I became familiar with the Camino Frances back in 2013 as many have but are unwilling to admit by watching the movie The Way. I awoke as I often do early Sunday morning due to my incapacity to sleep in and watched The Way. I knew nothing about the film nor the Camino but was amazed by the thought that there exists a route dedicated to hickers who are seeking their souls,their fitness, their whatever it is they are seeking on this 800km adventure. I was amazed. Upon watching the movie I impatiently awaited my wife to awake so I could introduce the thought to her. We watched it together and at its completion she immediately said to me" you want to do it don't you"? I was hooked.
Because it was not feasible for us to take the time to do the full route at that time we decided we would walk from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. Our 20 year old son accompanied us on the trip.
My wife had much hardship along the way as she developed blisters early on and never fully recovered from them. She suffered pretty much the whole way. I think she endured the adventure just to compliment me as she knew the importance that it was for me.
Our son didn't walk much with us but was pretty much a social butterfly the whole way. He walked with great speed but would slow down to chat with almost everyone he passed so he knew quite a few people along the trail and consequently he was very popular amongs our fellow peligrinos.
For me the Camino was everything and more than what I expected. I truly enjoyed the entire concept of walking a historic route with dynamic people from all around the world. It was a true and humbling experience and I knew when leaving Leon and arriving in SdC that it could not stop here.
My plan was for in 2017 , to take a time out from my life and do the full 800 K. Since we came back from Spain there has not been a day I haven't thought about this. The thought of going back to walk the entire Camino has been my mood maker since our return. Whether my wife would accompany for the full distance, part of the distance, or non of the distance I was determined to do it anyways. 2017 could not come fast enough.....
NOW this past March 26th, Easter weekend, while my wife was out doing some shopping I decided to prune some of the branches off of the large Maple tree the we have in front of our house. Well things didn't turn out so well for me. A large branch that I cut came around and fractured the ladder that i was standing on. As a result I came falling to the ground where I fractured my pelvis. It took a specialized orthopaedic surgical team over 6 hours to put the whole thing back together. My surgeons said it was not a nice fracture but the prognosis was good.
Well here I am some 9 weeks after the operation asking if I will be able to realize my dream. The pain I endure is excruciating still. I thought by now that I would have been able to walk and go back to work but if I walk the pain only gets worse. It is clear to me now that I will be restricted to my chair for at least the summer. Friends tell me I am fortunate as I have ample insurance and funds to carry me on but my main concern is if I will be able to realize my real dream of walking all 800k.
A few words of wisdom from those of you who have experienced a similar experience but were able to realize your dream would be greatly appreciated.
Buen Camino
Mike from Canada
Because it was not feasible for us to take the time to do the full route at that time we decided we would walk from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. Our 20 year old son accompanied us on the trip.
My wife had much hardship along the way as she developed blisters early on and never fully recovered from them. She suffered pretty much the whole way. I think she endured the adventure just to compliment me as she knew the importance that it was for me.
Our son didn't walk much with us but was pretty much a social butterfly the whole way. He walked with great speed but would slow down to chat with almost everyone he passed so he knew quite a few people along the trail and consequently he was very popular amongs our fellow peligrinos.
For me the Camino was everything and more than what I expected. I truly enjoyed the entire concept of walking a historic route with dynamic people from all around the world. It was a true and humbling experience and I knew when leaving Leon and arriving in SdC that it could not stop here.
My plan was for in 2017 , to take a time out from my life and do the full 800 K. Since we came back from Spain there has not been a day I haven't thought about this. The thought of going back to walk the entire Camino has been my mood maker since our return. Whether my wife would accompany for the full distance, part of the distance, or non of the distance I was determined to do it anyways. 2017 could not come fast enough.....
NOW this past March 26th, Easter weekend, while my wife was out doing some shopping I decided to prune some of the branches off of the large Maple tree the we have in front of our house. Well things didn't turn out so well for me. A large branch that I cut came around and fractured the ladder that i was standing on. As a result I came falling to the ground where I fractured my pelvis. It took a specialized orthopaedic surgical team over 6 hours to put the whole thing back together. My surgeons said it was not a nice fracture but the prognosis was good.
Well here I am some 9 weeks after the operation asking if I will be able to realize my dream. The pain I endure is excruciating still. I thought by now that I would have been able to walk and go back to work but if I walk the pain only gets worse. It is clear to me now that I will be restricted to my chair for at least the summer. Friends tell me I am fortunate as I have ample insurance and funds to carry me on but my main concern is if I will be able to realize my real dream of walking all 800k.
A few words of wisdom from those of you who have experienced a similar experience but were able to realize your dream would be greatly appreciated.
Buen Camino
Mike from Canada