Five years in the making

[The Beer Guy]

Hi, my name is Chris and I have been dreaming of walking the camino for over 5 years. Like many, my infatuation began after stumbling up The Way one night watching movies. As a father and husband it is hard to explain to my wife why I need to be gone for 30 or so days to complete this quest. It is just as hard to actually find that much time to be gone from home. Now that I own my own business, and have placed trust and responsibilities in my staff, I can finally make real plans to be gone for that long and still have a job when I return.

Like most first timers, I have the laundry list of questions: Which route, what time of year, which guidebook, how long, what size pack, shoes vs boots, etc... I hope to spend some time researching those questions through this forum and finding at least a few answers.

A little more about me: I am in the Coast Guard Reserves, going on 17 years now. I own a 10 barrel craft brewery and we make over 30 different beers, I like to cook, eat, drink, travel, and listen to music. My favorite travel destination so far has been Tokyo.

 

[SabsP]

Welcome here @The Beer Guy !

Take your time to browse through this website. You will find a wealth of information.

Craft brewery! Wonderful I tasted some great artisanal USA beers.
I'm happy for you that you can give over some responsibilities to your staff.

Suggestion : ask your wife if she wants to join this forum too so she can see for herself what the attraction is in walking a Camino.

All the best with the preparations.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Hi, my name is Chris and I have been dreaming of walking the camino for over 5 years. Like many, my infatuation began after stumbling up The Way one night watching movies. As a father and husband it is hard to explain to my wife why I need to be gone for 30 or so days to complete this quest. It is just as hard to actually find that much time to be gone from home. Now that I own my own business, and have placed trust and responsibilities in my staff, I can finally make real plans to be gone for that long and still have a job when I return.

Like most first timers, I have the laundry list of questions: Which route, what time of year, which guidebook, how long, what size pack, shoes vs boots, etc... I hope to spend some time researching those questions through this forum and finding at least a few answers.

A little more about me: I am in the Coast Guard Reserves, going on 17 years now. I own a 10 barrel craft brewery and we make over 30 different beers, I like to cook, eat, drink, travel, and listen to music. My favorite travel destination so far has been Tokyo.

Hi Chris! Welcome to the forum! You will find lots of information you need or want on here, if you cannot find it, ask.

I am a real ale lover here in the UK and have tasted some really great beers from the US. Keep up the good work!

Happy planning
Davey

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi, my name is Chris and I have been dreaming of walking the camino for over 5 years. Like many, my infatuation began after stumbling up The Way one night watching movies. As a father and husband it is hard to explain to my wife why I need to be gone for 30 or so days to complete this quest. It is just as hard to actually find that much time to be gone from home. Now that I own my own business, and have placed trust and responsibilities in my staff, I can finally make real plans to be gone for that long and still have a job when I return.

Like most first timers, I have the laundry list of questions: Which route, what time of year, which guidebook, how long, what size pack, shoes vs boots, etc... I hope to spend some time researching those questions through this forum and finding at least a few answers.

A little more about me: I am in the Coast Guard Reserves, going on 17 years now. I own a 10 barrel craft brewery and we make over 30 different beers, I like to cook, eat, drink, travel, and listen to music. My favorite travel destination so far has been Tokyo.

Hello, Chris, and a warm welcome to the Forum.

Here is a link which also may be of help as you begin: American Pilgrims on Camino's FAQs about a camino pilgrimage

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:

1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.

 

[RJM]

Good luck and happy planning.
My best advice is to keep things simple, and to buy a good detailed guidebook about the route you decide upon and then read it and research.

 

[Phil Smith]

Hello Chris ... when you get to Leon, make sure you pop into the Four Lions Brewery; you won't regret it!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi Chris...I'm Chrissy. Welcome to the forum! I personally prefer wine to beer, but my hubby and two sons love craft beer and IPA's have become their personal favorites.
As the others have said, you will find everything you need to know on this forum for a successful camino...and more!

 

[Deleted member 56069]

Welcome aboard Chris. A lot of good people on this forum with a lot of accumulated Camino experience to share. Just one word of caution. Camino's can get kind of addictive. I have walked six so far, since my first in 2014 and I am planning my seventh for the fall of 2020. Compared to many here I am still kind of a rookie. Many others that hang out here are also so afflicted with the Camino addiction.
Don't say you weren't warned!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Welcome aboard Chris. A lot of good people on this forum with a lot of accumulated Camino experience to share. Just one word of caution. Camino's can get kind of addictive. I have walked six so far, since my first in 2014 and I am planning my seventh for the fall of 2020. Compared to many here I am still kind of a rookie. Many others that hang out here are also so afflicted with the Camino addiction.
Don't say you weren't warned!

Truer words were never spoken @zrexer! I've walked five various caminos since my first one in 2015, and am planning my sixth for this coming spring.

 

[henrythedog]

Four (and a bit) caminos later and I’m already thinking about the next trip before I’ve even left Spain.

Chris - I have to tell you that when I read your original post all I see is ‘blah blah BEER blah blah’. It’s a bit distracting.

Don’t over think your trip, it’s really not that complicated.

Any Spanish that you can learn to speak - even half a dozen simple phrases - will enhance your experience immensely.