- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances Roncesvalles to Sahagun Oct 2016
Sahagun to SDC April 2017 Burgos to SDC April 2018
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You answered a question that occurred to me this morning about flies on the Camino. IT occurred to me as I perfected my "Australian Salute" ... swatting flies from my face.Well here I am back in the snows of Ontario after a month in Spain. I have learned a couple of things from the last Camino.
Number one is that the national bird of Spain has to be the common house fly. I once again learned to eat with one hand and flap the other hand wildly around to protect my nose, mouth and other orifices of interest to the little pests. I drew the line though when I discovered a fly doing the back stroke in my beer. At least, I assume it was the back stroke as I can't say that I've seen the under carriage of a house fly. As with all things Camino; learning and adaptation gets you through.
The second piece of information was a little more serious. As I lurch down the road to my 80th birthday; I am looking at facing the fact that I may have walked my last Camino. My mind is more than eager, but my body has gone from: will you please stop this to Hey cut it out! The body moves more willingly into our elder years than does the mind. I finished the last walk, from Burgos to Santiago, and said to myself: this is it. I am going to stop Camino excursions, and concentrate on representing Canada at the next summer Olympics in a swimming event......Hmm. For those of you not familiar with me; that was not serious, I don't think.
Decisions of this magnitude need to be made in the fullness of time and not when your feet and back hurt. By the way, try and explain that a decision to walk a Camino is an issue of magnitude, to someone who is not a pilgrim. This may result in rolling of the eyes, gnashing of teeth and softly uttered words not meant for the ears of children, from family and close friends. I am supremely grateful that wife, while not interested in the trip, heartily encourages me to go. She says that I come back a better person and I prefer to believe this and not other explanations. When I was walking the Appalachian Trail, in eastern United States of America, I commented to a someone that I stopped to talk with, that I needed to get home as I had been gone for three weeks. He indicated that I should not fool myself as this may have been the best three weeks of my wife's married life. A little of both perhaps??
Thank you for indulging my ramblings. I will come to some decision. My friend, Steve, has already floated a Spring Camino Portugues. Besides that, I need to get into Santiago when Faith is behind the counter at the pilgrim center. I have missed her smiling face the last three times. In the meantime, to all of you planning a Camino adventure, be it physical or mental, may I say: Buen Camino......Bumpa/Jim
No doubt you're the only one here with that kind of wondering going on in the background. It's a bit to contemplate, to be sure. I guess shorter stages, done gently and without weight are an answer - to a point. But at some point.....sigh.Thank you for indulging my ramblings. I will come to some decision. My friend, Steve, has already floated a Spring Camino Portugues. Besides that, I need to get into Santiago when Faith is behind the counter at the pilgrim center. I have missed her smiling face the last three times. In the meantime, to all of you planning a Camino adventure, be it physical or mental, may I say: Buen Camino......Bumpa/Jim
No doubt you're the only one here with that kind of wondering going on in the background. It's a bit to contemplate, to be sure. I guess shorter stages, done gently and without weight are an answer - to a point. But at some point.....sigh.
Only you will know when that point has come.
And I do hope for you that it is not yet.
OMG...why have I not thought of that. The stories I have to tell......Jim, it may be time to start thinking about getting a hiking trailer with a seat and a sign saying "Pull me and I'll tell you stories."
Best wishes for the rest of your journeys.
Great idea! Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that Jim is a master story teller.Jim, it may be time to start thinking about getting a hiking trailer with a seat and a sign saying "Pull me and I'll tell you stories."
Best wishes for the rest of your journeys.
Faith is definitely one of the Camino Angels. I always left Pilgrim House a happier person after seeing her!Besides that, I need to get into Santiago when Faith is behind the counter at the pilgrim center. I have missed her smiling face the last three times.
I too am “ enjoying” a snowy and bitterly cold Canadian day here in Montreal . My very first Camino was last fall ( at a girlish 73) and I am planning my Portuguese one for spring 2023. Gently planning as I know health and mobility are true gifts at this stage, gifts that now lie in an open palm and not in a firm fist. Let’s get through this winter and … who knows? A Buen Camino in the future ?Well here I am back in the snows of Ontario after a month in Spain. I have learned a couple of things from the last Camino.
Number one is that the national bird of Spain has to be the common house fly. I once again learned to eat with one hand and flap the other hand wildly around to protect my nose, mouth and other orifices of interest to the little pests. I drew the line though when I discovered a fly doing the back stroke in my beer. At least, I assume it was the back stroke as I can't say that I've seen the under carriage of a house fly. As with all things Camino; learning and adaptation gets you through.
The second piece of information was a little more serious. As I lurch down the road to my 80th birthday; I am looking at facing the fact that I may have walked my last Camino. My mind is more than eager, but my body has gone from: will you please stop this to Hey cut it out! The body moves more willingly into our elder years than does the mind. I finished the last walk, from Burgos to Santiago, and said to myself: this is it. I am going to stop Camino excursions, and concentrate on representing Canada at the next summer Olympics in a swimming event......Hmm. For those of you not familiar with me; that was not serious, I don't think.
Decisions of this magnitude need to be made in the fullness of time and not when your feet and back hurt. By the way, try and explain that a decision to walk a Camino is an issue of magnitude, to someone who is not a pilgrim. This may result in rolling of the eyes, gnashing of teeth and softly uttered words not meant for the ears of children, from family and close friends. I am supremely grateful that wife, while not interested in the trip, heartily encourages me to go. She says that I come back a better person and I prefer to believe this and not other explanations. When I was walking the Appalachian Trail, in eastern United States of America, I commented to a someone that I stopped to talk with, that I needed to get home as I had been gone for three weeks. He indicated that I should not fool myself as this may have been the best three weeks of my wife's married life. A little of both perhaps??
Thank you for indulging my ramblings. I will come to some decision. My friend, Steve, has already floated a Spring Camino Portugues. Besides that, I need to get into Santiago when Faith is behind the counter at the pilgrim center. I have missed her smiling face the last three times. In the meantime, to all of you planning a Camino adventure, be it physical or mental, may I say: Buen Camino......Bumpa/Jim
I think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.You answered a question that occurred to me this morning about flies on the Camino. IT occurred to me as I perfected my "Australian Salute" ... swatting flies from my face.
As everything is relative, I'm interested to hear from Australians that have walked the Camino. How do the flies in Spain compare to say... a walk along the Great Ocean Road?
I was thinking the same - both seasonal and dependent on the terrain. I don't remember ever having a problem with them.I think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.
I think there are vipers but likely you'll not see any (in the good way, not that they are really sneaky). If you managed to become an adult in rural Australia with what you have out there you can manage Spain.Which would segue into another curiosity... snakes. Since I plan to walk the 'road less traveled' and sleep, at least some, outside in my tent, what crawling nasties should I be aware of?
None, really. What Rick said.what crawling nasties should I be aware of?
Me neither. I have always walked in the Spring in Spain and recall never seeing any bugs outdoors or in restaurants.I think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.
One of my thoughts as well as they were much more prevalent than in my previous 5 tripsI think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.
Don't say that. We are about to do the Great Ocean Walk. Er, I assume you mean the Great Ocean Walk. From memory the Great Ocean Road is not very walker-friendly. As for Spanish Flies (no, not those ones, an urban myth anyway), not even in the same league mate. Same with the mozzies, enthusiastic amateurs but way short of Australian standards. The wine however, matches up very well, as does the beer, so it's all good.You answered a question that occurred to me this morning about flies on the Camino. IT occurred to me as I perfected my "Australian Salute" ... swatting flies from my face.
As everything is relative, I'm interested to hear from Australians that have walked the Camino. How do the flies in Spain compare to say... a walk along the Great Ocean Road?
But you have bears. A snake is not going to rip open your tent in the middle of the night and start snacking off your internal organs. Besides which, they don't like Twinkies. Not only that but if a snake does bite you (something they will do their utmost to avoid), with the right first aid and if you get to a hospital in time you have a better than sporting chance (we are a sporting nation after all, even our reptiles, except the crocodiles, of course) of making a full recovery. You can't say that about bears.None, really. What Rick said.
In that department, Oz beats Spain (and almost anywhere else) by miles.
Saw this story from your neck of the woods a few weeks back. I was amazed that any Aussie could have reached 11 years of age without learning not to play with highly venomous snakes!One, To me, the deadliest snake I see in Australia, The Eastern Brown, looks very much like the LEAST dangerous snake I grew up with back home... The Garter Snake. Never go by looks.
I've walked quite a few Caminos over the years. I've also walked a few days on the Larapinta Trail and in Nitmiluk National Park. Nothing I've ever come across in Spain comes even remotely close to the flies around Alice Springs! Luckily I was forewarned and a kind man passed on his head net before I got there. At least the little buggers don't bite like the midges I grew up with in Scotland but they did push my patience pretty close to the limit!As for Spanish Flies (no, not those ones, an urban myth anyway), not even in the same league mate.
I wondered that too. Sheep and cattle didn't seem very convincing as an explanation for the flies on the Larapinta trail. There weren't any on the short section I walked. Or much water either. But there were flies by the thousands!I have idly wondered why the difference. Spain has sheep and cows as has Australia, and Spain has arid dry areas too. But certainly nothing like the number of flies.
The beauty of walking in Spain in our old age is we don't have to carry bear spray AND a 2 lb handgun or an 8 lb shotgun.
a small Bluetooth speaker.
I think a very warm and longer summer this year (2022) meant that even well into October there were some days when the highs were still in mid 20sC!I think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.
Someone saw a snake on the Salvador and then also on Primitivo (between Grado and Salas). The one on the Salvador was apparently quite a nasty one, Kingslayer or something? My knowledge of snake is zero, perhaps that’s why I didn’t “see” them, because I was walking the same route on the same day as these 2 people who were discussing about snakes! Maybe I thought they were just tree branchesWhich would segue into another curiosity... snakes. Since I plan to walk the 'road less traveled' and sleep, at least some, outside in my tent, what crawling nasties should I be aware of?
Some places do. My albergue in La Espina, the room was so warm at night so I opened the windows. Saw they had mosquito net but alas with a big hole in the middle. So it was either not sleeping because of insects or because it was too hot. #firstworldproblemsIt's obvious when you consider that windows in Spain do not have fly screens
Hi @dick bird we walked - and loved - the Great Ocean Walk in 2015, starting from Apollo Bay on 17 November, so about the same time. We had a lot of flies on Day 1 when we walked to Cape Otway. And particularly the afternoon of that day. We wished we’d had nets over our caps. But I don’t recall them being so bad on the following days. May have been the particular 'flora and fauna' on that first afternoonDon't say that. We are about to do the Great Ocean Walk. Er, I assume you mean the Great Ocean Walk. From memory the Great Ocean Road is not very walker-friendly. As for Spanish Flies (no, not those ones, an urban myth anyway), not even in the same league mate. Same with the mozzies, enthusiastic amateurs but way short of Australian standards. The wine however, matches up very well, as does the beer, so it's all good.
Forget about the flies and snakes . . .
Jim, I thought your writing about seeing your last Camino approaching in the rear view mirror was wonderful. I just finished the CP and, at age 71, found some of my struggles harder to overcome than they had been in the past. Now, home again, how much R & R do I need to recover?? More than I thought!
But I also find myself starting to remember. The terrible weather I overcame. The snorer who compelled me to not stay in albergues for the remainder of my Camino, who almost got into a fist fight with a lady from Amsterdam because she complained to him about how he kept everyone up all night. The backpack which I thought was too heavy for any two-legged beast to carry, yet had everything I needed and not a bit more.
And the people. Ah, the people. Friends that now, weeks later, I message on FB and who message me back (us oldies still use FB). The joy of encountering acquaintances on the CP at the end of a long day at an anonymous cafe. The merchants along the way who were thoughtful and friendly. The new best friends I met in the last 3 days of my journey ( I've often told non-Camino friends that walking the Camino for a day with a stranger is like knowing them for a year. Two days, two years, etc.).
Good times.
Like that last bit of toothpaste in the tube, I thought I could squeeze out one last Camino before I toss the tube away. Now, reading your post, I realize that the tube is only half empty. If I squeeze it just right, I can get more out.
I will be curious as to whether you decide you can squeeze one more out, if you squeeze just the right way. Buen Camino, my friend, and thanks for sharing.
I think the best Australian accent I have heard in a Hollywood film was Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Unfortunately, he was supposed to talking cockney.I have seen many explanations for why it is so difficult for foreigners to mimic the Australian accent, but I hadn't thought about blaming flies until I saw an explanation that we know not to open our mouths too far in case we ingest these unwelcome visitors. Its simply difficult for others to match that articulation with barely open lips that Australians have been perfecting from childhood.
All I can say is "yikes"!We had a lot of flies on Day 1 when we walked
I sometimes have to ask my husband to repeat what he has said, to which he replies that I must be losing a bit of my hearing. I respond by telling him he mumbles as I have no prob hearing friends and family.Its simply difficult for others to match that articulation with barely open lips that Australians have been perfecting from childhood.
That's why I figured Jim's tale telling could get him a free trip across the camino.Jim, I thought your writing about seeing your last Camino approaching in the rear view mirror was wonderful.
But, if he's going to make his way by telling tales, he might as well go all in. Wear a brown floppy hat with a shell on it, a brown cloak, sandals, and carry a long branch with a gourd hanging off it. New pilgrims will pay big bucks to get their picture taken with him.That's why I figured Jim's tale telling could get him a free trip across the camino.
This is getting better and betterBut, if he's going to make his way by telling tales, he might as well go all in. Wear a brown floppy hat with a shell on it, a brown cloak, sandals, and carry a long branch with a gourd hanging off it. New pilgrims will pay big bucks to get their picture taken with him.
You’re absolutely right about Faith…she’s a very welcoming person. The Pilgrim House is a nice place to visit… a real place of respiteWell here I am back in the snows of Ontario after a month in Spain. I have learned a couple of things from the last Camino.
Number one is that the national bird of Spain has to be the common house fly. I once again learned to eat with one hand and flap the other hand wildly around to protect my nose, mouth and other orifices of interest to the little pests. I drew the line though when I discovered a fly doing the back stroke in my beer. At least, I assume it was the back stroke as I can't say that I've seen the under carriage of a house fly. As with all things Camino; learning and adaptation gets you through.
The second piece of information was a little more serious. As I lurch down the road to my 80th birthday; I am looking at facing the fact that I may have walked my last Camino. My mind is more than eager, but my body has gone from: will you please stop this to Hey cut it out! The body moves more willingly into our elder years than does the mind. I finished the last walk, from Burgos to Santiago, and said to myself: this is it. I am going to stop Camino excursions, and concentrate on representing Canada at the next summer Olympics in a swimming event......Hmm. For those of you not familiar with me; that was not serious, I don't think.
Decisions of this magnitude need to be made in the fullness of time and not when your feet and back hurt. By the way, try and explain that a decision to walk a Camino is an issue of magnitude, to someone who is not a pilgrim. This may result in rolling of the eyes, gnashing of teeth and softly uttered words not meant for the ears of children, from family and close friends. I am supremely grateful that wife, while not interested in the trip, heartily encourages me to go. She says that I come back a better person and I prefer to believe this and not other explanations. When I was walking the Appalachian Trail, in eastern United States of America, I commented to a someone that I stopped to talk with, that I needed to get home as I had been gone for three weeks. He indicated that I should not fool myself as this may have been the best three weeks of my wife's married life. A little of both perhaps??
Thank you for indulging my ramblings. I will come to some decision. My friend, Steve, has already floated a Spring Camino Portugues. Besides that, I need to get into Santiago when Faith is behind the counter at the pilgrim center. I have missed her smiling face the last three times. In the meantime, to all of you planning a Camino adventure, be it physical or mental, may I say: Buen Camino......Bumpa/Jim
I thought flies were the national bird… no?I think the flies must be a seasonal thing, I have never encountered them in Spain.
Forget about the flies and snakes . . .
Jim, I thought your writing about seeing your last Camino approaching in the rear view mirror was wonderful. I just finished the CP and, at age 71, found some of my struggles harder to overcome than they had been in the past. Now, home again, how much R & R do I need to recover?? More than I thought!
But I also find myself starting to remember. The terrible weather I overcame. The snorer who compelled me to not stay in albergues for the remainder of my Camino, who almost got into a fist fight with a lady from Amsterdam because she complained to him about how he kept everyone up all night. The backpack which I thought was too heavy for any two-legged beast to carry, yet had everything I needed and not a bit more.
And the people. Ah, the people. Friends that now, weeks later, I message on FB and who message me back (us oldies still use FB). The joy of encountering acquaintances on the CP at the end of a long day at an anonymous cafe. The merchants along the way who were thoughtful and friendly. The new best friends I met in the last 3 days of my journey ( I've often told non-Camino friends that walking the Camino for a day with a stranger is like knowing them for a year. Two days, two years, etc.).
Good times.
Like that last bit of toothpaste in the tube, I thought I could squeeze out one last Camino before I toss the tube away. Now, reading your post, I realize that the tube is only half empty. If I squeeze it just right, I can get more out.
I will be curious as to whether you decide you can squeeze one more out, if you squeeze just the right way. Buen Camino, my friend, and thanks for sharing.
Thank you Steve. Kind words indeed, in fact I may have to pay on our next visit to the Ale House. There are reasons why you have joined me on so many walks and some of them are exhibited in your kind post above.Hello Kathy. Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging post. I'm Jim's friend Steve who is inviting him to join me on a Porto to Santiago Camino in the spring. Jim (Bumpa) has been my walking mentor for many years. I've joined him on walks on the Appalachian Trail in the U.S, the West Highland Way in Scotland, the Wicklow Way in Ireland and of course the Camino Frances. Whether he accompanies me or not, he'll be with me in either body or spirit. Keep squeezing that tooth paste tube. Buen (Bom) Camino.
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