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Didn't dare to do that at 7am on Sunday morning ;-)I am like you in my fear of dogs. I made it fine, so I think you will too. I did have Reb for a few days but I also got pretty good at walking by them by myself. Don't let it take the fun out of this camino though. If you're really scared just stand there and scream "oiga" and someone will come. buen camino, Laurie
Thanks all, it is nice to know that I am not walking alone.
Didn't dare to do that at 7am on Sunday morning ;-)...
murderous wolves coming out of nowhere
Ah, yes, Manuela (if I remember correctly) is really one fine dame. And I'm proud that last year when Asun was washing all my clothes because of bedbugs, Manuela gave me her short silk night gown so I wasn't parading around completely naked
Finally succeeded in posting a picture here with my tablet! This is the mother of Asún, who told me everything about her life (since 1923) sitting on that chair.
Luka, think of it this way... you might carry a stick to allow you to continue on the camino Invierno with less worry. Also, it might provide a little relief for your shins and knees - it's the trusty staff that's supported many a pilgrim on a hard road through the centuries.I have thought about a stick, but it just seems a bit too far to only carry a stick because of dogs.
Finally succeeded in posting a picture here with my tablet! This is the mother of Asún, who told me everything about her life (since 1923) sitting on that chair.
Thanks Laurie. I had a lot of dogs in the Canino Sababres in March. I managed it but don't know that I want to go through it again...a few us okay, but I met to roaming packs of dogs that did scare me. The Invierno sounds nice and I would like to add it to my list. I look forward to reading your notes. Your information and recommendations are always so helpful.My short answer is that there are loose dogs every now and then, but in the vast majority of cases, they didn't pay any attention to us. I am immediately unnerved by loose dogs (and have big scars on my right knee to explain why), but walking with Reb for four days helped me with that issue a lot. I just followed behind her and imitated her movements. On my own, I encountered a big loose dog, which is probably one that Luka encountered, a huge mastiff in the little village hamlet before ascending to Cornatel, whose name I will post when I have time to get all my notes together. The owner is a young guy who refuses to tie up his dog, and this dog barks fiercely at everyone. I met the owner of the casa rural there (who is also working on renovating a few other old houses in this hamlet), and he shared his frustration with this guy. It will take a proper denuncia to get any changes in behavior.
The only other time I ran into large barking loose dogs was in the little town of Eirexe/a (?) on the day into Lalin, I think it was. It was around 9 in the morning. I did what I suggested that Luka do, which is to just back up and stand and shout oiga till the owner appeared. I stay in sight of the dogs so that they keep barking, too, creating a lovely racket. (I have done this successfully on several solitary caminos -- if the dogs are out, the owners are around, and the combination of incessant barking and my shouting gets their attention). It may have made more sense for me to just forge ahead bravely, but part of my thinking is that the goal is to get the owners to tie up the dogs, and this seems like it is more annoying, and thus a better strategy, for that end.
I completely understand how this issue could build up in Luka's mind, and wind up dominating the entire camino, so I am not trying to be dismissive at all. Dogs plus total solitude can be a deal breaker, in my experience. Buen camino, Laurie
Daily totals are down just a little bit as pilgrims bunch up to arrive for St. James Day on the 25th. You are just ahead of a big hump! If you will in Santiago through the 25th, make sure you have securely obtained a bed. Well done.Crowds aren't that enormous
Wow, first timer?!!! Special congratulation you deserve!!!@LauraK it was just that first unlucky day compared with my fear of dogs that did it. Because I saw loose dogs in four different villages / hamlets that day (all aggressively barking at me or blocking my way) it got into my head that they must be everywhere. I couldn't get rid of my fear anymore.
But @peregrina2000 is right: none of them really attacked me and I think I had just bad luck. Being with someone else would probably have been enough to get over it.
Off topic: still enjoying the Francés, will be walking into Santiago tomorrow for the very first time! Crowds aren't that enormous actually and this stretch is beautiful indeed!
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