CarlSA
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2016, Salvador 2018,
Primitivo 2018
I have been following the Camino Forum for many years and have been enjoying the conversations, or most of them. Just thought that maybe we can add some of our experiences. The Camino has really hooked my wife and myself. We did the Camino Frances from Leon during the first 2 weeks of September 2016, the Salvador in April 2018 and Primitivo in May 2018. Covid robbed us from any further opportunities. I am 66 and my wife 61 and we are from South Africa.
Our initial exposure to the Camino was not so nice. The backpacks were too heavy and we were not fit enough to carry them. After the first day we decided to send our backpacks with Jacotrans. We stayed mostly in private hostels and albergues, sharing rooms and about every fourth night did a good refreshing in our own private room. We thoroughly enjoyed the walking, meeting new people, experiencing rural Spain. We had no rain but a heatwave.
Lesson – check the weight of your backpacks and do sufficient training before the Camino. To think that if other people can do it, you should do it easily is not always the truth.
We started the San Salvador at the end of April 2018 in Leon. This route is somewhat different as there are less towns and refreshing points. A lot of walking is in the mountains and one day we had to go through some snow. We carried our backpacks the whole way. In total we were only 5 people on the route. We finished in Oviedo where we started the Primitivo. Took a rest day in Oviedo and later in Lugo. We decided that in future we shall maybe skip the resting days depending on our bodies and rather do a shorter day instead of taking a full rest day.
On the Primitivo we only stayed in albergues. The first night in Grado we met other peregrino’s and from there on we walked and stayed together most of the time. As they were from many nationalities, we really got the feeling and the vibe of the Camino.
We had the most splendid day ever on the 1st of May when leaving Tineo. The beautiful sun rising over the low lying clouds that were down under in the valley. But on 2th of May when we were on top of the mountain on the Hospitales route, we had the worst day ever on the Camino with a gushing wind and hard rain straight in our faces, soaking wet.
We are starting in St Jean Pied-de-Port on the 14th of April 2023 on the Camino Frances. We are planning to walk not more than 24 km per day and doing it without any rush, talking to the cattle, smelling the roses, etc. We are also going to try to deviate from Brierley’s day routes to prevent the rush and congestion for beds that normally takes place in his recommended towns.
Reflecting back there are a few things that I would like to emphasize. There are a lot of recommendations on the forum but please, use also your common sense. You need to practice before the time. Do enough walking because your body must be adapted to the extra strain. Most important is your feet. Get hiking boots or shoes that work for you. I never had any blisters but my wife had some toe problems. Good socks are very important.
Own your Camino, it is your time and you are doing the walking. Do not care about other people’s opinions. Be prepared but do not over organize. People tend unfortunately to overload with information and plan to much. For the backpack stay with the basic stuff that you need. It is no use to plan for what maybe can happen. Everything is available on the way. Through our experience (and I am a meticulous planner), we found that the Camino has its own ways. You cannot stick to all your plans such as where you want to sleep, etc. Go with the flow and plan according to the situation.
Doing the Camino gives you time to clear your head, to get perspective on your life, to learn to be tolerant of other people (with strange habits) and to test your own endurance. It I really a life changing experience. Buen Camino.
Our initial exposure to the Camino was not so nice. The backpacks were too heavy and we were not fit enough to carry them. After the first day we decided to send our backpacks with Jacotrans. We stayed mostly in private hostels and albergues, sharing rooms and about every fourth night did a good refreshing in our own private room. We thoroughly enjoyed the walking, meeting new people, experiencing rural Spain. We had no rain but a heatwave.
Lesson – check the weight of your backpacks and do sufficient training before the Camino. To think that if other people can do it, you should do it easily is not always the truth.
We started the San Salvador at the end of April 2018 in Leon. This route is somewhat different as there are less towns and refreshing points. A lot of walking is in the mountains and one day we had to go through some snow. We carried our backpacks the whole way. In total we were only 5 people on the route. We finished in Oviedo where we started the Primitivo. Took a rest day in Oviedo and later in Lugo. We decided that in future we shall maybe skip the resting days depending on our bodies and rather do a shorter day instead of taking a full rest day.
On the Primitivo we only stayed in albergues. The first night in Grado we met other peregrino’s and from there on we walked and stayed together most of the time. As they were from many nationalities, we really got the feeling and the vibe of the Camino.
We had the most splendid day ever on the 1st of May when leaving Tineo. The beautiful sun rising over the low lying clouds that were down under in the valley. But on 2th of May when we were on top of the mountain on the Hospitales route, we had the worst day ever on the Camino with a gushing wind and hard rain straight in our faces, soaking wet.
We are starting in St Jean Pied-de-Port on the 14th of April 2023 on the Camino Frances. We are planning to walk not more than 24 km per day and doing it without any rush, talking to the cattle, smelling the roses, etc. We are also going to try to deviate from Brierley’s day routes to prevent the rush and congestion for beds that normally takes place in his recommended towns.
Reflecting back there are a few things that I would like to emphasize. There are a lot of recommendations on the forum but please, use also your common sense. You need to practice before the time. Do enough walking because your body must be adapted to the extra strain. Most important is your feet. Get hiking boots or shoes that work for you. I never had any blisters but my wife had some toe problems. Good socks are very important.
Own your Camino, it is your time and you are doing the walking. Do not care about other people’s opinions. Be prepared but do not over organize. People tend unfortunately to overload with information and plan to much. For the backpack stay with the basic stuff that you need. It is no use to plan for what maybe can happen. Everything is available on the way. Through our experience (and I am a meticulous planner), we found that the Camino has its own ways. You cannot stick to all your plans such as where you want to sleep, etc. Go with the flow and plan according to the situation.
Doing the Camino gives you time to clear your head, to get perspective on your life, to learn to be tolerant of other people (with strange habits) and to test your own endurance. It I really a life changing experience. Buen Camino.
