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Hi all, I finished listening to the audiobook of I'll Push You (read by the authors!) this morning and can't wait to see the film now. I am wondering though if I'd be able to make it on my own - in the book there are stretches where they describe about needing a dozen people to help get over obstacles - have I underestimated this or perhaps over-estimated my abilities?
Well there's only one way to find out eh!
Hola, @mcintyreHi all, I finished listening to the audiobook of I'll Push You (read by the authors!) this morning and can't wait to see the film now. I am wondering though if I'd be able to make it on my own - in the book there are stretches where they describe about needing a dozen people to help get over obstacles - have I underestimated this or perhaps over-estimated my abilities?
Well there's only one way to find out eh!
@mcintyre, I'm the one who mentioned "I'll Push You" in response to your original post. Others have given a lot of good advice, and realistically I agree it would be practically impossible for a person confined to a wheelchair to do it totally on their own. But the plus side is, with a little bit of help, choosing alternative routes and taxi rides around the really rough stretches, utilizing services such as Jacotrans to transport your bags, it becomes a much less daunting task. If you haven't seen the trailer for the DVD, look atfor an idea of what a few of the tough parts are like. And as someone else mentioned, the season you choose makes a difference, especially regarding rain and mud, which are two of the major obstacles. My wife and I walked the Camino Francés in mid-August through late September in 2013 and never experienced any rain other than a couple of sprinkles the entire way until we reached Santiago, where it began to rain in earnest for several days.
I'm not sure where you are, but if you're in a major city in the US, try to hook up with a local chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino at http://www.americanpilgrims.org/local-chapters and find some Camino veterans who can advise you on trail conditions and the practicalities of the journey itself. If you're not in the US, there are similar organizations in many other countries, such as the Confraternity of St James in the UK or the Canadian Company of Pilgrims in Canada.
Clearly it is possible for you to make a Camino. It will be your Camino. Given accessibility issues, I don’t think doing it on your own is in the cards. There may be stretches you need to bypass via taxis. But it will still be your Camino. Make it your Camino and you can make it! I will never dissuade anyone from making a Camino if they have the desire burning within them.Hi all, I finished listening to the audiobook of I'll Push You (read by the authors!) this morning and can't wait to see the film now. I am wondering though if I'd be able to make it on my own - in the book there are stretches where they describe about needing a dozen people to help get over obstacles - have I underestimated this or perhaps over-estimated my abilities?
Well there's only one way to find out eh!
@mcintyre, I'm the one who mentioned "I'll Push You" in response to your original post. Others have given a lot of good advice, and realistically I agree it would be practically impossible for a person confined to a wheelchair to do it totally on their own. But the plus side is, with a little bit of help, choosing alternative routes and taxi rides around the really rough stretches, utilizing services such as Jacotrans to transport your bags, it becomes a much less daunting task. If you haven't seen the trailer for the DVD, look atfor an idea of what a few of the tough parts are like. And as someone else mentioned, the season you choose makes a difference, especially regarding rain and mud, which are two of the major obstacles. My wife and I walked the Camino Francés in mid-August through late September in 2013 and never experienced any rain other than a couple of sprinkles the entire way until we reached Santiago, where it began to rain in earnest for several days.
I'm not sure where you are, but if you're in a major city in the US, try to hook up with a local chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino at http://www.americanpilgrims.org/local-chapters and find some Camino veterans who can advise you on trail conditions and the practicalities of the journey itself. If you're not in the US, there are similar organizations in many other countries, such as the Confraternity of St James in the UK or the Canadian Company of Pilgrims in Canada.
I am a terrible judge of what you can do. I walked several weeks with Luis who had only one leg, having lost one in a car accident at age 18 over twenty years earlier. He moved faster than me on his Canadian crutches, and went from SJPdP to Fisterra. If ever I had an attitude about what someone "can" do, he would have dispelled it. Only you what you and your motivation are.I am wondering though if I'd be able to make it on my own
I saw the movie and did the Napolean route two weeks ago. It was rainy, muddy, rocky, etc but very doable.Hi all, I finished listening to the audiobook of I'll Push You (read by the authors!) this morning and can't wait to see the film now. I am wondering though if I'd be able to make it on my own - in the book there are stretches where they describe about needing a dozen people to help get over obstacles - have I underestimated this or perhaps over-estimated my abilities?
Well there's only one way to find out eh!
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I plan to make my pilgrimage next year, possibly setting off around May time and travelling from St Jean to Santiago. I would like to use the "proper" routes but realise this may not always be possible.
There are indeed many places which would create significant obstacles.
And many of the tracks would be tough to negotiate.
I have not read the book, but it must have been a significant challenge.
Perhaps you could avoid the stages that would be problematic and use roads?
I read it and would love to watch the film. Where can I get it?Both the book and the video were inspiring and well worth reading and watching. I will you great success.
Done! Thank your so much for your help!
Wow just finished watching the film and must confess to having tears in my eyes at the end. I think it helped that I'd listened to the audiobook first as that gives you a lot more of the background and feelings etc.
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