Is your Camino calling?

Two years ago I walked Offa's Dyke Path (178 miles)on the border between England and Wales when my life was in turmoil and I wanted to walk away from everything and everyone ... I was not a walker, never walked more than 6miles before then, but I made myself walk at least 10 miles a day .. I suffered, not quite like others on this forum, but I suffered because I had done no preparation either mentally or physically and I was arrogant enough and totally disrespectful towards my own body to think I could get away with it. I wanted to give up every day but I finished it ... without any sense of achievement ... rather I collapsed in the arms of my son at the end feeling completely spent and broken.
Today I am in a totally different space. I have thought about my Camino since the beginning of the year, vetoed a June start as not fit and am now starting in September. I told very few people to begin with as I was not entirely sure how I really felt about it all .. I updated my 2003 Brierley guide ... I booked a cheap flight ... I allowed my body and soul to grow accustomed to the idea that I might walk for six weeks ... how can you possibly handle other people's expectations around your journey if you haven't squared it with yourself first? Yesterday I sent an email to my family telling them what I was doing.
A week ago I walked 12 miles and again on Monday and again on Wednesday ... I have bought new trail shoes ... read and re-read forum threads on kit lists, weather, public transport to SJPDP ...
Am I excited? Am I apprehensive? Am I foolish?
I am all those things and as the days count down I allow myself to feel my feelings .. to show my vulnerability .. I know that my Camino is calling and on September 9th I shall be as ready for it as I ever can be ... whatever that means ...
Buen Camino!

JohnMcM said:

valgongs,
Your post sounds like you ARE ready and it might be the right thing at the right time for you. If you are walking the Camino Frances the chances are you will meet people with the same feelings as you. Be prepared to have good and not so good days in terms of your confidence in your ability to carry on. Although, to me it seems you have the attitude to succeed, but maybe you should try to avoid the urge to push yourself too hard in the early days just to prove a point to yourself.
I suspect that half-way through you'll be thanking yourself for going in the first place.
Buen Camino

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Thanks John - I dithered for quite some time as to when to book my return flight ... five weeks walking ... six weeks walking ... but the more indecisive I became the more liberated I became ... so I will take my time and return when I have finished ... I learnt some lessons on the ODP that don't need repeating next month.

Diefenbaker said:

Good luck for next time, I'm sure you will have a great time and will feel all the better once you have finished the camino. If you haven't booked your return flight yet then don't worry about it, you can easily book it when you've finished. Who knows, you may want to continue on to the coast at the end. It's much better not to have to rush to finish by a certain date and just walk as and when you and your body feel like it. I booked my return flight in an internet café in Finesterre for 2 days later and when I set off I hadn't even intended going on to the coast.

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Oh I definitely going to the coast ...