Desperately Seeking Spanish Sherpa ;)

[Healing Pilgrim]

Hola amigos!

I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances, starting from Pamplona, in mid-September. Not just for myself, but to raise awareness about invisible illness, injuries, pain & impairments.

For medical reasons alone, I can't carry any gear. Inquiring minds, here's why: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/heali ... 143?c=home

So I'm putting my request out there to you Camino angels and volunteer pilgrims: I'm seeking a Spanish sherpa, sidekick, compadre or (com)passionate pelegrino, to walk with me for any part of The Way.

Or, if you know from whom/where I can borrow a four-legged creature to carry for me, that could work too! I'm open to your suggestions..*

Gracias & buen camino!

* Since I never know from one day to the next just how far my body will be able to make it (5 km? 10? 15?), it might be too tricky to send ahead with transport.. which is why I need to have my gear with me on the path...

 

[whariwharangi]

I met a fellow with a one wheel cart equipped with shoulder harness and handles. He towed the cart behind him. Most of the weight went on the wheel. Perhaps something like that might work.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

For baggage:

http://www.jacotrans.com/

 

[Deleted member 3000]

For a donkey:

http://www.bourricot.com/

http://www.hikingwithdonkey.com/

 

[David]

Amit, hi. How brave you are ... I had a peek at your blog and the link you gave.

I hope that September works out for you - it concerns me that you may not be up in Galicia until November if your walking days are short .. even at your given max of 15k a day it will take you at least 46 days, without rest days, which you may need ... but you know your own plans and I am sure you have been working on them and have thought deeply about this.

I cannot offer any answer to your sherpa problem. Whoever carries your gear has to carry their own gear as well .. so they need to be fit and strong ... having someone with a vehicle could work were you to carry a mobile phone with you, they could meet you wherever you stop .. just a thought. But the thought of you on Camino without someone walking beside you 'just in case' ..

How brave you are - I do hope that you find some companions to assist you

Buen Camino peregrina

 

[hecate105]

If you - or your Sherpa were to consider a 'walking trailer' then I can recommend the Dixon Rollerpack (from US) one wheel, so it will go anywhere and very light and easy to wear. It enables me - I have fibromyalgia - to carry what a fit person would in a pack. A fit person can carry TWICE what they could carry in a pack!
I cycled the Camino - over 4 months - as I was unable to carry a pack. It was painful, exhausting but absolutely amazing too! I hope you find someone who can help you do this - or get a 'Dixon' and just take all the time you need... I agree, with any disability you need your stuff right there - in case you HAVE to stop. Then you can lie down/sleep/eat -whatever your body needs.
I have to also recommend Dr Sarno's book 'The Divided Mind' and the TMSWiki website, for setting me on the path to recovery after 22 years of living with this horrendous condition - fibromyalgia. If it helps anyone else with chronic pain to crawl out of the abyss - then I will be truly happy...
Good luck and Bon Camino

 

[Stellere]

Maybe you could find a spanish sherpa couple, one who could walk with you and one who could drive your gear? I think it would be hard for someone to carry double gear for the entire walk... Best of luck to you!

 

[David]

Or - someone with a bicycle? They could carry both lots of gear and push the bike??

 

[CaminoGen]

Re: Re: Desperately Seeking Spanish Sherpa

Or - someone with a bicycle? They could carry both lots of gear and push the bike??

Pushing a loaded bicycle over 800 km!? You can't walk a block without scratching the front of your shins on the pedals in an unnatural position...Still better off with a bare-essentials 5 kilo well fitted pack

 

[David]

Re: Re: Desperately Seeking Spanish Sherpa

Or - someone with a bicycle? They could carry both lots of gear and push the bike??

Pushing a loaded bicycle over 800 km!? You can't walk a block without scratching the front of your shins on the pedals in an unnatural position...Still better off with a bare-essentials 5 kilo well fitted pack

Pushing a load on wheels is easier than carrying a load on your back - ask the VietCong! - and your 5 kilo pack is a no-go if you can't wear a pack, which is what this is about - and cycle pedals unscrew you know, in moments.

 

[NicoZ]

http://www.vanraam.co.uk/tricycle-for-a ... t/page/262

Not cheap and I'd ask how well they handle hills but it might allow you to be self sufficient.

 

[Healing Pilgrim]

Muchas gracias to you all for your support & creative and innovative suggestions!! (Sorry, I can't figure out how to answer back to your individual posts?!)

The Dixon Rollerback looks like a good option.. to anyone who was able to pull or push a cart - neither of which I can do.
Can't sit on a bicycle or wheelchair or cart either.
I'll take a look at the donkey sites, though it seems like el burros travel from (or only IN) France; and I'm planning to start from Pamplona rather than from over the border.

Any other ideas... please send them in!

I just KNOW there's an answer / angel out there.. I will continue to seek him/her/it out! :wink:

 

[David]

What news Healing Pilgrim? Have you had any success? and what does it mean for your plans should angels not come forward before you go - will you still go ahead and hope the Camino provides ?

Hope they have

Buen Camino :wink:

 

[Bajaracer]

Use Jacotrans to transport your bag at 7 euros per day, and ride the bus/taxi as needed to the next albergue would be your best bet, carry a cell phone to call for a taxi when you feel you are finished for the day.

 

[SYates]

I suggest you contact the http://www.csj.org.uk in London, they will have contact info for Spanish organizations / charities that help people to do the pilgrimage that couldn't do it otherwise. SY

 

[Bajaracer]

I only saw one donkey on my Camino, an Australian family rented one from a farmer in France for their 5 year old son and the older kids walked.
The father originally tried to buy the donkey from the farmer, but was denied, he let him rent the donkey and had to pay the farmer to pick up the donkey from Santiago and drive it back to SJPDP, with fuel prices in Spain, I sure wouldn't want to pay for the fuel there and back.
You also have to take into consideration, where will the donkey stay? Which albergues will allow them? Which albergues have a grazing area and water for them to drink? Does the place they are staying at have shelter for them if it rains? Do you have to clean up after them where they are staying at? There is work involved with a donkey, they also have to be taken care of along with yourself.

 

[piogaw]

healing pilgrim,

i wish you all the best for your upcoming camino. one thing that concerns me is the timing. would you considered starting your camino at the start of september? the weather this year has been very unpredictable and changeable. you will be taking a chance with the possibility of bad weather this late if it will take you at least 45 days to reach sdc.

good luck. buen camino and god bless.