A 'once in a lifetime' experience?

[Paladina]

Earlier this summer, in Calzadilla de la Cueza, I met a woman who was walking to Santiago from her home in Belgium. She had taken leave from work in order to do so, and was adamant that she would not undertake the journey a second time. Like a medieval pilgrim, she said, 'you only do it once in a lifetime'. Medieval pilgrims, having gained their hard-won indulgence and possibly lost their health and strength in the process, were most unlikely to return, but what motivates modern-day pilgrims to become serial long-distance walkers? Who has walked all the way from home, and maybe even back again, more than once, and why did you feel the need to go the proverbial second mile?

 

[G_the_D]

From home would be impossible as Canada and Spain have this rather large body of water in the way. Having said that, I started my first Camino in May, and I will return in October.
I have never before been bitten by a bug like this, Camino calls to me. She is a siren whose embrace I need and desire.

After returning home, I realize that there is nothing here for me anymore. I dislike city life. I love my friends here, and I made better get back to the self examination tha friends on Camino.

I want to get back to the self examination that I started on the CF. I thought I had done enough when I came back to Canada, and I now realize I haven't.

I forgave others. I rationalized relationships. I grieved for my mother.
I did not forgive myself. I need to do that somehow.

There is a saying that is meant to be funny, but there is truth in it - "The only common factor in all your failed relationships is you."

So I think this time, if Camino provides, that will be my topic of conversation with myself. I deserve to be a better me than I am right now.

 

[alansykes]

Like a medieval pilgrim, she said, 'you only do it once in a lifetime'. Medieval pilgrims, having gained their hard-won indulgence and possibly lost their health and strength in the process, were most unlikely to return,

Judging by Chaucer's Wife of Bath, we serial camino offenders existed in mediaeval times as well -

And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.

Three times to Jerusalem in the 14th century makes my few passages to Seint-Jame look positively feeble. Perhaps I'm not as addicted as I thought.

 

[Paladina]

Judging by Chaucer's Wife of Bath, we serial camino offenders existed in mediaeval times as well -

And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.

Three times to Jerusalem in the 14th century makes my few passages to Seint-Jame look positively feeble. Perhaps I'm not as addicted as I thought.

It may be a relief to your loved ones if your passages to Seint-Jame seem feeble in comparison. The Wife of Bath was indeed a serial offender in various walks of life. She was not only a serial pilgrim but also a serial wife and widow in search of a newer candidate for, ahem, coronation en route: 'Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve.../Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.' As an unrepentant 'kiss and tell' storyteller she caused considerable consternation to her fellow travellers and great amusement to generations of irreverent students.

 

[Paladina]

From home would be impossible as Canada and Spain have this rather large body of water in the way. Having said that, I started my first Camino in May, and I will return in October.
I have never before been bitten by a bug like this, Camino calls to me. She is a siren whose embrace I need and desire.

After returning home, I realize that there is nothing here for me anymore. I dislike city life. I love my friends here, and I made better get back to the self examination tha friends on Camino.

I want to get back to the self examination that I started on the CF. I thought I had done enough when I came back to Canada, and I now realize I haven't.

I forgave others. I rationalized relationships. I grieved for my mother.
I did not forgive myself. I need to do that somehow.

There is a saying that is meant to be funny, but there is truth in it - "The only common factor in all your failed relationships is you."

So I think this time, if Camino provides, that will be my topic of conversation with myself. I deserve to be a better me than I am right now.

Thanks for the illuminating reply. The continents may be oceans apart, but it seems that you are on the right road. Best wishes for your return journey.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Who has walked all the way from home, and maybe even back again, more than once, and why did you feel the need to go the proverbial second mile?

@Paladina a good question.
When I started at Le Puy April 2016 it was my intention to finish at Muxia / Finisterra. But pulled right thigh muscles just after Pamplona put paid to that.

But the bug stayed with me. While recovering in London, I managed to complete a pilgrimage starting at Southwark Cathedral (on the south - or right - bank of the Thames in the middle of London) to Canterbury Cathedral.

And in less than a fortnight I return to my stopping place last year in Spain to complete (I hope) last years intention.

To my mind you have identified corrrectly the key player in relationships that go astray. And I hope, like you, my refelctions when walking last year have seen changes in me for the better these last 12 months.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Canada and Spain have this rather large body of water in the way.

@G_the_D , you will notice as well as sharing the same Head of State we also share having a large body of water between home and start place. In several converstations in 2016 the other asked where I came from.

After my reply quite a few were silent for a moment while they mentally recovered their geography lessons.

When their face lit up with their success I would add "and I swam here" with appropriate arm motions. At this stage the faces of most creased into a broad smile as we both enjoyed the moment.

Surprsingly, one or two seemed to take my statement at face value, so they were given my (supposed) route of across the underbelly of Australia, around the bottom of Africa and so into the Atlantic and up to Spain.

 

[Former member 49149]

"]I forgave others. I rationalized relationships. I grieved for my mother.
I did not forgive myself. I need to do that


/g_the_d, buen Camino. You know what you need.

 

[Helen1]

Practically speaking, I totally get why Belgium to Santiago would be 'you only do it once in a lifetime' experience! I did some of that journey by bike and it would take a serious amount of mental willpower to walk that route. I can't imagine doing it twice

Interesting question. Serial long-distance walkers I totally understand, there is a simplicity to the walking life which forces you to focus on the here and now and makes you appreciate the basics like good food and comfortable place to sleep. Serial CF walkers I kind of get but it's also not for me. The experience was special, once day I might walk that way again simply because as a single person its relatively easy, you can walk very short days, it's safe, there's infrastructure, nice company and so on... but there are so many other places to explore in the world...

 

[Richmond Gardner]

It's easy to beat yourself up, but you are working on a new path. Take some good feeling from that, and keep putting one foot in front of the other...

 

[Gromit]

I am currently walking Camino Frances and having the time of my life. I am doing it for my 70th birthday, which I celebrated in Pamplona. I give thanks that everyday I have woken up feeling good and ready to walk, my body has held up so well and I have no problems, except for an occasional ache or pain that a few stretches fix. That said, this is a once in a lifetime experience for me and I have no desire to do it again. I think I may be disappointed a second time as my expectations would be so high after this fabulous experience. Don't get me wrong. I will keep walking but there are so many other great places to walk.

 

[AlwynWellington]

I think I may be disappointed a second time as my expectations would be so high after this fabulous experience. Don't get me wrong. I will keep walking but there are so many other great places to walk.

@Gromit I know the feeling only too well. You can see from my time line I have other routes and destinations to add to the variety.

I got such buzz walking from Le Puy-en-Velay (at age 74 in 2016 and an extreme introvert) to Estella and meeting and talking with so many people (quite a few more than once) that a repeat any time soon would likely be a severe let down.

So next week I return to Estella-Lizzara and, when done at Muxia / Fisterra, to walk from Fort William to Whithorn, with Glasgow in the middle.

And a long term view, having walked from Southwark Cathedral beside the Thames in central London to Rochester Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral, of walking from Canterbury Cathedral to Saint Peters Basilica, Rome. This route has a lot less focused infrastructure than the routes from Le Puy and Saint-Jean. So, if it happens, it will be in three or four sections spread over that many years. Especially as I have found autumn is the best, more settled season for walking.

And, no, I don't walk with a (glass of cranberry juice - earlier avatar) ice cream held to my lips all the time.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

edited January 2019 to reflect a change of avatar

 

[Debora]

Ah...but let me know how you feel when you are done and back home. Let me know if something you didn't expect happens...a calling from the Camino for you to come back. You may never go back...but, you may want to...time will tell.