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Walk as far as you can comfortably each day and then call a cab to take you to your destination each day.
I met a couple of ladies from the US in 2017, one was 71 and the other was 79. In their earlier years they had walked the entire Francis route multiple times.
On the Portuguese route they...
I absolutely hate to prebook accommodations as it kills the spontaneity of each day that we prefer.
That said we were reluctantly forced into doing so last September as the Camino was very busy on the Frances route and sleeping outside lacks appeal now that I am in my mid 60's.
This was the...
My sympathies for his wife and family.This hits home being a 64 year old male myself.
While 65 is much too young, my greater fear is ever getting old enough to require being placed in a senior home.
That would be truly hell for me.
Going with my boots on is my preference, be it on a Camino or my...
I am similar being an introvert myself. I just pop in my ear buds. I don't always even listen to music or audio books, just wear them.
But ear buds generally discourage conversation without you looking overtly rude.
Works good for me.
Usually my conversations are limited to food related or...
I hate to use the word 'dangerous' for any stage of the Camino Francis. If you are reasonably fit, alert and have a good measure of common sense, I don't think any stage is all that difficult and certainly not dangerous. Certainly compared to hiking in the Canadian Rockies where the terrain and...
Wishing I had worried less before departing on my first Camino about things that were largely beyond my control anyway.
I had no real issues on my first Camino or on the subsequent six walks either.
It all tends to work out.
Keeping good physical fitness should be a life goal. I train all the time regardless of a Camino being on the horizon. In addition to walking I do various core building exercises as being fit doesn't just mean you have done some walking prior to your Camino.
I often wonder if people train for a...
As I stated in my reply, my rain poncho covers my pack almost 100%...provided I get my poncho on fairly quickly with the onset of rain. So I've never had an issue with a completely soaked pack.
Damp yes, but never streaming water or leaving a puddle when I take it off in a cafe or albergue.
I've never used a back pack cover on my seven walks. I use a plastic bag inside my pack and all my gear goes inside the bag when I pack.
I've walked all day in torrential rains and all my gear is 100% dry at the end of the day.
My rain poncho covers my pack pretty much in any case. Never had...
You will find that to book Alsa tickets from outside Spain you will need to have a PayPal account as they won't take a credit card for buying tickets. You will need to set up a user profile on the Alsa site as well.
Our experience with Alsa has always been very good.
Just no.
I love dogs, but the Camino is no place for one. I've seen a few dogs in distress on the Camino due to injuries from some of the terrain and generally being over taxed by so many long days.
Most dogs thrive on routine. I would think a Camino would be extremely unsettling for most dogs...
The Primitivo may be shorter than the full Camino Francis route, but it has arguably many more very challenging days than the Francis route.
Some very hilly days until you reach Lugo.
But it remains my favorite out of the seven walks I have done due to the scenery and lower numbers, although I...
As a relatively infrequent air traveler I don't have a big impact on the environment.
I do all the reduce/reuse/ recycle stuff as part of my day to day life. I use a 125cc scooter or my bicycle versus my car. I drive less than 5000 k per year.
I always look for cues as to what others do...
How about 'participation ribbons' for those that need a memento of their walk? I'll admit that on any of my walks that terminated in Santiago I did collect a Compostela, have five of them.
Now that they have lost the personal touch of having your details filled in by hand, I don't think I would...
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