LarryBC
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances from SJPP (2013)
Camino Finnisterre (2013)
Caminho Portugues (2014)
Hi folks,
We are a couple weeks into our Camino (started in SJPP and now just past Burgos) and thought you might be interested in our blog, updated with thoughts and pix almost daily:
http://janlarrycamino.blogspot.com
We are REALLY loving the Camino and we thank Camino forum members for all the great advice. We also enjoyed following others who blogged live, so hope you enjoy ours.
Stuff we learned from the forum that's worked well for us:
Taking it easy (overnighting at Orisson, for example, was a fabulous way to ease in and form bonds early).
Light packs. (6.6 and 3.9 kg resp, incl water, food and everything we wear (boots, trekking poles)
Physical preparation. We are fortunate to live near mountains, so were well prepared for the Pyrenees.
Language preparation. We learnt some Spanish, wish we knew more, but it really helps in markets, at albergues, restaurants etc.
Walking our own Camino. There's no right or wrong way, but we've settled into something very comfortable for us. It's way more crowded than expected (numbers generally increasing, plus this spring's weather was so nasty, many who live fairly close (e.g. Spaniards) chose to delay till the fall.) We've avoided the bed race (leaving at 5:00 or 5:30, in the dark, making reservations). We leave at dawn, to catch the beautiful morning light and serenity. We pull up for the day around 12 ish and have never had a problem finding a bed, usually in a municipal albergue. We have realized that we prefer the companionship and quiet of the smaller albergues and the smaller towns, which means we don't normally stay at the Brierley end points, but roughly halfway in between.
We've really enjoyed the social aspect. Have met some amazing people, especially in the smaller albergues. We've been cooking and sharing food and enjoying the peregrino meals together. People we've met are spread out across the Camino by now, but every day we see so many we know and meet a few more. The community that forms is a fantastic element of the Camino.
We are 60 and 61 and so grateful to be able to enjoy the walk so much and to be pretty much injury free ... so far!
This Camino is a beautiful experience each day. Wishing everyone planning or thinking back to Caminos past, a hearty Buen Camino!
Larry and Jan
We are a couple weeks into our Camino (started in SJPP and now just past Burgos) and thought you might be interested in our blog, updated with thoughts and pix almost daily:
http://janlarrycamino.blogspot.com
We are REALLY loving the Camino and we thank Camino forum members for all the great advice. We also enjoyed following others who blogged live, so hope you enjoy ours.
Stuff we learned from the forum that's worked well for us:
Taking it easy (overnighting at Orisson, for example, was a fabulous way to ease in and form bonds early).
Light packs. (6.6 and 3.9 kg resp, incl water, food and everything we wear (boots, trekking poles)
Physical preparation. We are fortunate to live near mountains, so were well prepared for the Pyrenees.
Language preparation. We learnt some Spanish, wish we knew more, but it really helps in markets, at albergues, restaurants etc.
Walking our own Camino. There's no right or wrong way, but we've settled into something very comfortable for us. It's way more crowded than expected (numbers generally increasing, plus this spring's weather was so nasty, many who live fairly close (e.g. Spaniards) chose to delay till the fall.) We've avoided the bed race (leaving at 5:00 or 5:30, in the dark, making reservations). We leave at dawn, to catch the beautiful morning light and serenity. We pull up for the day around 12 ish and have never had a problem finding a bed, usually in a municipal albergue. We have realized that we prefer the companionship and quiet of the smaller albergues and the smaller towns, which means we don't normally stay at the Brierley end points, but roughly halfway in between.
We've really enjoyed the social aspect. Have met some amazing people, especially in the smaller albergues. We've been cooking and sharing food and enjoying the peregrino meals together. People we've met are spread out across the Camino by now, but every day we see so many we know and meet a few more. The community that forms is a fantastic element of the Camino.
We are 60 and 61 and so grateful to be able to enjoy the walk so much and to be pretty much injury free ... so far!
This Camino is a beautiful experience each day. Wishing everyone planning or thinking back to Caminos past, a hearty Buen Camino!
Larry and Jan
