One caveat must be stated here...the
Camino Frances depicted in the film "The Way" IS the same as in reality. HOWEVER, and these are key points:
- The movie covers a pilgrimage from late September through early November. It is accurate for the time of year;
- The locations and sequences in the movie are NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT. Literary license was liberally taken; and most importantly,
- It is significantly more difficult than the film makes it appear, but not overly so.
- I have personally NEVER met anyone anywhere along the Camino on my two pilgrimages along this route remotely like the character "Ramon..."
On my first Camino in 2013 I met too many pilgrims from all over the world, of varied ages and physical condition, on the Frances whose only knowledge of the Camino came from the film. They geared up, showed up, and typically lasted perhaps a week before throwing in the proverbial towel. Many, many comments like: "this is
way harder than the movie," or "this is not where the movie shows it," or "it did not look this steep in the movie" were heard.
Well, any person in reasonably fit health, who has proper hiking boots or shoes, and can climb several stair runs or sports stadium bleacher seating, whilst carrying a rucksack with 10 kilos in it can do the
Camino Frances. EVERYTHING between the first and last of about one million steps from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela can be managed and coped with. Millions of pilgrims have been doing this for over 1200 YEARS. With the right mental outlook, nearly anyone can accomplish this pilgrimage.
I have personally encountered pilgrims in manual wheelchairs, both self-propelled and being pushed; blind pilgrims tethered to sighted persons; and stroke survivors dragging one bad leg behind each step with the one good leg. In fact, there is one famous man (who I shall not name) I had the privilege of meeting in 2013, who I saw two consecutive years, who walked from Strasbourg, France to St. Jean Pied de Port and THEN onward to Santiago de Compostela! both years, he brought me to tears just seeing him.
There are also frequently, pilgrims on crutches, pilgrims with artificial limbs, etc. I have encountered pilgrims lugging CPAP machines, iced insulin, and special foods for their diets. Many of us have also seen parents with infants in carry slings and harnesses, toddlers in prams (jogging strollers), and being hand-carried by adults. I have seem families with young children of 6 or 7 years walking with a parent. Each child carries a small, bookbag sized backpack / rucksack. In 2o14 I met a woman carrying a month-old infant in her arms. She stated that she had been planning this Camino for years, and she was not about to let pregnancy or having a baby interrupt those plans.
Basically, there are NO obstacles or limitations that cannot be overcome if one has the will. Just make basic preparations and think before you start. Everything else can be sorted along the way.
The best source of information at least IMHO is this forum. You can research the appropriate gear to consider in this forum. You can learn about virtually EVERY aspect of doing a Camino here as well. Finally, if you need to know something you cannot find using the search function at the top of this page, just post the question. You WILL get many answers from people who have been there and done that. Remember, the only dumb question is the one you hesitate to ask.
The internet writ large, can be a very good place for gathering information. However, it must all be considered carefully and in the appropriate context. The last source of information would be a commercial film or a travel program about the program. Consider that there are reasons why film (analog and digital) is edited before it is shown in final form.
I hope this helps. Those of us who are addicted to this avocation, salute you. We look forward to making your acquaintance along The Way.
