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OBSOLETE COVID THREAD 2020 Plans B, C, etc. - Alternatives to the physical camino

OBSOLETE COVID THREAD
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C clearly

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Time of past OR future Camino
Most years since 2012
Many of us have had to cancel planned trips to Spain, at least for a few months. We have had a week or two of continual discussion of "to go or not to go", logarithmic growth, and bad news. Those topics are getting a bit depressing and repetitive.

I am going to suggest some happier topics to fill our camino needs when we can't walk. If you have more ideas, give them here and perhaps start a new thread - if so, consider mentioning it below and adding a link to the new thread.

Let's try not to have these ideas go too crazy or off-topic, but here are some starters.

Walking at home - I don't want to let my walking at home lapse just because I don't need to train for an imminent camino. So, I am continuing to mark each day on the calendar how far I have walked (not steps, I only count the real walking kilometres) with the target of doing 50 km/week. We have the ongoing thread Where did you walk locally in 2020. That's a good place to talk about your daily walking. Maybe if it gets to be too long a thread, we'll need to subdivide it or just start a new one.

Virtual caminos - There are many map-related tools for this, and perhaps this is a good time to figure them out! I need to organize my collection of KML files, but never seem to find the time to do it. Here is a thread that touches on the subject of how to do a camino when you can't. We might re-watch some vlogs such as Efren's, or walk with John Sikora from Seville to Salamanca - or here is one of his forum threads. One time we have had a story-quiz thread (I can't find it) where someone took us on a stage-by-stage walk; the story was developed on the thread and people made suggestions as to what the character would do or see the next day.

Guess the photo - We have had a few threads where someone posts a photo, and the first correct responder gets to post the new one. Usually these related to the Camino Frances but maybe we could go to other routes too.

Anyway, those are some suggestions to keep us occupied.
 
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I use those YouTube videos on the treadmill at my gym. When I can't get outside to walk in nature that is my go to activity. I've actually walked parts of the Norte, the Via de la Plata, and the CF this way. I also listen to the various podcasts posted on the forum under that heading. We do also have a lovely "Greenbelt" here in Boise and I can walk along the river to and from my work on good weather days (2.5 miles each way).
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Here in France last night March 12 President Macron spoke to the nation regarding the virus and how the nationwide health system will adapt for this pandemic.

Immediate changes in effect as of tonight March 13 all schools will be closed until further notice and all persons over 70 and/or with chronic problems should stay at home as much as possible.

Thus here in Champagne my husband and I at 80 and 81 after a year of extreme illnesses are battening down. After closing our b&b and pilgrim house, stocking medicine and food for the next months we hope to go forward with courage and strength of will towards the inevitable.

All life is chance; things are or are not. I shall not worry about what I can't control but shall hope for the best while trying to make things better.

For all now caught in this extraordinary worldwide chaos it may be helpful to read how others cope.

 
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A friend of mine who lives in Spain has just blogged on this, though without a specific Camino perspective. [https://barbaralamplugh.com/2020/03...l-in-a-crazy-frightening-and-uncertain-world/]

I'm just making my big list of things I always meant to do but didn't get round to, so before long I will have lots of new home made clothes, a clean and tidy house with nothing that needs repairing, carefully labelled and filed photographs and a decent family tree. And be very slim and fit and have read War and Peace. Maybe.

I wondered too whether there is any way that those of us who have had to postpone a Camino in the next few weeks might somehow do some virtual walking together.
 
BarbaraW,
For more on virtual walking check out this earlier thread.

Happy dreaming while you practice for a future Buen Camino
 
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I canceled my flight to Valencia yesterday. I was going to walk the Camino Levante. I’m very disappointed, but now I’ll have time for more Spanish lessons, my garden, kayaking, hiking the Cascades and learning to fly fish. None of these can take the place of my first love, but it’s the responsible thing to do and I’ll be happy and survive this life disruption.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
At the moment, I am planning this summer to resume my walk from Banff to Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, which was terminated by a herd of bison a couple of years ago. I have walked this way several times, so it is like the Camino Frances: to be enjoyed repeatedly. And the bonus is that I seldom see any other walkers after the first two days and before the last two. But, alas, for me it is currently only about a ten day walk.
 
I'm just making my big list of things I always meant to do but didn't get round to, so before long I will have lots of new home made clothes, a clean and tidy house with nothing that needs repairing, carefully labelled and filed photographs and a decent family tree. And be very slim and fit and have read War and Peace. Maybe.
You are as irrationally optimistic as I am. 😂
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
I'm just making my big list of things I always meant to do but didn't get round to, so before long I will have lots of new home made clothes, a clean and tidy house with nothing that needs repairing, carefully labelled and filed photographs and a decent family tree. And be very slim and fit and have read War and Peace. Maybe.
You forgot about the Spanish lessons. 🤣
 
And making a tie-dye silk scarf/sarong for the Camino, inspired by Trecile's beautiful sleeping sack.....
 
At the moment, I am planning this summer to resume my walk from Banff to Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, which was terminated by a herd of bison a couple of years ago. I have walked this way several times, so it is like the Camino Frances: to be enjoyed repeatedly. And the bonus is that I seldom see any other walkers after the first two days and before the last two. But, alas, for me it is currently only about a ten day walk.
You could turn around and walk back!
😁
 
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Walking in the Camino I have loved that feeling of letting go and trusting that everything will work out as it was meant to be.
Call it faith. Perhaps this an opportunity to apply that same approach at home, treading softly in the belief that all the world will again be green someday
 
You could turn around and walk back!
😁
A great idea, if I could get supplies in Lake Louise. And there is an alternate route coming back, unfortunately a lot busier. But I am gimping along on a bad knee, as I wait for knee replacement surgery. I might even have to turn back or move to a short return route after the first few days. But I just want to get out into the wild places.
 
My kids reckon this will be me:
View attachment 70799
But actually I have exactly the same goal as @Cclearly and have been exceeding it by 10-20km each week....now to keep it up!
Now, that made me laugh!😂 I’m guessing that you need to get out of the house, if you’re already ripping up the toilet seat?!
I went for a good long walk on our local bike path and enjoyed seeing all the people out for a jaunt and some fresh air... gotta keep it positively, in the times that are coming
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
I shall not worry about what I can't control but shall hope for the best while trying to make things better.
Thank you - what a wonderful statement, which (with your permission) I would like to copy into my quote book.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
After having to postpone my May meseta walk, and with the only half decent walking routes around too narrow for safe distancing, I have been getting value for money from my exercise bike! I am cycling happily along in front of the TV playing the excellent YouTube videos by @John Sikora - thank you so much for them 🌻 especially the 5x ones, it looks and feels like I really am cycling. Lovely weather too :D
 
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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
For those with a treadmill, maybe try the videos of BK Lee: Camino Frances step by step?
I have been walking an hour a day with BK Lee and we are heading out today from Logrono to Navarette. Makes the hour pass more quickly and I am always trying to give him advice out loaud when I see he may have taken a "wrong" direction.
 
Edit. Sorry. I accidentally posted this to the wrong thread.
We got back to walking in the woods today now that skiers, snowshoers and walkers have packed the snow down some.

The first two pictures were posted a few days ago too.
PXL_20210127_193226926-01.jpeg PXL_20210127_203221771-02.jpeg

The next two show the same areas today.
PXL_20210204_175803552-01.jpeg PXL_20210204_172212441-01.jpeg

Nearly at the turn around point now.
PXL_20210204_173235824-01.jpeg PXL_20210204_173203654-01.jpeg

This is why. The snowshoer went off trail across a pond. We didn't.
PXL_20210204_173215863-01.jpeg

One last one.
PXL_20210204_170617681-01.jpeg
 
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