Hello...new member...leaving from San Francisco, CA to SJPDP March 15, 2015.

[Mary Sue]

Hi fellow pilgrims. I've never hiked or carried a pack so all your information is greatly appreciated. I can only walk part of the Camino Frances and will finish the second half next year. I am shy and a little nervous about going to a foreign country. I speak very little Spanish but I have been practicing. Thank all of you for the words of encouragement. See you on the trail.

 

[lettinggo]

Hola and welcome to the forum

There is nothing wrong in being a little shy and nervous, so do remember that you only have to be yourself on the Camino.
Try to focus on one thing which is to get to your starting point and take it a day at the time.
You will meet many pilgrims and kindness and many people discover new or forgotten strength in themselves which may be part of the transformation that many pilgrims experience.

Regarding your nervousness, you may want to use this forum to get some extra reassurance.
To post a little about yourself; height, weight, physical condition, gender and the backpack and gear you are planning to take with you, will result in suggestions that will confirm your choices or add some that you have not thought about.
This way, you will not have the practicalities to burden you so much, and make you focus on the simpler and easier things; which would be walking, talking, eating and sleeping.

Do not worry to much about your Spanish. Many pilgrims do not speak a word of Spanish, so you are already ahead of many.
And if needed, many Spanish people speak some English although you may need to use a little time to find the right person.

Think of it as a marvelous adventure is about to begin, approach it with an open mind and bring the best of you.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[dougfitz]

Welcome. I expect the time till your departure will fly, and you will worry you won't get everything done. Try and balance the three elements of your preparation, mental, spiritual and physical. If you are already strong in one, attend to the others more, but don't neglect any one completely.

 

[Albertinho]

hey Mary Sue. They won't eat you in Spain . It is a civilised country.
Read all the information on this forum from many experienced hikers they went before you and did not end up in the cooking pots of the Iberian tribes but arrived safely back home looking back at their most wonderful experiences and memories of walking the camino.
Enjoy it.
Buen camino

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Bravo! Albertinho.
Mary Sue. You don't have afraid. We don't eat you.
Enjoy our country and our hospitality.
Buen Camino.

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Ah! And remember that San Francisco and California were Spanish.
Spain is in Europe not under Méjico (México). LoL
The Spaniards have good sense of humor.

 

[Al the optimist]

No idea where you are from or how tight your time-frame is. Just relax and take it easy for the first few days. After that you will soon strengthen and it will get easier. Listen carefully to what the Pilgrim Office in SJPdP say about the weather and advice about route to take. Don't over plan, go with the flow. Read and seek the advice available here, You don't have a lot of time to train so don't overreach yourself. Better to arrive a little unfit than not arrive at all or arrive injured. Remember bag transport is available. Always have local taxi numbers available. Be prepared to take a bus, a short day, a rest day. Happy planning and Buen Camino.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The first time I walked the Camino, I had never backpacked.
I wasn't so afraid of going alone as much as I was afraid of the unexpected.
I had a kazillion questions and in the end made some good and some bad decisions.

I was told not to walk the VDLP in summer - I chose to try anyway and failed.
It was dangerously hot.
Instead of tossing in the towel, I hopped up to the Camino Frances and had a great time!
I took WAY too much stuff and left about half of it in free boxes within the first week.
(take things you aren't too attached to because you WILL dump things and postage costs more than most items will cost to replace)

It was the trip of a lifetime and I've been back almost every year since.
Do what feels right.
You will make a few mistakes - learn from them
You will make a lot of friends.
You will come home with beautiful memories.
When you discover, on the trail, you've made a mistake, like maybe taken too much... adjust... get rid of things... change things...

And if I could give advice it would be
1) Don't stress over gear or over plan this - just use what's in your closet and go
2) Wake up each morning and give thanks for being alive and for the simple ability to walk
3) Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture - when in Rome...
4) Don't have expectations - be like a leaf in the wind and the Camino will take care of you

 

[Albertinho]

Bravo! Albertinho.
Mary Sue. You don't have afraid. We don't eat you.
Enjoy our country and our hospitality.
Buen Camino.

¡ Mucho gusta !

 

[Pilgrim-S-414]

There is a link to the tips and advice section of my blog in my signature. I hope you find it useful.

Buen Camino!