CaminoCamarillo
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF (2020)
Hola! My name is Christopher, I’m 32 years old and I plan to walk the Camino Francés in 2020. I’m currently sitting at the airport lounge in Amsterdam waiting for my flight home to sunny California. I just completed the West Highland Way + The Great Glen Way in Scotland, as well as some side trips up Ben Lomond and Ben Nevis. 220 miles total with its highs and its lows.
This trip was been a goal of mine for the last year and a half; a motivation to lose weight, get in shape, eat better, and rekindle my love of the outdoors. I trained, I ran, I hiked, I walked and now it’s over...
I was fortunate to have two walking companions on my first day, Beth (from Pennsylvania?, 5x Camino veteran?) whom I’m fairly certain is active on these forums, (I’ve titled this post to catch your eye), plus another women from Spain. I credit both of you two for this:
I had briefly read about the Camino but I didn’t understand the Camino until finding these forums.. growing up with the Sierra Nevada’s as the traditional summer hiking trails - the idea of waking through large cities and proximity to busy roads (those were my perception at least) was a turn off. I put “wilderness” on a pedestal and thought I was better than others for seeking it (& solitude) out. The truth is, I wanted a social walk, the WHW was exactly that and after hearing Beth’s experiences it made me take a second look. And boy, all my preconceived notions were wrong!
The Pilgrim ethos/mindset is something I’ve failed to articulate my entire life. Finding this forum has been eye opening and instilled a profound calling. “A Pilgrim is grateful...”
Thank you all for sharing you’re experiences. I needed a new goal/motivation and now I am dead set on doing the Camino Francés in 2020.
Now, after a month away I have to break it to my boss I want 40 days off next year... should I wait at least a day? Lol.
This trip was been a goal of mine for the last year and a half; a motivation to lose weight, get in shape, eat better, and rekindle my love of the outdoors. I trained, I ran, I hiked, I walked and now it’s over...
I was fortunate to have two walking companions on my first day, Beth (from Pennsylvania?, 5x Camino veteran?) whom I’m fairly certain is active on these forums, (I’ve titled this post to catch your eye), plus another women from Spain. I credit both of you two for this:
I had briefly read about the Camino but I didn’t understand the Camino until finding these forums.. growing up with the Sierra Nevada’s as the traditional summer hiking trails - the idea of waking through large cities and proximity to busy roads (those were my perception at least) was a turn off. I put “wilderness” on a pedestal and thought I was better than others for seeking it (& solitude) out. The truth is, I wanted a social walk, the WHW was exactly that and after hearing Beth’s experiences it made me take a second look. And boy, all my preconceived notions were wrong!
The Pilgrim ethos/mindset is something I’ve failed to articulate my entire life. Finding this forum has been eye opening and instilled a profound calling. “A Pilgrim is grateful...”
Thank you all for sharing you’re experiences. I needed a new goal/motivation and now I am dead set on doing the Camino Francés in 2020.
Now, after a month away I have to break it to my boss I want 40 days off next year... should I wait at least a day? Lol.
Last edited:
