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Jose Manuel Crespo, former mountain climbing instructor, pilgrim, and member of the Asociacion de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Madrid."Dogs usually will not approach you when they see you carrying a pole or a walking stick. Don't worry if they bark, but they could bite you if they growl. In that event do not hurry on, run, or show fear. Raise your hand holding the stick, and cry out loud: "a casa!" Sometimes they go away. Protect yourself by striking the pole upwards/downwards, so that you have time to repeat your cry. If you get bitten, go to a doctor or pharmacy and afterwrds fill out a report with the nearest Guardia Civil Post."
Ok, I did meet a pack of dogs coming out of a little
village near Ganzo, in Galicia. Fortunately, I was not
alone on that stretch (I'd've been terrified if I
was). I forget the name of the village, we just passed
through it.
We were walking along the path, already outside of the
village -- typical gallego village in every way --
when a pack of five or six dogs started running toward
us. We had then stopped right before leaving the
village proper where John, the other pilgrim, was
adjusting his pack, quite calm. He said don't worry,
they won't bother us.
I said, "Uuuh ... I think they ARE bothering us,
they're running toward us!"
He replied, still calm, "Well, we have our sticks."
That didn't provide me with any comfort. I was scared
and they continued running, heading down the main path
now toward us. And you know how dogs are with fear.
Then, blessedly, the dogs' owner called them back and
they turned around. But that was very, very close. I'm
not sure we would have been able to fight off five or
six rather large dogs determinedly aiming toward us
...
Then, on a meseta-like path (but before the actual
Meseta), I was alone -- totally alone, no one near --
when I saw two dogs aiming along, just walking. I
tried to look as calm as possible as I turned down a
path that was kind of off the actual Camino. But they
ignored me and walked on. (whew!) So after a decent
interval, I turned back to the Camino path and they
had disappeared.
My other canine experiences were all positive. Once, I
tripped and fell down in the main street in
Castrojeriz, got scraped a bit and they patched me up
in one of the main bars there.
A lovely German shepherd wanted to walk with me when I
continued on. The bar owners said he'd accompany me to
Mostelares, he was a pilgrim dog. Oooohhh, I WISH I
remembered his name now because he was actually a
well-known perro peregrino. He supposedly died that
same season.
The other time, I walked some etapas with a couple of
Austrian girls accompanied by two dogs, one large and
one small. I got a chance to see what real perro
peregrinos were like to be in charge of.
I did feel for them, in the heat of those sections.
But they were fed and rested well, and did get lots of
water.
Those were my canine experiences. I'm still somewhat
afraid of dogs along the Way, especially if I ever
decide to do some in France.
I hear u, ditto here. I cracked up re: ur post about the bullwhip :lol: :!: Best :arrow: xm 8)the dog conversation got me stirred up. all in good fun.
Dealing with dogs
Spanish dogs are less of a problem than French ones but can occasionally be troublesome. Walkers will find a stick useful for a number of reasons, including keeping a dog at bay. Keep away from sheep and cattle being guarded by dogs and don't turn your back on dogs until at a safe distance. Avoiding eye contact is another tip. It is possible to buy a special alarm that emits a high-pitched noise that is supposed to stop a dog in its tracks; the cost is around £30. The word used to get dogs to 'sit' or 'lie down' is tumbate! said with authority. A1992 pilgrim said she just ignored dogs, pretended they weren't there and had no trouble. Source: Telegraph on line newspaper
we each have our own journey.
"...the spiritual part of me...tells me to walk from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela...to walk alone....to listen."
No. There is no plan. But for 5 weeks I have to leave every day a predetermined place A to walk to a predetermined place B (matter of fact by this definition the entire Camino is "predetermined"), because:Dawn of a new Day said:... i believe howie is having his trek PLANNED ...
Yes. Damn sure I am... And definitely on my own. The whole night, including dinner, sleep, and rest. I'm really looking forward to this self chosen solitude. I'm not interested in dinner talks. Remember: I will come to listen.Dawn of a new Day said:... and staying in hotels ...
Good question and actually asked by my dear wife too. But as I have said so many times before: buggered if I know... The "beckoning"? Probably. May be. No idea. Does it matter? Not to me.Dawn of a new Day said:... why the camino frances, if you want to be alone, no one around, not interested in the religious aspect ...
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