First Timers

[Chris O'Keefe]

Hello everyone. This is my first post but I have been followng the forum for some time and have found it a wealth of knowledge. Thank you to all of you who post, this is certainly a wonderful community! My wife is in her mid fifties and I am in my early 60s and we both have bad knees but we are setting off from Pamplona on the 8th May and hang the consequences. We were convinced to do the Way by our daugher who walked it in 2015 and raved about it (despite nearly crippling herself, but that's another story). We leave our home in Tasmania in just 2 weeks and will spend 3 nights in Barcelona and 3 in Pamplona prior to setting out. We don't envisage that we will be able to walk the whole way but can't wait to get there and start our adventure, however it might turn out. I hope that we will meet some of you as we go along.
Buen Camino.
Chris and Sue O'Keefe

 

[Kanga]

Hi @Chris O'Keefe and welcome to the forum. I met a lovely girl from Tasmania on my last Camino and have kept in touch through Facebook (it does have its uses). I hope you have a wonderful time. If you have done any bushwalking in Tassie you will find this a doddle.

 

[Chris O'Keefe]

Hi @Chris O'Keefe and welcome to the forum. I met a lovely girl from Tasmania on my last Camino and have kept in touch through Facebook (it does have its uses). I hope you have a wonderful time. If you have done any bushwalking in Tassie you will find this a doddle.

Thank you for your welcome Kanga. Yes, we have bushwalked here and it can certainly be challenging! I hope that we will manage ok but whatever happens we intend to enjoy it!

 

[Micah26]

Welcome Chris and Sue! May I suggest wearing some knee supports? When I started to train in the Adirondacks for my upcoming Camino my knees were not happy! I read on forum about Mueller Jumpers Knee Strap. They have been great for me... maybe they will help you too?!
Buen Camino

 

[nycwalking]

Buen camino.

 

[gerardcarey]

Hi Chris and welcome.
I always start by walking particularly slowly.
I figure this lets muscles and joints understand what they are in for and gradually prepare.
If annoying aches or pains develop I rest often. And I mean often. Every few minutes. Mostly for just 10 or twenty seconds with the troubled leg's knee bent and rested.
More often than not the problem dissipates.
Regards, good travelling and buen Camino.
Gerard

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Hi @Chris O'Keefe welcome to the forum. I am in my late 60s and walked the CF from St Jean to Santiago de Compostela and the CP from Porto to SdC. I could not have done this without trekking poles, they really took the strain off my knees. Buen Camino!

 

[natefaith]

Hi Chris and welcome to the Forum. Great advice here, and remember you can always send your pack ahead during the days to take extra weight off your knees (which you might already be planning!) . Enjoy it all and Buen Camino,
Faith

 

[Chris O'Keefe]

Hi @Chris O'Keefe welcome to the forum. I am in my late 60s and walked the CF from St Jean to Santiago de Compostela and the CP from Porto to SdC. I could not have done this without trekking poles, they really took the strain off my knees. Buen Camino!

Thanks Seb, yes we are taking some Black Diamond walking poles. I have already been getting used to them and they do seem to help.