Hola
In an earlier thread I gave vent to some frustrations and I would like to apologise for that. Following a season when a significant number of very large cycling groups arrived and were somewhat difficult to deal with I advanced an argument that pilgrims on bicycles were not as historically authentic as walking pilgrims.
I was wrong and I would like to thank my many Camino friends who have emailed me, some attaching lycra clad photographs of themselves. Thanks also fellow pilgrims for the advertisements I have received for bicycles and cycling gear.
The truth is that although the practice of issuing the Compostela to pilgrims can be traced back several hundred years the requirement that the pilgrimage to Santiago should be a long distance physical journey is very modern. The now questionable "100 kms rule" which was only introduced in the 1980's is an expression of that.
My own definition of pilgrimage is "time set apart from normal life for a journey to a holy place". Therefore according to that definition all travellers motivated by that goal are pilgrims, if they so define themselves. My other motto has always been not to stick my nose into anyone else's pilgrimage. I broke my own rule.
A wise pilgrims advised me to cycle one of the routes with a pilgrim heart and see what it is like to be treated as less than a pilgrim by others. Well, I am going to do just that and I will shut up on this subject until then.
Peace!
In an earlier thread I gave vent to some frustrations and I would like to apologise for that. Following a season when a significant number of very large cycling groups arrived and were somewhat difficult to deal with I advanced an argument that pilgrims on bicycles were not as historically authentic as walking pilgrims.
I was wrong and I would like to thank my many Camino friends who have emailed me, some attaching lycra clad photographs of themselves. Thanks also fellow pilgrims for the advertisements I have received for bicycles and cycling gear.
The truth is that although the practice of issuing the Compostela to pilgrims can be traced back several hundred years the requirement that the pilgrimage to Santiago should be a long distance physical journey is very modern. The now questionable "100 kms rule" which was only introduced in the 1980's is an expression of that.
My own definition of pilgrimage is "time set apart from normal life for a journey to a holy place". Therefore according to that definition all travellers motivated by that goal are pilgrims, if they so define themselves. My other motto has always been not to stick my nose into anyone else's pilgrimage. I broke my own rule.
A wise pilgrims advised me to cycle one of the routes with a pilgrim heart and see what it is like to be treated as less than a pilgrim by others. Well, I am going to do just that and I will shut up on this subject until then.
Peace!