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I shall be doing my fourth camino this year, after a year without one, due to major dental expenses that I no longer wished to ignore. I understand completely. Three years in a row, followed by one without, certainly leaves one with a longing which craves to be fulfilled. I am satisfying this longing until my departure in September (less than two months now!) by spending a lot of time on this forum and over-planning busily. Fortunately, there are lots of caminos still to walk. Hasta luego!This is the first year in the last four that we didn't do a Camino due to obligations at home ... and it's driving me crazy!
A bit of history (mine): I was unaware of any of this until one day my girlfriend said she was going to do the CF and wanted to know if I wanted to come along. Being completely ignorant, I said "Sure! What is it?" and, well, we were off. I had never done long distance hiking and certainly not in sustained periods of high winds, soaking rains with mud/water over the top of my shoes, followed by days of 30'+ temperatures in the baking sun. And, TBH, I kept thinking that this was just one of those "bucket list" things I could cross off.
Funny thing, though, by the following winter, we constantly looked back at the CF, all of our adventures, the great friends we made (some for only a day) and lost, the feeling of accomplishment, etc. Portugal certainly sounded interesting, soooo, "We really should see if last year was a fluke, right?" Starting in Sagres, the Rota Vicentina was beyond compare with its high cliffs and booming ocean surf below. Leaving Lisbon, we followed GR markings, which were missing as often as they were there, reading maps, getting lost, suddenly finding a trail marker again, getting lost again, until we got to Coimbra and found our first official CP marker, after which the numerous markers felt almost like cheating. Many fewer people than the previous year, but the solitude was wonderful.
In other words, by Christmas: "We should do France, right? But, just to make it interesting, let's bike from Paris to Le Puy en Velay first." And so we did. The biking portion was great; Europeans may not appreciate the difference between their bike culture and ours, but suffice it to say it's significant and we had many enjoyable days (albeit with temperatures again at 30'+, but who cares, amirite?). And the hiking to Santiago was fantastic ... beautiful farms, lovely villages, friendly locals. And, OMG, the food! Is everyone in France a master chef? We want to go back, but ...
... "Let's do the Via Francengina this year!" Due to obligations (again!) we could only start in Siena and hike to Rome, and I swear some of the topo maps were the mirror image of what they should've been, but Italy, well, it's Italy, right? So much to see and do along the way and, again, the food! (I see I'm developing a theme here.)
Which brings me to the reason for this post. ("Finally, everyone murmured.") It's July and we haven't been anywhere yet because my girlfriend retired this Spring and there were many issues to deal with, and I feel like I've wasted a year of hiking time. Yes, we're going to hike in Cornwall in Autumn, then trek across Scotland before hitting Ireland, so I've got that going for me but, darn it, I miss doing a Camino!
A long post ("Ya think?"), but I guess if I can't be on a Camino somewhere, then the next best thing is remembering the ones I have done, eh? So, for all the new people planning their first Camino, a warning: It will get in your blood, and if one is good, well, two, three, four etc are better! Good luck to everyone out there, first timers and old hands alike!
having walked every year since 2010 but two, I can sympathize. The missing years definitely left on itch to be scratched. On the plus side, though, it gives one time to contemplate what the real objectives are. Bon chemin!but I guess if I can't be on a Camino somewhere, then the next best thing is remembering the ones I have done, eh?
Hi ray j,This is the first year in the last four that we didn't do a Camino due to obligations at home ... and it's driving me crazy!
A bit of history (mine): I was unaware of any of this until one day my girlfriend said she was going to do the CF and wanted to know if I wanted to come along. Being completely ignorant, I said "Sure! What is it?" and, well, we were off. I had never done long distance hiking and certainly not in sustained periods of high winds, soaking rains with mud/water over the top of my shoes, followed by days of 30'+ temperatures in the baking sun. And, TBH, I kept thinking that this was just one of those "bucket list" things I could cross off.
Funny thing, though, by the following winter, we constantly looked back at the CF, all of our adventures, the great friends we made (some for only a day) and lost, the feeling of accomplishment, etc. Portugal certainly sounded interesting, soooo, "We really should see if last year was a fluke, right?" Starting in Sagres, the Rota Vicentina was beyond compare with its high cliffs and booming ocean surf below. Leaving Lisbon, we followed GR markings, which were missing as often as they were there, reading maps, getting lost, suddenly finding a trail marker again, getting lost again, until we got to Coimbra and found our first official CP marker, after which the numerous markers felt almost like cheating. Many fewer people than the previous year, but the solitude was wonderful.
In other words, by Christmas: "We should do France, right? But, just to make it interesting, let's bike from Paris to Le Puy en Velay first." And so we did. The biking portion was great; Europeans may not appreciate the difference between their bike culture and ours, but suffice it to say it's significant and we had many enjoyable days (albeit with temperatures again at 30'+, but who cares, amirite?). And the hiking to Santiago was fantastic ... beautiful farms, lovely villages, friendly locals. And, OMG, the food! Is everyone in France a master chef? We want to go back, but ...
... "Let's do the Via Francengina this year!" Due to obligations (again!) we could only start in Siena and hike to Rome, and I swear some of the topo maps were the mirror image of what they should've been, but Italy, well, it's Italy, right? So much to see and do along the way and, again, the food! (I see I'm developing a theme here.)
Which brings me to the reason for this post. ("Finally, everyone murmured.") It's July and we haven't been anywhere yet because my girlfriend retired this Spring and there were many issues to deal with, and I feel like I've wasted a year of hiking time. Yes, we're going to hike in Cornwall in Autumn, then trek across Scotland before hitting Ireland, so I've got that going for me but, darn it, I miss doing a Camino!
A long post ("Ya think?"), but I guess if I can't be on a Camino somewhere, then the next best thing is remembering the ones I have done, eh? So, for all the new people planning their first Camino, a warning: It will get in your blood, and if one is good, well, two, three, four etc are better! Good luck to everyone out there, first timers and old hands alike!
Sorry to hear about your sister. Hope all turns out well.Been doing multiple Caminos since 2011. This year I started in Le Puy on 5 June and walked to Cahors. Bussed from Toulouse to Burgos on 4 July and started walking again to Astorga because I love the Meseta.
In Hontanos I received an email that my sister was in the ICU in a hospital in Cincinnati due to cancer issues.
So I took a bus from Castro to Bilbao and was home on 24 hours. My Camino is over for 2019.
So sorry to hear about your friend. I'm sure you'll keep her memory alive on your travels.I’ve walked at least one Camino each year... I live on the Vezeley and so the Camino (and the odd pilgrim) are never far away. I was due to walk the Ingles in June. My last three trips to Santiago have been with a couple of my walking buddies from here in France.
I never walked in June because my dear walking buddy died. She was way too young.
But the year isn’t lost. I will walk in the autumn and I hope to walk again next year and the year after that and for as long as I can... if for no other reason than because I can... and Jaqui can’t.
Enjoy your planning and have a great walk... wherever it leads you ❤
This was us... last yearView attachment 61125
Been doing multiple Caminos since 2011. This year I started in Le Puy on 5 June and walked to Cahors. Bussed from Toulouse to Burgos on 4 July and started walking again to Astorga because I love the Meseta.
In Hontanos I received an email that my sister was in the ICU in a hospital in Cincinnati due to cancer issues.
So I took a bus from Castro to Bilbao and was home on 24 hours. My Camino is over for 2019.
Been doing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
In Hontanos I received an email that my sister was in the ICU in a hospital in Cincinnati due to cancer issues.
So I took a bus from Castro to Bilbao and was home on 24 hours. My Camino is over for 2019.
How do you compare a sunset vs a lazy, rainy afternoon - both are perfect and great in their own ways. That's what it's like trying to compare food in Italy to France to Spain to Portugal. Each are delicious in their own special way. That said, France is probably "specialer", although Italy is a very close second. And for seafood, well, I'd take Portugal any day.Great story that I am sure sounds so much like many people, myself included. How was the food in Italy compared to France? Having traveled to Italy a few times I am sure it was fantastic also. When I think of my walk from Le Puy to Santiago in 2014 the first thing that comes to me ALWAYS is the food I had in the Gites at night. WOWWWWW! When people talk about how good the food is in Spain I always think, get to France and your taste buds will be in heaven. Starting Camino number 5 in November and can't wait. Hope you get out there soon. Your girlfriend has retired and maybe you have too. May I suggest walking a different time of the year to avoid those scorching summer temperatures. I was reading that climate change will be effect Western European summers particularly hard with more intense and longer heat waves. Last year and this have illustrated this fact dramatically. Why Western Europe? I didn't quite understand the reasoning. Tradewinds, atmospheric conditions, barometric something or other.
If you love history try walking the Via De la Plata. It is chock full of Spanish/Roman history and great historic Roman sites. That will be my next camino after this one. I plan on doing it in March/April. Just a suggestion and March isn't too far away. I think it can rain alot during that time period and there can be some tricky sections with flooding and detours. I am not sure about this so maybe someone can chime in on this.
I like sunsets better as I was luckily born with the lazy gene so I can achieve that state morning, noon or night.How do you compare a sunset vs a lazy, rainy afternoon - both are perfect and great in their own ways. That's what it's like trying to compare food in Italy to France to Spain to Portugal. Each are delicious in their own special way. That said, France is probably "specialer", although Italy is a very close second. And for seafood, well, I'd take Portugal any day.
Yes, our retirements open up opportunities to travel during (hopefully) more reasonable weather. But, regardless, I enjoy a challenge (maybe not at the time, but afterwards), and if every day has perfect weather ... well, then. Thanks for the recommendation - I'll check it out. Best of luck on your next Camino!
One lesson I learned from our two brief Caminos is that you are exactly where you are meant to be right now.This is the first year in the last four that we didn't do a Camino due to obligations at home ... and it's driving me crazy!
A bit of history (mine): I was unaware of any of this until one day my girlfriend said she was going to do the CF and wanted to know if I wanted to come along. Being completely ignorant, I said "Sure! What is it?" and, well, we were off. I had never done long distance hiking and certainly not in sustained periods of high winds, soaking rains with mud/water over the top of my shoes, followed by days of 30'+ temperatures in the baking sun. And, TBH, I kept thinking that this was just one of those "bucket list" things I could cross off.
Funny thing, though, by the following winter, we constantly looked back at the CF, all of our adventures, the great friends we made (some for only a day) and lost, the feeling of accomplishment, etc. Portugal certainly sounded interesting, soooo, "We really should see if last year was a fluke, right?" Starting in Sagres, the Rota Vicentina was beyond compare with its high cliffs and booming ocean surf below. Leaving Lisbon, we followed GR markings, which were missing as often as they were there, reading maps, getting lost, suddenly finding a trail marker again, getting lost again, until we got to Coimbra and found our first official CP marker, after which the numerous markers felt almost like cheating. Many fewer people than the previous year, but the solitude was wonderful.
In other words, by Christmas: "We should do France, right? But, just to make it interesting, let's bike from Paris to Le Puy en Velay first." And so we did. The biking portion was great; Europeans may not appreciate the difference between their bike culture and ours, but suffice it to say it's significant and we had many enjoyable days (albeit with temperatures again at 30'+, but who cares, amirite?). And the hiking to Santiago was fantastic ... beautiful farms, lovely villages, friendly locals. And, OMG, the food! Is everyone in France a master chef? We want to go back, but ...
... "Let's do the Via Francengina this year!" Due to obligations (again!) we could only start in Siena and hike to Rome, and I swear some of the topo maps were the mirror image of what they should've been, but Italy, well, it's Italy, right? So much to see and do along the way and, again, the food! (I see I'm developing a theme here.)
Which brings me to the reason for this post. ("Finally," everyone murmured.) It's July and we haven't been anywhere yet because my girlfriend retired this Spring and there were many issues to deal with, and I feel like I've wasted a year of hiking time. Yes, we're going to hike in Cornwall in Autumn, then trek across Scotland before hitting Ireland, so I've got that going for me but, darn it, I miss doing a Camino!
A long post ("Ya think?"), but I guess if I can't be on a Camino somewhere, then the next best thing is remembering the ones I have done, eh? So, for all the new people planning their first Camino, a warning: It will get in your blood, and if one is good, well, two, three, four etc are better! Good luck to everyone out there, first timers and old hands alike!
Way too young indeed. But still inspiring you, how beautiful. God Bless, to you and to Jacqui's memory.I’ve walked at least one Camino each year... I live on the Vezeley and so the Camino (and the odd pilgrim) are never far away. I was due to walk the Ingles in June. My last three trips to Santiago have been with a couple of my walking buddies from here in France.
I never walked in June because my dear walking buddy died. She was way too young.
But the year isn’t lost. I will walk in the autumn and I hope to walk again next year and the year after that and for as long as I can... if for no other reason than because I can... and Jaqui can’t.
Enjoy your planning and have a great walk... wherever it leads you ❤
This was us... last yearView attachment 61125
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