My First Camino

[tiregirl]

Hello, I too will be making my way along the Camino for the first time in May 2013. I will be in St Jean around the 28th of April and then off I go! I am a bit nervous of the Big Adventure ahead of me but just have to say Thank You to all of you for the information I have learned so far from reading about your past experiences. Maybe one day I can lend words of advice for future trekkers. I am 53 years old. When I told my kids of my plans the response was....Don't they have cars in Spain? What are you doing ma? Aah well, 'I'll see you if I see you', you'll recognize me as 'The Lady Crying Up The Hill Out of St Jean Pied De Port!' Buen Camino Everyone . Sandy

 

[30daystosantiago]

Good luck!!! Buen Camino!!! Exciting times are ahead!!!

 

[tyrrek]

...you'll recognize me as 'The Lady Crying Up The Hill Out of St Jean Pied De Port!'

No Sandy, you'll be the excited one chatting with her new friends! Just tell the kids that although they do have cars in Spain they're not really necessary there. Buen Camino!

 

[indyrem]

When I told my grown up sons I'm doing the Camino, one said "Why do you want to walk 500 miles across Spain?-just fly to Santiago". The other son said: "if you if you really want to do it-go for it" and my husband said "You know better than to question your mom when she has made up her mind". That was almost a year ago and will start my Camino on May 14th. Originally I was going by myself then my best friend found out about it and although she moved back to the Philippines she will come back to the U.S. to start our Camino. I have never hiked/camped in my life-always toured/cruised in comfort but the pull the Camino had on me made me train to walk carrying my backpack & I had never felt so energized & committed. This forum is such a great help-everybody seems to want to help especially first time pilgrims like me make the right choices. Now I am ready for my first Camino - so like what the veteran peregrinos/peregrinos say: Just go and enjoy! Buen Camino! By the way I'm a retired 68 yr old grandma.


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[Al the optimist]

Welcome to the quite large over 60s group. (I mean that there are a lot of over 60s, not substantially sized ones, although I am)! :lol:
allan

 

[bdovan]

Hello, I too will be making my way along the Camino for the first time in May 2013. I will be in St Jean around the 28th of April and then off I go! 'I'll see you if I see you', you'll recognize me as 'The Lady Crying Up The Hill Out of St Jean Pied De Port!' Sandy

Hi Sandy and Elizabeth,
It will be my first Camino too, and I'm in my fifties, or 29 base 24 . You're starting a few weeks before I do, so I will miss you on the Way. I plan to start on May 31st from SJPdP.
I'm a bit nervous myself, but after reading the many posts on this forum, ( I think I'm addicted to the forum), I feel much better with the information that has been shared. I also thought I would be "the Lady Crying up the Hill", but now I am so excited knowing there are others like me.

Buen Camino!
~Bic

 

[tiregirl]

Thanks for the great words of encouragement. I feel like I am joining into a great group of like-minded people! Independent but supported from afar. I also feel like it is becoming an addiction to constantly be checking out the forum..."In case I forgot something" Tickets, CHECK...Passport, CHECK...comfy Hikers, CHECK...Kleenex for the hill out of St Jean, DOUBLECHECK and technically everything else is a "Bonus". I'm Good to Go!!! And now...WE WAIT.
Buen Camino! Sandy

 

[Robindra]

I will also be on my first Camino starting end April. I fly from Canada to London and then get to SJPP via Bayonne on the 26th evening. Will wander around SJPP on the 27th and meet pilgrims and get information from the pilgrims office.
Start the Route Napoleon on the 28th if the weather allows, and have booked a place in Orisson for the night to break up the walk. At 66 I must not push too hard on Day 1.
Hope to meet you in SJPP or the Camino. I am 5'-7", with a white beard and a Asian complexion so won't to too hard to spot, though with all the gear and a big hat who knows what I will look like!
Very excited and am so looking forward to it. Have been training and equiping myself. Will find out if it has been enough when the rubber hits the road.

 

[katdavis]

Hi Sandy,

I'm starting in SJPP in early May too (date tba), my first time. Look forward to seeing you on the path!

Buen Camino
Kat

 

[Al the optimist]

Kat, I'm leaving SJPdp May 10th, maybe see you on way - look for an old fart carrying a forum badfge (maybe that desribes a lot of us) :wink:
allan

 

[tiregirl]

Hello again, how is everyone doing on their packing? I have been wisely accumulating 'ultra light'this and 'quick dry' that. Then I took a walk around my neighbourhood and suddenly realized that I live in a beautiful location. Squirrels in the fir trees, deer crossing the trail, muddy impression of a bear footprint...that's when I realized, I'll be fine. Just Walk! But without all your help on this site...I think I would have trouble even putting one foot after the other. Cheers Everyone! Buen Camino

 

[katdavis]

Hi Allan,

I ordered my forum badge today

I'll be the one stopping to take photos every step of the way, as well as smelling the flowers and absorbing the experience - i'm good at multi-tasking

See you there!

Kat

 

[Redhead]

You go girl, I too am in my fifties and will begin my journey out of St Jean on the 5th!!!
Buen Camino