- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2021
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In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
YES!!!So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
....Hey!!!....a fine dose of realism....huge thanks!!!!!So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
This is the BEST ADVICE I have read. Having done the Frances, I am now planning the Portuguese Central with a jog onto the Coastal. I feel less enthusiastic, less fit (five years later), but honestly I think the four of us have over-planned. I have begun unloading extras from my pack. Shoes - most important, and less stuff. Thank you for this post.So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
I laugh (now) at all the anxieties I had planning to go, and how much I over-thought everything. Now having done the CF it would literally take me 15 minutes to pack and I would just go with the flow. I would know there is an Albergues somewhere ahead, I wouldn’t starve, plenty of places to buy whatever was needed, and pilgrims around me ready to lend a hand. All good.
True, but you now have a shoe that works! Finding a shoe that does not give you blisters, and getting used to your pack are the only preparations that really matter.
Couldn't agree with you more....................I respect your view but it could be misleading. It may be true for some but not for others. I have seen many pilgrims having significant difficulty because they did not put in sufficient training and they wound up with blisters, shin splints and infections. My Mantra is Prepare! Prepare physically and as best one can mentally. Read about others’ experiences on blogs such as this one. Have a reasonable idea of what to expect. I do not mean, however, that every detail has to be planned. Have options in case things go wrong?
I respect your view but it could be misleading. It may be true for some but not for others. I have seen many pilgrims having significant difficulty because they did not put in sufficient training and they wound up with blisters, shin splints and infections. My Mantra is Prepare! Prepare physically and as best one can mentally. Read about others’ experiences on blogs such as this one. Have a reasonable idea of what to expect. I do not mean, however, that every detail has to be planned. Have options in case things go wrong?
I have sedentary work and never have time or a sitation where I can 'train.' But it's just walking, and we all know how to do that.I have seen many pilgrims having significant difficulty because they did not put in sufficient training and they wound up with blisters, shin splints and infections.
Exactly.You just put one foot in front of the other, carefully enough that you don't fall over.
@Marbe2@Albertagirl wrote: I never had any problems walking- my first and my second and my third caminos. I just walked my usual pace for the terrain and my current physical shape. Of course, I do have forty-five years of mountain walking experience, and a lifetime of getting around without a car. I find all the efforts at teaching people to walk rather funny. You just put one foot in front of the other, carefully enough that you don't fall over.
With 45 years of mountains walking you likely began your camino with experience of varied terrain and walking distances. Your experience provided/provides you with mental and physical memory and perhaps a level of fitness when starting a camino. There are people who have never done any distance walking let alone with a backpack who decide to do the Camino without or with little preparation
Starting from SPJD and walking No less than 1,258 meters of positive height gain and 485 meters of negative height difference on your first day without preparation can-end a Camino or, so can starting in Pamplona and attempting the down hill section on alto del Perdon! We obviously perceive the terrain differently if you think that these sections are simply just putting one foot in front of the other! I certainly encourage anyone who wants to do the Camino to do so! However, I believe we do potential pilgrims a disservice by not encouraging them to physically prepare.
Thank you for that encouraging note!!!So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
This is exactly how i planned to do my first camino, and i too am an inveterate planner. So for this trip i decided not to plan beyond an hour two and already i feel better. Thank you for weighing in and making me(us?) feel better about letting go. Thanks, i needed that....and now that you have these experiences behind you, i would bet you are also doing less planning in your daily life, anddiscovering that just like your two camino walks, you have survived.So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
I couldn't agree with you more!! I walked my first and only camino in 2009, and have been dreaming of doing another one, any one as long as I could walk a camino in Spain, but just find all sorts of excuses all the time, but not being fit enough is I think my greatest fear, and now at 74 I can see the years just drifting away and me not doing another Camino, oh so sad..... maybe 2019 !!!So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
maybe 2019 !!!
@formysonsI couldn't agree with you more!! I walked my first and only camino in 2009, and have been dreaming of doing another one, any one as long as I could walk a camino in Spain, but just find all sorts of excuses all the time, but not being fit enough is I think my greatest fear, and now at 74 I can see the years just drifting away and me not doing another Camino, oh so sad..... maybe 2019 !!!
Maybe you need to pack your bag.I couldn't agree with you more!! I walked my first and only camino in 2009, and have been dreaming of doing another one, any one as long as I could walk a camino in Spain, but just find all sorts of excuses all the time, but not being fit enough is I think my greatest fear, and now at 74 I can see the years just drifting away and me not doing another Camino, oh so sad..... maybe 2019 !!!
Dos Caminos 72yrs.
Excellent post mate, literally just booked flight to Biarritz and that's it, I plan to arrive and walk, did Ponferada to Santiago and then on to Finisterre last June 2017, this time planning to get to Burgos..will one day walk the entirety in one hit, but that may have to wait till retirement..last year I arrived and walked, the experience was life changing, and I was totally out of my comfort zone, never been on my own before, never stayed in hostel before, as the old saying goes"life begins at the end of your comfort zone" and it truly does.Well and truly stated; Nicely done!!!
My first Camino I was totally out of my comfort zone too. About halfway through my second Camino last year I realized that the Camino is my comfort zone.Excellent post mate, literally just booked flight to Biarritz and that's it, I plan to arrive and walk, did Ponferada to Santiago and then on to Finisterre last June 2017, this time planning to get to Burgos..will one day walk the entirety in one hit, but that may have to wait till retirement..last year I arrived and walked, the experience was life changing, and I was totally out of my comfort zone, never been on my own before, never stayed in hostel before, as the old saying goes"life begins at the end of your comfort zone" and it truly does.
I met some amazing people walking, and remember them all... anyone thinking about walking the Camino, just do it , don't over plan or over think it, pack a bag, and unpack your mind before starting...buen Camino.
Please don’t be afraid to do it again. My husband & I did our first Camino (CF) this year and had a wonderful time. We are both 71 and we met some people who were even older than us! Some days were tough, some were easier, but the people we met and the good times we shared made everything worthwhile. Do some physical preparation in an activity you enjoy, follow the excellent advice on Malachiuri’s “Calm down” post, watch “The Way” again and lots of YouTube Camino posts and you will soon be enthusiastic to do it again. Good luck! (By the way we are now planning our next year’s Camino)I couldn't agree with you more!! I walked my first and only camino in 2009, and have been dreaming of doing another one, any one as long as I could walk a camino in Spain, but just find all sorts of excuses all the time, but not being fit enough is I think my greatest fear, and now at 74 I can see the years just drifting away and me not doing another Camino, oh so sad..... maybe 2019 !!!
Please don’t be afraid to do it again. My husband & I did our first Camino (CF) this year and had a wonderful time. We are both 71 and we met some people who were even older than us! Some days were tough, some were easier, but the people we met and the good times we shared made everything worthwhile. Do some physical preparation in an activity you enjoy, follow the excellent advice on Malachiuri’s “Calm down” post, watch “The Way” again and lots of YouTube Camino posts and you will soon be enthusiastic to do it again. Good luck! (By the way we are now planning our next year’s Camino)
All these positive replies give me so much hope that I will be able to do another camino, will catch up on my yoga to start with, why not be in Spain for my 75th birthday July 2019 !!!!!I find it inspiring to hear that people, senior to I, are still "LIVING" while they are alive. Nice going Pilgrims!
All these positive replies give me so much hope that I will be able to do another camino, will catch up on my yoga to start with, why not be in Spain for my 75th birthday July 2019 !!!!!
Absolutely excellent post I 100% agree!So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
not a silly post...Wow...
Im really glad folks got a little something out of my silly post.
Keep going everyone!
M
Thanks, I am heading off from SJPP 25th August on my third camino. My first sort of solo, I am walking with a young friend and am sure she will probably enjoy meeting and walking with folks her own age. Your last line I have written into the front of my journal as a reminder. Again thank you.So, after 2 trips on the Camino, 1 that was an abject failure and 1 that was an unqualified triumph I have a few thoughts for all you new pilgrims.
Calm down. No, seriously... Calm down. Take a breath, quit worrying and over planning and analyzing everything.
I am a compulsive planner and gadget enthusiast(geardo) who spent 2 years planning my first camino and it ended up being a really bad experience. Woke up every day with a head full of snakes and worry and bailed at Burgos. I was traveling with friends and regret that decision daily. This year I went back and completed St Jean to the ocean with a friend and it was a truly life changing experience, and yes I am heading back in 2020 to do it all again.
Let me take some worry off your shoulders if I can.
You aren’t walking the arctic tundra or across the Sahara. More or less you are hiking on decent trails from small village to small village with a few large cities thrown in to spice up the soup. Apart from some notable experiences you are rarely more than 10kms from the next village and a chance to use a bathroom, take on water and grab some food. My camino friend from this year called parts of the trip a “500km pub crawl” because of how many bars we stopped for coffee and snacks. You are gonna be just fine!
Please be realistic about your abilities. If you can do the trip in 30 days, that's great! If you need 60, take 60 dammit!(we took 54, with 7 flex days and it was brilliant) Make sure you have some flexible time on the way for extra rest days, medical days and just good old down time.
Don’t overpack! Take the bare necessities for the trip. You will have dozens of chances to add to your kit if you need to, and hundreds of chances to grab toiletries or daily essentials. I used a 40L daypack and could have probably gone a little smaller(Im a big dude too so my clothes take up a ton of room, but I always had extra space). You can do laundry every day so less is more. The best packing advise I have gotten was simple. “Pack all of your needs, 2 of your wants and none of your fears. Fears and what make backpacks heavy”.
Train properly. Lose weight if you need to. I dropped 48lbs between my failed and triumph camino trips and it made a world of difference. Walk at least 100 miles in your boots/shoes with the sock combo you expect to use. If you can do that without blisters or foot problems you are ready to rock! Change out what you need to make your feets happy campers... or hilkers.
In all honesty you could probably rock up to St Jean with nothing but a pocket full of Euros and do the entire Camino. There is an infrastructure to help you along. It is safe, fun and a tremendous experience.
Get to Spain. Start walking. Enjoy the views. Laugh at the pain. Make new friends. Change your world.
Totally agree!@Marbe2
I think that the "physical memory" is useful for me. And you will note that I started without training, but with planning: footwear, pack, first night booked at Orisson, first week easy. I am not convinced that specific physical training for walking a camino is necessary. I fear that it may intimidate those who see the requirements as too high for their regular commitments. If a prospective pilgrim is in good ordinary health, my advice would be to get good footwear, pack light, give yourself lots of time to walk your camino, and take it easy. You might take a few long walks with your pack if you have never done so, just to see how you feel. Calm down.
Some of the over planning I see mentioned on here sometimes is comical. A combination of inspector gadget, OCD and an arctic expedition.
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