Hello everyone

[backlasher]

I'm a 76 year old in reasonably good health and thinking about walking a Camino. I'd probably start with a "baby" Camino to make sure I can finish but I'm fascinated by the spiritual dimension of the walk. Anyway, I'm glad to be here.

 

[woody66]

Welcome backlasher hope you get to walk soon.
You will have a great time.
$Woody

 

[Former member 92300]

Just so you know - if you are in reasonably good health, and if it is what you WANT to do.... you would probably be fine doing a longer Camino even your first go. The idea is to pace yourself and listen to your body. If you keep your plans flexible as many of us do, then you can walk until your body tells you to stop for the night. You can also take rest days as needed. For me - the idea of a "short Camino" to start is kind of counter productive. Why? It takes a good week or so to get in a good walking rhythm and get comfortable walking the longer distances every day. By the 2nd or 3rd week is when you start feeling better and then by the 4th or 5th week most of us are in pretty good shape. I am not saying to not do a short Camino if that is what you want to do, but letting you know that there could be advantages to just going "all in" and do the length of a Camino that you want to ultimately do. Also - many of us feel the deeper spiritual aspects of the Camino generally start affecting us in the later weeks of the walk. The first week or two you are focused on physical challenges and it is later that you get into the spiritual aspects. (For many of us anyway - not all).

Anyhow - I hope you get to do your Camino soon and in whatever way, distance, length of time you decide to do it! If you want the flexibility to do long or short days - look for routes that have many accommodations at shorter distances apart like much of the Frances and probably the Portuguese. Other routes may have longer distances between accommodations and are less ideal for those who want more flexibility in distances.

 

[henrythedog]

I'm a 76 year old in reasonably good health and thinking about walking a Camino. I'd probably start with a "baby" Camino to make sure I can finish but I'm fascinated by the spiritual dimension of the walk. Anyway, I'm glad to be here.

Excellent.

There’s something for everyone.

Only advice I can offer - whatever stage of life you’re at - is ‘get on with it’, it’s not as difficult, strange or confusing as many seem to assume and there’s a fair chance you’ll want to do it again.

There’s really no such thing as a ‘baby’ one; I’ve just had no more than a week of walking (padded out by prologue and epilogue) in which I filled 1 1/2 credentiales and bored everyone senseless. Next time I do the ‘full’ Frances Ivar will need to add server space.

 

[thepacman]

Hi @backlasher - I walked my first camino at the age of 63. That was 8 years ago. I walked a "baby" one (Portuguese Coastal) a couple of years later, pre-pandemic. Unless the sky falls in, I'll be walking the full 1,000 klm VDLP this year, starting 2 days after my 71st birthday. I say this to put the age thing into perspective.

One of the biggest lessons for me when I first walked the CF (the whole lot) was the issue of "I have to do "X"" . That is, I'll have "failed" if I don't do <.... fill in your own words ...>.

When you say "to make sure I can finish" I say, "for whom?". I went into my first camino with that sort of thought. Maybe it's different if you're a young 'un, but for us oldies, I now say, just go with the flow. Yes, our knees aren't as good as they used to be. Sure, maybe we're a bit slower. If you have to take a taxi because you're worn out today, then do it. At the age of 76, nobody will be keeping score.

I see that you're from Texas (I'm from Australia). I've not spent enough time in Texas to make any judgements, but I reckon I can fairly safely say that whatever you decide to do it'll be far far removed from normal Texan life, and you'll have heaps of fun.

Buen Camino ...

 

[CTLawGal]

Hi @backlasher - I walked my first camino at the age of 63. That was 8 years ago. I walked a "baby" one (Portuguese Coastal) a couple of years later, pre-pandemic. Unless the sky falls in, I'll be walking the full 1,000 klm VDLP this year, starting 2 days after my 71st birthday. I say this to put the age thing into perspective.

One of the biggest lessons for me when I first walked the CF (the whole lot) was the issue of "I have to do "X"" . That is, I'll have "failed" if I don't do <.... fill in your own words ...>.

When you say "to make sure I can finish" I say, "for whom?". I went into my first camino with that sort of thought. Maybe it's different if you're a young 'un, but for us oldies, I now say, just go with the flow. Yes, our knees aren't as good as they used to be. Sure, maybe we're a bit slower. If you have to take a taxi because you're worn out today, then do it. At the age of 76, nobody will be keeping score.

I see that you're from Texas (I'm from Australia). I've not spent enough time in Texas to make any judgements, but I reckon I can fairly safely say that whatever you decide to do it'll be far far removed from normal Texan life, and you'll have heaps of fun.

Buen Camino ...

“ I walked my first camino at the age of 63. That was 8 years ago.” So inspiring! I’m walking my first this year, just turned 64 and hope I too will be still walking them 8 years from now

 

[trecile]

I hope that he doesn't mind me mentioning this, but I met my friend @Oregon's Mark shortly before he walked his first Camino (SJPdP - Santiago) to celebrate his 75th birthday in 2017. With the exception of 2020 he has been back every year - and he can outwalk many 20 year olds!

 

[Don Camillo]

I started walking Camino when I was 55. I am now 61 and bar the "COVID years'" have walked a Camino each year.
The mind does not age the body does.
Do not hold back, go for a long contemplative Camino. See what it brings you and the people around you. Do not wait or prevaricate, the time to go is when you feel right for the challenge, and judging from your post that is now or fast approaching.
Your body is capable of exceeding your minds expectations and this is true of walking long distances. The first week, as has been pointed out, will open you up and walk you fit. Your brain will probably tell you "enough is enough" but expect this and push through it.The rest will be whatever you want to make of it. See where it takes you.
Shortly I set out on my venture this year. Previous years Caminos have enlightened me on where I want to be. And I want to be back, back in that space. Returning to a state of mind that the Camino fosters, religious or not, and I am guessing it will be the same for you.
So Buen Camino, take your first steps and the rest will follow.
Don.