Sue L
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sept/Oct 2015 Le Puy - to Conques, Tui - Santiago. May/June 2017 Conques to SJPP
Four months after completing the Le Puy route (Conques to SJPP) we're ready to think about the next one. No question there's a next one cause this is what we do. But how do you move on from a truly amazing experience? We were incredibly blessed to meet inspiring, wonderful, funny people along the way. Camino angels came in all shapes and forms. Will never forget the driver of the black mercedes who offered us a lift when blisters got the better of us. He and his wife shared the driving/walking and so he was waiting up a very big hill when we staggered over the peak. Despite our being covered in mud, he welcomed us (with boots in plastic bags) onto his cushy leather seats for a delightful 4 km to town. And when we arrived the Gite owner bathed my partner's feet, bandaged his blisters, then poured large glasses of a very nice red for everyone to share.
Nor shall we forget the gentle man who walked holding his wife's hand all the way to guide her along the trail and through her dementia fog.
Every day we walked for someone special and were going to walk for ourselves on our last day into SJPP but over dinner on our last night met an elderly French couple who told us about their grandson who'd been killed by his father. Despite language difficulties they were able to share their story with us. And so we walked for them on our last day. The end of our Camino in SJPP just made sense when we we spotted them poking their heads out of their hotel window as we walked to the train station to depart. Our last Camino memory will be this lovely couple who rushed down to the station to say farewell. It was a teary goodbye.
We loved the people, the scenery, the food, the wine and even managed to find things to say about cornfields and more cornfields and then more cornfields. Felt so chuffed to finish feeling fitter and stronger than when we started - even lost a little weight!
It had been two years since our first Camino (Le Puy to Conques then Tui to Santiago) and this year it was physically harder and took longer to get to that place where you are not focused on sore feet etc. The heatwave didn't help. So we think shorter stages and very light packs (plus serious training of course!) are the secret to completing our next Camino.
We'd wondered about doing the Portuguese Camino simply because we enjoyed our post-Santiago experience there, but am confused about whether it will be something we would enjoy having read conflicting stories on this Forum about too much road walking, poor signage - or conversely that it is fine. We're a bit hopeless with technology so appreciate a well marked route. The Frances? The Norte? In terms of interactions with others we thought Le Puy was perfect for us as it wasn't too crowded but we had enough opportunity to mix with others to make it just right. We met a Pilgrim (funnily enough he arrived at the junction of the Le Puy, Paris and Vezelay routes just as we did) from the Vezelay route but he hadn't met another Pilgrim for weeks. So not really what we are seeking.
We will keep reading and learning as much as possible about the different routes because at the end of the day only we can decide what suits us, but I was keen to learn what influenced your thinking in choosing certain routes over others? And we know that you can't and in fact don't want to assume what the Camino will give can be based on the prior experience of others. We are also undecided about whether it will be April/May or September/October (would love to do one in each but that's a little ambitious). Appreciate your thoughts.
Nor shall we forget the gentle man who walked holding his wife's hand all the way to guide her along the trail and through her dementia fog.
Every day we walked for someone special and were going to walk for ourselves on our last day into SJPP but over dinner on our last night met an elderly French couple who told us about their grandson who'd been killed by his father. Despite language difficulties they were able to share their story with us. And so we walked for them on our last day. The end of our Camino in SJPP just made sense when we we spotted them poking their heads out of their hotel window as we walked to the train station to depart. Our last Camino memory will be this lovely couple who rushed down to the station to say farewell. It was a teary goodbye.
We loved the people, the scenery, the food, the wine and even managed to find things to say about cornfields and more cornfields and then more cornfields. Felt so chuffed to finish feeling fitter and stronger than when we started - even lost a little weight!
It had been two years since our first Camino (Le Puy to Conques then Tui to Santiago) and this year it was physically harder and took longer to get to that place where you are not focused on sore feet etc. The heatwave didn't help. So we think shorter stages and very light packs (plus serious training of course!) are the secret to completing our next Camino.
We'd wondered about doing the Portuguese Camino simply because we enjoyed our post-Santiago experience there, but am confused about whether it will be something we would enjoy having read conflicting stories on this Forum about too much road walking, poor signage - or conversely that it is fine. We're a bit hopeless with technology so appreciate a well marked route. The Frances? The Norte? In terms of interactions with others we thought Le Puy was perfect for us as it wasn't too crowded but we had enough opportunity to mix with others to make it just right. We met a Pilgrim (funnily enough he arrived at the junction of the Le Puy, Paris and Vezelay routes just as we did) from the Vezelay route but he hadn't met another Pilgrim for weeks. So not really what we are seeking.
We will keep reading and learning as much as possible about the different routes because at the end of the day only we can decide what suits us, but I was keen to learn what influenced your thinking in choosing certain routes over others? And we know that you can't and in fact don't want to assume what the Camino will give can be based on the prior experience of others. We are also undecided about whether it will be April/May or September/October (would love to do one in each but that's a little ambitious). Appreciate your thoughts.