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You might want to join one or more pilgrims in the earliest part of the meseta. Once you get a feel for the landscape, and your rhythm, you might see that there is nothing to fear. Then again, you can also shift from solo walking to walking with others through the days and see what you like...
Privet Nimrod,
I echo the wise words of others: you will always find at least one (or many!) friendly pilgrims to join you.
Trust that you will likely never walk alone - unless and until you want to.
And, like most pilgrims I met on the way, there will be times when you will want to walk...
What a generous and touching idea, Lisa. The suggestions above are all good, and I can't offer any others except to wish that your kindness has a ripple effect... Blessings to you and your family, and may you have a peaceful and healing Camino.
My sense is that if you don't plan ahead, and instead let it flow when you get to whatever village/albergue on a given day, and depending on the weather and other factors (fatigue, line-ups, hunger - or not, etc), you'll be able to figure it out as you go along. Moreover, if you've planned ahead...
I'd hoped to be the Canadian Ambassador for the inaugural walk this summer.. but my plans were such that I couldn't be in Europe for it. Shame, boohoo, looks like an amazing route! I would have loved to strike out on this untraveled path with other EPW 'pilgrim-pioneers' ;) but instead I'll add...
Or, while in Santiago, drop into the convent around the corner from the cathedral and order a fresh one to go! I tasted many versions (along the Camino and in SdC), and hands down my preference was the one the nuns baked! :D (they whip up loads of other goodies too!!)
I never made it to that museum, but I seem to recall that it's on the same stretch of road where two older women come down from their village, meet pilgrims at an intersection, handing out candies and hugs?! :)
Yes indeed! Not a pension, but I'd recommend this place anyway: We were planning to stay at the municipal albergue, but it only opened at 3 (or 4?), so we backtracked uphill, to the place where a group of people (pilgrims and staff) had waved to us on our way into town with this: "Hey, are you...
Worst Gite? Or just your most difficult and frustrating auberge experience thus far? I can empathize, because I was so rudely and poorly treated by the so-called hospitalero in El Ganso that I'd easily say that it was my most annoying/hardest experience at any auberge/refugio/git/hostel on the...
.. if all else fails, and you can't recall those lengthier Spanish phrases, you might try this: Me duele. It worked wonders for me (with near-constant sacrum pain), especially when I couldn't muster up anything else.
By the way, I personally tend to ignore the words of anyone who make such...
Thanks for the recommendation Kat! I'll add it to my list of Camino-related NF books to read... after I've finished writing mine ;) By the time I'm done, I'm sure I'll have drawn up a long enough list to last me a few years! Are you reading it while walking?
One pilgrim told me that, if she wasn't quite sure about leaving her pack in a particular room, she'd attach a lightweight but study lock to the zippers. Take your valuables.. and, as for the rest, trust that the other pilgrims in your midst will look out for you and each other.
Thanks S. Brown - it was also a constant reminder that anything was possible, regardless of the so-called-obstacles (bumps, rocks, rain, puddles, etc) that I encountered along the way ;)
Thank you for all the great suggestions! I love the idea of that USB device that has all the medical info on it; however, when you need access to info on the spot (as opposed to at a hospital where it can be easily plugged in), isn't it more useful to have info that's immediately accessible &...
She looks like quite the trooper, your Georgia! What an incredible bonding experience that must have been.. may you enjoy many more long-distance travels together, at ANY age ;)
Ditto for me, dear Dee! I loved, smiled at and thoroughly enjoyed the song/video clip - so much emotion.. and fun! Wow, how I'd love to tumble down that hay-sided waterslide.. and not only to see the dumbfounded stares of passing cows ;) Thank you so much for sharing that AND your words. I hope...
Hi Stacie, Sounds like you had a wonderful Camino despite the unexpected pilgrim-panhandlers.. I too ran into a strange sort, much like you describe. It happened right at the top of 'Mount' Sarria, in fact just at the top turn out of the town. This young man was of Russian origin, seemed to be...
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