Meeting people beforehand

[scorpio rising]

Hi all,

I'm planing on doing the Camino Frances in a couple of months and I've heard that everybody makes friends on the way etc. and that's really great but I wouldn't mind starting and finishing with another person/people (sharing the experience and all that). Does anybody know of any means to organise things like this, such as ways to plan the trip with people, beforehand? Thanks a lot!

 

[Tincatinker]

@scorpio rising. You have provided so little information about yourself that I cannot even guess where in the world you are from. Search for, contact and join your local pilgrim association is the best advice I can give. Otherwise, start your camino and you will meet many other pilgrims.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

I posted under the section North America, if anyone was from or near Philadelphia PA and planning on walking. This provided a wonderful way to meet through private email, other people preparing for their first walk. I did not walk with anyone, but it did create a bond for getting ready and sharing nervousness, excitement etc. I also (on both Caminos) met up for meals on the way with them, and I am still friends with and see at home.

 

[Al the optimist]

I met Erica from SA on the forum by just saying when I was flying from Stansted and that I was going to SJPdP in the Express Burricot taxi. She was on the same flight, we sat together on that and the taxi. We didn't stay in the same albergue though. I saw her on and of until Belgrado, then again in Burgos. She had a lot of foot problems but she's a gutsy girl and made to SDC. So we didn't start or finish together, but it certainly would have been simple to have arranged to walk together the first day if we had wanted to.

 

[SYates]

Just open a new thread in the forum with a descriptive title like: Who else from (your town/area) is walking the Camino in (Month/Year)? And then tell people a bit more about yourself. Alternatively there is a thread called "Class of 2015" here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/class-of-2015.17956/ where you can look up other pilgrims travel plans. Buen Camino! SY

 

[Mark Lee]

You will meet a lot of people on the Camino. No point in locking yourself into a walking relationship beforehand. Too many variables (likes and dislikes, tastes in food and accommodations, walking speed and pace, etc), especially with someone that you don't know that well.

 

[jeffnd]

My first night in St. Jean, I went out to dinner with other guys. In my head I thought, "So, these will be the people I walk to Santiago with." I was separated from them the first day and never saw them again.

I met a group of people in Valcarlos and thought, "Oh, so THESE are the people I'll walk to Santiago with." There were six of us in that group. Two days later, only two of us remained, but we picked up 2 others. We added another one to our group on Alto de Pardon. "Okay, so now we have it, our Camino family." But just 2 more days later, it was only myself and the person we picked up at de Pardon. And I was with her for a few more days until we parted at Santo Domingo. I spent the next two and a half weeks pretty much on my own, and figured I'd be walking into Santiago by myself. Sure, I would see more or less the same people at the albergues at night, but I was no longer walking "with" anyone.

By this time I was thinking, "Okay, looks like I'm going at this alone." But upon reaching Portomarin and for the rest of the week, I met more people and was once again lucky enough to be adopted into a Camino family. And I did not walk into Santiago alone like I had thought I would.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that as much as you can try to plan to walk with someone, sometimes things come up. They have a different schedule than you. They can take more time or they need to hurry. Maybe they just walk at a different pace or maybe they are just walking a section of the Camino. People will come into your pilgrimage and sometimes they leave. Be prepared for that and be grateful for the time you have with them!

 

[november_moon]

People will come into your pilgrimage and sometimes they leave. Be prepared for that and be grateful for the time you have with them!

This is terrific advice.

 

[Elllie]

I'm planning on walking the camino in June 2015. We can meet beforehand if you want? I'm going from sj France.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I'm planning on walking the camino in June 2015. We can meet beforehand if you want? I'm going from sj France.

Add your departure information to the Calendar, and refer back to the Calendar to see the other Forum members who will be going at the same time. Buen camino.

 

[Elllie]

Ah, thanks great!

 

[scorpio rising]

Thanks for the advice everyone! On reflection it will probably be better to go with the flow, it's not as if I'm going to be the only one doing the walk.

 

[scorpio rising]

I'm planning on walking the camino in June 2015. We can meet beforehand if you want? I'm going from sj France.

Hi Elllie, where abouts are you based?

 

[Elllie]

Im based in London

 

[Elllie]

Im planning to go in June. Haven't booked flights yet. Still trying to work out where i want to start from. I would still like to meet someone or a group just for that initial first night/walk.

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Hi all.
My experience tells me:
You don´t have expectations
Begins the Camino solo and don´t worry, the Camino is magic.
You will meet many friends along it. You can be sure

 

[Al the optimist]

Stay in an albergue, have the communal meal. Sorted.

 

[Mark Lee]

Im planning to go in June. Haven't booked flights yet. Still trying to work out where i want to start from. I would still like to meet someone or a group just for that initial first night/walk.

Believe me, you will meet plenty of people those initial days. No need to pre-plan it.

 

[Dutch]

We didn't stay in the same albergue though. I saw her on and of until Belgrado, then again in Burgos. .

Belgrado? That must have been a very VERY long day. You were maybe feeling very optimistic that day?

 

[Al the optimist]

Ah the joy of typos!!!! Belorado