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Your message made me smile. Am happy for your tears @ the plaza in SdCHi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
Don , well done. The Camino Angels where good to you on your journey. I wish you well, Peter.Hi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
Well done You on completing your camino and at your own pace. After all, it's meant to be a journey not a race and to quote 2 favourites of mine: "I did it my way" and "you can go your own way" - and by the sounds of it you did just that which is commendable. I soon tired of the great albergue race stakes crowd and "went my own way" from Orisson onwardsHi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
This brings tears to my eyes. Good for you not giving up. What a joyous day that must have been! Will you go again? how far did you go?Hi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
My knee gave out recently -- very painful and definitely would have stopped any camino I would have been on. I have, however, had great success with prescription anti-inflamatories, physical therapy, and a knee brace. The medication was important in the beginning, as well as the brace to keep the knee where it should be, but the doctor and I believe it was the exercise that really did the trick. I have to keep it up, but that is a small price to pay for being pain-free. You might want to consider this. Good luck.You've inspired me, Don. In April, my wife and I took a group of students on the Camino (we both teach at the same school). We also started in Sarria. On the first day, in trying to keep pace with the kids--I'm 61 years old--my right knee gave out. Thus, on the second day, my Camino was over. Luckily, we had a guide with us who filled in for me and did an outstanding job. Resigned to not joining them all the way, my joy came in moving ahead by vehicle to our predetermined stop and giving them a one-person hero's welcome as they arrived. On the last day, I was at the entrance to the Plaza to see them complete their pilgrimages. My eyes filled with tears when I saw the tiredness, joy, wonder, and sense of accomplishment on their faces at the conclusion of their journey. In a real sense, I experienced the Camino vicariously through their stories.
Yet a void remains . . .
To fill this, I will be starting in Saint Jean Pied de Port on September 18--on my own. Fortunately, I've allowed myself plenty of time--eight weeks. Still, I worry, wondering if my knees will hold out. But now you've assured me that I can do it. All I need to keep in mind is to listen to my body.
Thanks, Don.
Hi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
Sign me up for the contest (or is it a group award?)!! I love walking alone because I don't get worried that I am not "keeping up" or that I am "falling behind". I just walk at my own pace...but I do notice when a guide says about "4 hours to...", I always just add an hour to compensate for my pokey slow walkingSo glad to hear you enjoyed it ... I am going to do my first in a few weeks I am 68 and full of arthritis so I will most likely be the slowest on record,,,,,I think there should be a Turtle award
Laura you have a good heart and a great sense of humor. That gets you to places speedy ones will never see.Sign me up for the contest (or is it a group award?)!! I love walking alone because I don't get worried that I am not "keeping up" or that I am "falling behind". I just walk at my own pace...but I do notice when a guide says about "4 hours to...", I always just add an hour to compensate for my pokey slow walking! On my last Camino I arrived at an albergue about the same time as an Italian man (he had walked 44km to my 25km). He spoke only Italian, the hospitalero spanish, and me english. The hospitalero asked us something in rapid fire spanish which appeared to be whether we were together. We both answered no and I jokingly explained in my very poor Spanish that he was a fast walker and I was the slow one. He then said something which I didn't understand, but I did hear the word "la tortuga". It took a minute and then we all burst out laughing (he was saying, with a very serious face, that we were the "tortoise and the hare"). For the next couple of days, I would arrive at the albergue an hour or more after the Italian to the wonderful sound of "la tortuga es aqui!!!"
Sign me up for the contest (or is it a group award?)!! I love walking alone because I don't get worried that I am not "keeping up" or that I am "falling behind". I just walk at my own pace...but I do notice when a guide says about "4 hours to...", I always just add an hour to compensate for my pokey slow walking! On my last Camino I arrived at an albergue about the same time as an Italian man (he had walked 44km to my 25km). He spoke only Italian, the hospitalero spanish, and me english. The hospitalero asked us something in rapid fire spanish which appeared to be whether we were together. We both answered no and I jokingly explained in my very poor Spanish that he was a fast walker and I was the slow one. He then said something which I didn't understand, but I did hear the word "la tortuga". It took a minute and then we all burst out laughing (he was saying, with a very serious face, that we were the "tortoise and the hare"). For the next couple of days, I would arrive at the albergue an hour or more after the Italian to the wonderful sound of "la tortuga es aqui!!!"
Well done, same age as yourself and also just back and although it was my second camino, I too cried those tears of joy. It is a feeling like no other and if like me, you also will find it hard to put into wordsHi All, I just returned home from my first Camino. After listening to the advice on this forum, I walked from Sarria to SDC. I am 66 years old, a couch potato, with little walking prep. I was terribly prepared for the physical challenges, but I made it none-the-less. One of the most important lessons I learned here on the forum was to listen to my body, and don't ask it to do more than it can. I walked every day, and stopped when my feet and legs told me to. I averaged 9 km. per day, arriving in Santiago on day 13 ! Even though I was the slowest guy on the Camino, I had a great, terrible time. I experienced a wide range of emotions from the highest highs to deep dispair. I was ready to quit on my 5th and 6th day, but kept moving with the help of several Camino Angels. When I walked into the plaza in front of the cathedral, I literally wept. Here was a 66 year old pilgrim, with tears streaming down my face, and nothing but joy in my heart. I made it!
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