Another way to see pack transport

[JillGat]

I carried my pack on the Camino, and plan to again this year. However it occurred to me that it is not actually more "authentically" pilgrimish to carry a modern backpack than to have it ferried to the next albergue by a service. The early pilgrims did not carry backpacks on the Camino. From what I've read and the pictures and statues I've seen, etc., they either had a very small bag (nothing like the big backpacks full of modern gear we carry) or they had a horse or donkey to carry their gear and supplies.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Walk with a donkey by all means. You will wish you had carried twice the weight instead. These creatures do require care, and € along the way as well as up front.

 

[Kanga]

I spent a pleasant half day with a family walking with two donkeys (to transport the two toddlers, and gear). The donkeys could only do a maximum of 10km a day. Even that was a struggle. So it was a very slow camino. The donkeys also need a lot of care and getting good nutritious food was a constant headache. The family were well prepared and enjoying themselves, but it is not a simple undertaking.

 

[HedaP]

There have been times (especially after several consecutive days of rain) when I have wondered if the early pilgrims could possibly have been more smelly than those of today even without a change of clothes.

 

[Kanga]

I agree that part of why I carry my pack is to ensure that I do not carry anything unnecessary. Part of the "casting off care" is casting off stuff. There seems to be a correlation between physical weight and emotional/mental weight. It certainly means less decision making. No agonising over what to wear!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I carry my back oackmso it doesn't get bedbugs in the van, somImcan have access to my stuff at any time, to lose more weight, and ... because I can. It never occured to me to used a mochilero. Now that ai know they exist, I don't use them because of,all the reasons above, plus why should I get away with that ease and a cheap bed when others carry theirs.

Plus, I am no queen or any part of the nobility to have people run ahead informing the albergue of my arrival.

 

[JillGat]

I had a donkey, growing up, and we hiked together often. On the Camino, I imagined having a donkey along and could see lots of logistical problems with it. However I do miss my donkey.

 

[mspath]

I had a donkey, growing up, and we hiked together often. On the Camino, I imagined having a donkey along and could see lots of logistical problems with it. However I do miss my donkey.

Here is one waiting for you in Sarria!

 

[Bradypus]

Taken on a recent walk along the North Wales Pilgrim's Way with two friends. The four-legged ones are local and have the good luck to live with a lovely lady who was our host for the night. Only the two-legged ones were actually walking and carrying anything. An uncharitable friend labelled the photo as "six donkeys" which I thought was an insult to such beautiful friendly creatures

 

[Kieran Kenneally]

Here is one waiting for you in Sarria!View attachment 35679

That's a unique ASSpect!

 

[jo webber]

Your cloak was the sleeping bag. Around your waist was a belt to which was attached a cup, bowl, pouch, knife. In the sack was a bit of fruit and maybe one extra shirt if you were fortunate enough to own one.

There were no shower items, no extra shoes, forget any socks or stuff bags or rain gear. The modern items we carry did not exist.

No need for a donkey.

 

[Lmsundaze]

I love donkeys, although I won't be walking the Camino with one. One of my favorite Camino Books is
Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on a Pilgrimage to Santiago
by Tim Moore

 

[mspath]

See more re walking with a donkey in this earlier forum thread. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/chemin-de-robert-louis-stevenson.25773/

 

[FLEUR]

I love donkeys, although I won't be walking the Camino with one. One of my favorite Camino Books is
Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on a Pilgrimage to Santiago
by Tim Moore

Definitely one of my top favourite Camino books.

 

[JillGat]

Here is one waiting for you in Sarria!View attachment 35679

Awwww! There's one albergue on the CF with tables on a big lawn with animals roaming around, mixing with the pilgrims. I watched a donkey use his teeth to open the spigot on a fountain faucet so that he and another burro pal could take a drink.

 

[KinkyOne]

I'm still waiting to hear about someone walking with a mule. I know both from experience and mules are much stronger and less demanding re food and care. That's why armies used them even in the harshest terrain and weather (like in the Alps and battle of Soča/Isonzo river in WW1). Less stubborn too
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/08/difference-between-a-donkey-and-a-mule/

 

[FrankieBallz]

To comment on your original statement, I carried my heavy, over-stuffed pack too, and was thankful for the health and strength to do so. If I had needed assistance, I would have used the transport system too. I made many friends along the way that did this. I am no expert on 'authenticity' and have no right to judge decisions made by other pilgrims along The Way. We're all in this together. I ran into a couple of guys last fall that had walked from Hungary with two mules! They did ask for food money in exchange for a couple of pics I took of them and the mules. Food money for the animals! In broken English they explained to me the animals were by far the biggest expense of their trip. I was happy to help them out. I read stuff from you guys every day and I miss the Camino greatly. Some day soon I'll find a way to return. Buen Camino.

 

[Kieran Kenneally]

Awwww! There's one albergue on the CF with tables on a big lawn with animals roaming around, mixing with the pilgrims. I watched a donkey use his teeth to open the spigot on a fountain faucet so that he and another burro pal could take a drink.

Somebody has to do the Donkey work

 

[linkster]

One of my favorite Camino Books is Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on a Pilgrimage to Santiago
by Tim Moore

I know he eventually grew to "love" Shinto, but Shinto sounded like a real pain in the ARSE!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Bag transport companies are our modern day donkeys

 

[dougfitz]

Bag transport companies are our modern day donkeys

So I can claim to be more authentically recreating the camino by just carrying a day pack and having my steamer trunk sent forward by mochila taxi?

 

[jo webber]

of pics I took of them and the mules.

Ummmm, those are donkeys.
Mules are about, or just the same, size as a horse.

 

[Bumpa]

View attachment 35684 To comment on your original statement, I carried my heavy, over-stuffed pack too, and was thankful for the health and strength to do so. If I had needed assistance, I would have used the transport system too. I made many friends along the way that did this. I am no expert on 'authenticity' and have no right to judge decisions made by other pilgrims along The Way. We're all in this together. I ran into a couple of guys last fall that had walked from Hungary with two mules! They did ask for food money in exchange for a couple of pics I took of them and the mules. Food money for the animals! In broken English they explained to me the animals were by far the biggest expense of their trip. I was happy to help them out. I read stuff from you guys every day and I miss the Camino greatly. Some day soon I'll find a way to return. Buen Camino.

Hey Frank. I ran into these guys along the way as well. Very interesting and I was happy to give a little to assist with the animals. I went back last Spring, after meeting you in the Fall, and completed the last 400
k's. Taking a friend back in October for a walk in an undetermined location of the Frances. It would be nice to meet up with you on the road again in the future ...Jim

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I'm still waiting to hear about someone walking with a mule. I know both from experience and mules are much stronger and less demanding re food and care. That's why armies used them even in the harshest terrain and weather (like in the Alps and battle of Soča/Isonzo river in WW1). Less stubborn too
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/08/difference-between-a-donkey-and-a-mule/

I walked along with a man, his mule and hismdog this spring on VDLP. They walk some 1000 km every year. In fact he normally walkes with two mules, but this year one of them refused to keep walking so he had the family come collect him and take him back home. This man also walked from his home in Southern Spain to Rome with his mule and got to meet the Pope because of it. He did say walking through Monaco with a mule was difficult as the mule didn't fit in very well with all the €€€.

 

[FrankieBallz]

Ummmm, those are donkeys.
Mules are about, or just the same, size as a horse.

You're righ. I realized that after I looked at my picture again. Not well versed in equine recognition. They were calling them mules, or at least that's what I thought they said. Something could have been lost in translation.

 

[KinkyOne]

Ummmm, those are donkeys.
Mules are about, or just the same, size as a horse.

Agree. Also mules have a bit shorter ears than donkeys.

 

[FrankieBallz]

Ummmm, those are donkeys.
Mules are about, or just the same, size as a horse.

You're righ. I realized that after I looked at my picture again. Not well versed in equine recognition. They were calling them mules, or at least that's what I thought they said. Something could have been lost in translation.

Hey Frank. I ran into these guys along the way as well. Very interesting and I was happy to give a little to assist with the animals. I went back last Spring, after meeting you in the Fall, and completed the last 400
k's. Taking a friend back in October for a walk in an undetermined location of the Frances. It would be nice to meet up with you on the road again in the future ...Jim

Good to hear from you Jim. Not much time off this year. Trying to set myself up to retire next year. My Pilgrimage this year is of another sort. Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY! I'm gonna tent camp my way up the Appalacians in the late fall. I've always loved baseball; playing, coaching, watching, all of it. I'll get back to Spain next year, hopefully to meet more Pilgrims like yourself. Enjoy your walk this year. Keep rocking that kilt!

 

[HedaP]

Crossed paths with this wonderfully bearded fellow, his lovely black poodle and his very patient and well behaved mule on a rainy day around Las Herrerías. It was sometime in early May this year. He was being interviewed and filmed at the time. Was happy to recognise him in the TV series about the camino that @JabbaPapa alerted us to in an earlier post https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/new-spanish-tv-series-¡buen-camino.49547/. Sitting in a bar (as one does), I did read an article about him in a local newspaper. My Spanish is not reliable but I think he spends his life walking back and forth on the camino?

 

[HedaP]

I carry my backpack for the simple reason that I never know when I am going to run out of puff and want to stop for the day. I love walking past a interesting looking albergue and thinking, that's my home for tonight! Plus having been caught out on the camino a couple of times in bad storms there is a certain security that comes from having sleeping bag, dry clothes and additional layers with me. Doubt I'll ever need them but they make me feel like I'm on the top of any situation whether that be true or not.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Crossed paths with this wonderfully bearded fellow, his lovely black poodle and his very patient and well behaved mule on a rainy day around Las Herrerías. It was sometime in early May this year. He was being interviewed and filmed at the time. Was happy to recognise him in the TV series about the camino that @JabbaPapa alerted us to in an earlier post https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/new-spanish-tv-series-¡buen-camino.49547/. Sitting in a bar (as one does), I did read an article about him in a local newspaper. My Spanish is not reliable but I think he spends his life walking back and forth on the camino?
View attachment 35705 View attachment 35706

That's Narciso his Cao de agua called Linda and his mule, Chata. I had the pleasure of spending a few days with them on VDLP this spring. He's the one I mention is a post above who,has walked to Rome with two mules and walks VDLP year after year.

Linda is the most well behaved and loyal dog ever, and she rides on top of that mule as well as any circus dog. Narciso has 7 children who now run the family business so he can enjoy long walks along the Camino.

 

[HedaP]

That's Narciso his Cao de agua called Linda and his mule, Chata. I had the pleasure of spending a few days with them on VDLP this spring. He's the one I mention is a post above who,has walked to Rome with two mules and walks VDLP year after year.

Linda is the most well behaved and loyal dog ever, and she rides on top of that mule as well as any circus dog. Narciso has 7 children who now run the family business so he can enjoy long walks along the Camino.

Ahh a cao de agua. She is a lovely dog and you can see how she rides on the back of the mule in that television series. I wish I'd had the chance to talk with that pilgrim. Thank you for telling me about them.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ahh a cao de agua. She is a lovely dog and you can see how she rides on the back of the mule in that television series. I wish I'd had the chance to talk with that pilgrim. Thank you for telling me about them.

He and Linda are quite the pair. Narciso sets down a blanket by the albergue door and she spends the night there waiting for him. Unless the town is too loud and then she takes off to go spend the night with the mule in some field. Narciso leads an uncomplicated life, always looking at the good things in life. He knows the Caminos inside out, always recommends the more traditional albergues, and does enjoy his bottle of red wine at night.

 

[notion900]

I adore Mules. The hospitaleros in El Zaguan in Fuente de Cantos took me in the car to see their mules:

 

[Bradypus]

An article today in The Guardian newspaper website about trekking holidays in southern France with a pack donkey:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/...ekking-rural-france-lot-valley-family-holiday