Hello everyone :)

[wotbus@]

First, congratulations on a really great site. Soooo informative and a pleasure to surf.
OK, complete newbie here but totally hooked on "doing it" since my new partner began her third and final stage Way of St James SJPDP - Santiago on May 5th, beginning two years ago from Le Puy en Velay via Moissac. We have contact each evening to let me know where she stays, this evening at Atapuerca, and I do my best to be with her via Google Earth. She hopes to have her first rest day in Burgos tomorrow and I can't believe the speed she is traveling! She is 61 (she'll forgive me) with a 8kg pack.
I am not able to walk around a Garden Centre without looking for a chair due to a history of back problems but I regard myself as very fit for my age (73) and cycle a lot both on and off road and she stunned me by saying, as I waved her off on the train to SJPDP - "We'll do the same again together next year by bike", then she was gone!
Last year on holiday was the first and only time she rode a bike, all of 20minutes around the camp-site, so it's a challenge to both of us.
Now I have been given the heads up I can't wait to get her a suitable bike and do some training with her for next year, and gathering all the information I can.
Meanwhile, to all those who have completed the routes in the way that suits them best, congratulations, you deserve it, and to those intending this year by however means, I admire your courage and determination.

Edit changes pack weight from erroneous 20k.

 

[SYates]

Hello and welcome to the forum which is a virtual pilgrims albergue in its own right ;-) Please tell me that it was a typo and your partner isn't really walking with a 20kg backpack You might actually reconsidering doing the camino by bike if you have back problems as a correctly adjusted, and light!, backpack will allow for a better posture than being bend over on a bike. No matter what you decide and how you decide to do it - Buen Camino! SY

 

[wotbus@]

I'll confirm the weight after tomorrow's contact but I'm sure that's what she said and it certainly felt like it when I carried it from the car park to the train and as for my back problem, normally I am without unless I walk a lot but maybe this year I will try some practice walks with her when she returns to see how I get on as I would really prefer to walk it but having said that, maybe she is just as enthusiastic about riding it so early days yet

 

[SYates]

Try also walking with poles and get some physio in to learn correct posture. I have chronic back problems myself and I am fine walking but bad on a bike - but your mileage might vary as the saying goes. Buen Camino, SY

PS 20kg is insane, sorry to be so upfront, but it really is unnecessary unless you have very specific health or photographic requirements. And even then ...

 

[wotbus@]

Ha, little wonder you and possibly others were surprised. Not so much a typo but inaccuracy due to misunderstanding on my part. For 20kilo's read 8kil0's with water, sorry.

 

[SYates]

Good to hear! SY

 

[Introibo]

If you haven't walked with poles before do give them a go. They really made a difference
to my back pain.

 

[wotbus@]

Thanks Introibo - I haven't even walked before but thanks for the tip. I'm sure if and when the time comes my Pèlerine will get me sorted but the focus is on two wheels at the moment.

 

[wotbus@]

Well, she has been walking for a month with one rest day and limping too badly for my liking but with about 150k (approx) to go.
Today I clicked Google from Villafranca del Bierzo to Vega de Valcarce where she arrived just after lunch. Knowing how hard she is finding it even on a diet of pain-killers marginally smaller than her nourishment intake, I clicked on to see what's ahead of her tomorrow. Phew... and us on bikes next year...
I am astonished, whether on foot or wheels, that anyone actually does does this. More I "click" and study this site, more I am beginning to realize that a spiritual need would indeed seem and essential item in the packing list.
I'm outside the boots-v-bikes discussions. A Pilgrim is a person who makes a journey for spiritual reasons, full stop. No such thing a real-pilgrim as I read somewhere on the site.
Even though I am increasingly anxious for her well-being I can understand what is driving her on and I have to admire her and everyone else who have thought several times to stop, cried even, but instead gritted their teeth and started another day irrespective of weather; tired, in pain, wondering why you are doing it, dodgy morale but deep inside that "something" which keeps you going, that "something" which many of us never even know we posses!
I should add my partner passes on her brief contacts with other pilgrims; sometimes sad encounters of being in a bad physical shape but not willing or able to make the decision to stop, perhaps the biggest decision of all.
For all of you who have been there, I salute you

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Well, she has been walking for a month with one rest day and limping too badly for my liking but with about 150k (approx) to go.
Today I clicked Google from Villafranca del Bierzo to Vega de Valcarce where she arrived just after lunch. Knowing how hard she is finding it even on a diet of pain-killers marginally smaller than her nourishment intake, I clicked on to see what's ahead of her tomorrow. Phew... and us on bikes next year...
I am astonished, whether on foot or wheels, that anyone actually does does this. More I "click" and study this site, more I am beginning to realize that a spiritual need would indeed seem and essential item in the packing list.
I'm outside the boots-v-bikes discussions. A Pilgrim is a person who makes a journey for spiritual reasons, full stop. No such thing a real-pilgrim as I read somewhere on the site.
Even though I am increasingly anxious for her well-being I can understand what is driving her on and I have to admire her and everyone else who have thought several times to stop, cried even, but instead gritted their teeth and started another day irrespective of weather; tired, in pain, wondering why you are doing it, dodgy morale but deep inside that "something" which keeps you going, that "something" which many of us never even know we posses!
I should add my partner passes on her brief contacts with other pilgrims; sometimes sad encounters of being in a bad physical shape but not willing or able to make the decision to stop, perhaps the biggest decision of all.
For all of you who have been there, I salute you

And I make a salute to the woman you talked about in your story.
Wish you both well, Peter.

 

[wotbus@]

Thanks Peter. I am immensely proud of her. We only got together recently and she often spoke of her "walks" which I didn't, couldn't, really relate to as my passion has been for two wheels for many years. She text'd me this evening. "I will only do 12k tomorrow as it's difficult.." Bit of an understatement as I was there on Google and I see you did it last year so you know, and I shuddered at the thought of cycling it LOL.
Boy am I humbled and I have to say this site and what it's all about has truly opened up a new dimension for me after losing my wife a couple of years ago.