Post Camino Frances Update and Thank You

[Hilarious]

To all the wonderful forum members?
We did it! Arrived in Santiago on Saturday, 26 October. Our Camino from SJPdP to SdC was simply amazing. I am lost for words (which is quite unusual). Still processing it all now I am back in Australia.

I don’t know if you experience this - when people ask me what it’s like I find it a challenge to explain. The amazing scenery, the sense of community and the wonderful and inspiring people you meet, the kindness of the local people and your fellow pilgrims. It really doesn’t do it justice. I end up by saying that if the Camino calls to you, it won’t let you go. You simply have to do it - at least once!

I know one of my Camino lessons is to learn to accept help. After slipping over in the rain leaving Leon (and breaking my right wrist - not that I knew it at the time - I thought sprain). Walking two more days to Astorga, Doctor then detour by taxi to Ponferrada Hospital for re-alignment under local anaesthetic (I don’t recommend this - when they asked if I was allergic to anything I should have said pain!), plaster cast then taxi back to Rabanal del Camino.

Due to wet and slippery conditions and only one arm we ended up taking two more taxis - from Rabanel to Molinaseca and from La Faba to Triacastela. So grateful I could walk all of the rest.

Thank you all for your sage advice - as a result my gear performed a treat, no blisters or musculoskeletal problems with feet, legs, back etc.

If you want to see my vlogs just type my name - Hilary Jones Rowan into the search bar on YouTube (sorry couldn’t get the link to work) hope they bring back memories for you or inspire those thinking - can I do this?

Buen Camino for wherever life takes you.

 

[GlendaMac]

Well done Hilary. Even a broken wrist didn’t slow you down. I have 5 months to go for my own first taste of the Camino life, and hope my experience is as great as yours (minus the injury) .

 

[AndrewDavOz]

Well done, I was a few weeks ahead of you, arrived at SdC on 8th October. You did well, keeping on walking despite the injury. I saw a few injured people, some had to go home, others stayed the distance.
You can update your status now to show you have completed CF!
regards, Andrew

 

[Former member 49149]

Well done, and thanks for your report. As said above, even your injury did not deter you - no joke when putting on and taking off your pack, of whatever size. Let me guess: another camino somewhere in the future???

 

[martin1ws]

To all the wonderful forum members?
We did it! Arrived in Santiago on Saturday, 26 October. Our Camino from SJPdP to SdC was simply amazing. I am lost for words (which is quite unusual). Still processing it all now I am back in Australia.

Well done!

Here is a link to your youtube video channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-scTwzjaaaDfnsc2VCQuSg

I don’t know if you experience this - when people ask me what it’s like I find it a challenge to explain. The amazing scenery, the sense of community and the wonderful and inspiring people you meet, the kindness of the local people and your fellow pilgrims. It really doesn’t do it justice. I end up by saying that if the Camino calls to you, it won’t let you go. You simply have to do it - at least once!...

It was on the Camino Aragones after my first week on the camino... I sat in a bar with 5 Spanish pilgrims and again I could not follow their conservation because of my poor Spanish. I looked in their faces and they all seemed so content, so pleased...
and I asked in Spanish "How can you explain the 'Camino Magic' to a friend who has not walked a Camino?". And F. said: "no es posible" - "It is not possible".

 

[Hilarious]

Well done Hilary. Even a broken wrist didn’t slow you down. I have 5 months to go for my own first taste of the Camino life, and hope my experience is as great as yours (minus the injury) .

I’m sure your Camino will be everything you hope for Glenda. Be careful if it’s raining coming out of Leon. The tiles are very slippery! Buen Camino.

 

[Hilarious]

Well done, I was a few weeks ahead of you, arrived at SdC on 8th October. You did well, keeping on walking despite the injury. I saw a few injured people, some had to go home, others stayed the distance.
You can update your status now to show you have completed CF!
regards, Andrew

z
Thank you AndrewDavOz. I have tried to update my status. Does it take a little while to adjust.

 

[Hilarious]

Well done!

Here is a link to your youtube video channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-scTwzjaaaDfnsc2VCQuSg


It was on the Camino Aragones after my first week on the camino... I sat in a bar with 5 Spanish pilgrims and again I could not follow their conservation because of my poor Spanish. I looked in their faces and they all seemed so content, so pleased...
and I asked in Spanish "How can you explain the 'Camino Magic' to a friend who has not walked a Camino?". And F. said: "no es posible" - "It is not possible".

Thank you for the link Martín1ws. Love your experience of the Camino Magic - so true.

 

[peckahad]

We started together on 18 Sept. we stayed in the same dorm in Orisson. Congratulation on your camino. I walked and talked with more Aussies on my Camino than any other country. On my night in O’Ceberiro I had dinner with 14 Aussies. Several of us finished on 4 November together. I am still processing my journey. Everyday I said ‘walk your age and being blessed to walk at my age’. Remember the group singing Happy Birthday to me in Orisson On my 77th birthday?

 

[Hilarious]

Well done, and thanks for your report. As said above, even your injury did not deter you - no joke when putting on and taking off your pack, of whatever size. Let me guess: another camino somewhere in the future???

Thank you kirkie. Had to have my wrist re-set when I got back to Oz. Still in plaster for another week (Camino Lesson - patience). You are sooo right - The Del Norte is next on my list and following my Camino buddies on the Forum of course.

 

[Hilarious]

We started together on 18 Sept. we stayed in the same dorm in Orisson. Congratulation on your camino. I walked and talked with more Aussies on my Camino than any other country. On my night in O’Ceberiro I had dinner with 14 Aussies. Several of us finished on 4 November together. I am still processing my journey. Everyday I said ‘walk your age and being blessed to walk at my age’. Remember the group singing Happy Birthday to me in Orisson On my 77th birthday?

Hi peckahad. Good to re-connect. Congratulations on your Camino - I will never forget your birthday celebrations at Orisson! You rock!

 

[ShireenB]

Well done Hilary. Even a broken wrist didn’t slow you down. I have 5 months to go for my own first taste of the Camino life, and hope my experience is as great as yours (minus the injury) .

I am also five months out. Plan on starting on April 29th at SJPP. You?

 

[DwainS]

To all the wonderful forum members?
We did it! Arrived in Santiago on Saturday, 26 October. Our Camino from SJPdP to SdC was simply amazing. I am lost for words (which is quite unusual). Still processing it all now I am back in Australia.

I don’t know if you experience this - when people ask me what it’s like I find it a challenge to explain. The amazing scenery, the sense of community and the wonderful and inspiring people you meet, the kindness of the local people and your fellow pilgrims. It really doesn’t do it justice. I end up by saying that if the Camino calls to you, it won’t let you go. You simply have to do it - at least once!

I know one of my Camino lessons is to learn to accept help. After slipping over in the rain leaving Leon (and breaking my right wrist - not that I knew it at the time - I thought sprain). Walking two more days to Astorga, Doctor then detour by taxi to Ponferrada Hospital for re-alignment under local anaesthetic (I don’t recommend this - when they asked if I was allergic to anything I should have said pain!), plaster cast then taxi back to Rabanal del Camino.

Due to wet and slippery conditions and only one arm we ended up taking two more taxis - from Rabanel to Molinaseca and from La Faba to Triacastela. So grateful I could walk all of the rest.

Thank you all for your sage advice - as a result my gear performed a treat, no blisters or musculoskeletal problems with feet, legs, back etc.

If you want to see my vlogs just type my name - Hilary Jones Rowan into the search bar on YouTube (sorry couldn’t get the link to work) hope they bring back memories for you or inspire those thinking - can I do this?

Buen Camino for wherever life takes you.

I sort of know how you feel. I watched a you tube video in the fall of 2019 called a Pilgrims journey. I did not know what it was about, but after watching, I was hooked. I needed to do this. I've now watched the movie The Way and about 40 hours of you tube videos on the Camino Frances. With the help of the forums here I've already purchased most of my gear for the trip. Just having a hard time picking a backpack, so many choices, and so many forums on which is best. I find half the fun is getting every thing ready for the trip because I've never been a hiker "Peregrino". Like I said, the forums here have been invaluable in what to bring on my Pilgrimage. Leaving for trip Sept. 2020. Buen Camino.

 

[Derrybiketours]

I don’t know if you experience this - when people ask me what it’s like I find it a challenge to explain

So....what was it like
I'm surprised are paths didn't cross or maybe they did, I departed St Jean on 29th September and Arrived Santiago 31st October and may have passed you in the corridor of Bierzo hospital where I spent an unscheduled stop for 24hrs on October 24th. I wish you a speedy recovery and many more Camino-free incidents and accidents in future. Ultreia