about footwear in a forum topic months ago and have to say the Salomon trail runners have been superb. 4 days in and no blisters.
Really pleased no boots. Thanks for all the advice. We took it.