sue-sheila
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances - August 16 - September 19 2017
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You will find many other people to walk with once you are there. Many of them not so fit, and anxious about walking too.Hello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
2) would love to not be bound to a fixed/planned schedule but too afraid to find I can' t find accommodation & DO NOT want to spend time looking for one or worse yet - sleep outdoors; In other words - I want to reduce the number of variables ahead of time. And how would I book ahead if I don't know where I'll be stopping next?
Glenn - I give you my word that it is comfort and assurance I seek with pre-planning - the comfort and assurance of having a place that knows my name ahead of time - is expecting me - and where I can rest my weary head. It is really not from any be-in-charge seat....
I *do* want the flexibility of not being tied down and the ability to wander at will - just too afraid of doing it without (at least) one companion.
If you're scared and feeling sad, don't look for a scared person to walk with. Look for confident ones. You'll find some around when you arrive. Or look on Facebook CAMIGAS group.Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? .... I have some grief to unload
how would I book ahead if I don't know where I'll be stopping next?
... I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load ...
You really should put some time into some walks in the weekdays...you find options if you put youre mind to it....weekends only...?....not my coice..Thank you all - I appreciate your time. I fully intend prepping for the walk and have already started walking on the weekends which is when I have time. I still have some questions of a practical nature though:
1) How would I book my baggage at an albergue for being transported ahead if I don't know how far I'll make it the next day?
2) Even bigger fear - what if I do NOT find accommodation for the night? I do not want to knock on many different doors until I find room - especially since this will be at the end of a long walking day and I am anticipating much tiredness and achy feet.
3) I have been told that even though the Camino is crowded, it is likely that I can go for many miles without seeing anybody - that makes me nervous too (sorry) - especially if I have to take bathroom breaks - I don't want to be by myself
Sorry about being such a wimp - but that's how it is right now.
....
...Snip....
I want to travel with a day pack & do not want to make the walk harder than it is; I met a pilgrim in our neighborhood who walked last year & she booked the entire trip through a tour operator & recommended it highly. I'm not planning on going crazy with extra luggage - just a small suitcase with extra socks, pair of shoes (hiking sandals appeals to me greatly), additional change of clothes etc.
I didn't realize that there are transportation companies that do this & nor did I know that one can book ahead at each stop.......snip
I'd still like to connect with anyone who's planning to do the French route mid-August!
I would suggest that the advice from your neighbor does not match the majority of the people on the Camino.
A "suitcase" in place of a pack will be very unusual and definitely make you stand out as "that person" as Deb described.
Take a normal well fitted backpack instead. You will then have the option to carry the pack if you find you are much stronger and prepared than you think.
We're going! we don't have the flight dates booked and still waiting for Diverbo to get back to us but that is our "plan" start mid August on the Camino Frances. All the advice is good....no GREAT...to you, about your fears. You are showing courage by going...the hardest part will be the first step and then all will unfold as it needs to. Trust is something that is practiced, along with the walking. When your mind starts the worry chatter, find a mantra you can repeat, breathe and say the mantra until you can "still" that chatter. All will be well. We have never done the Camino but have put ourselves in many situations that could cause much fear..sailing to Mexico from Vancouver being one of them. It is gratifying to find out how strong and resilient one can be. Buen Camino! "Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers." Rainer Maria RilkeGreat advice indeed! CaminoDebrita - I will be happy to drink wine right now - however that leap of faith eludes me still! Honestly I don't want to be "that person" but short of a drastic personality change I really don't know how I could transform!
The idea of going with the flow appeals greatly & I know I'll make friends - I just thought it would bewonderful to start off with at least one other person to keep stride.
HighlandsHiker - it is that "sense of connection" I'm looking for - all reassuring advice.
Kiwi-family/Notion900/Trecile - great suggestions - however - I still am concerned about wandering around with achy feet looking for a place to stay every night -after all I would have to knock on several doors before I find the one with available room right?!
Julia & John - practical advice - exactly what I was looking for
Plutselig - it's the small problems getting big fast that worries me the most.
I want to travel with a day pack & do not want to make the walk harder than it is; I met a pilgrim in our neighborhood who walked last year & she booked the entire trip through a tour operator & recommended it highly. I'm not planning on going crazy with extra luggage - just a small suitcase with extra socks, pair of shoes (hiking sandals appeals to me greatly), additional change of clothes etc. I didn't realize that there are transportation companies that do this & nor did I know that one can book ahead at each stop. I really was not looking forward to wandering through a village at the end of the day begging for beds. (Google translate example is funny - but heartening to realize that bad knees don't stop people from walking nonetheless) THANK YOU ALL!
I'd still like to connect with anyone who's planning to do the French route mid-August!
I realize that you meant that you would have the suitcase transported. I still think that a suitcase will make you stand out in the albergues. For greatest flexibility take a backpack that you can carry, and have heavy items transported as necessary.Oh dear - I think I may have mislead my intent - I certainly do not plan on lugging a suitcase on the trail (that would make me stupid and I'm not)!
More like a carry-on bag that I plan to pack with extra gear stuff that I'd like to send on from stop to stop so I can make do with a day pack and carry a light load.
I agree that the camiga I met gave me advice that is the only one so far that recommends having everything booked in advance but she's also my only face to face contact and she spent 1.5 hours talking to me.
I absolutely agree with everyone who has advised me to not get tied down - that it may well cause more problems than resolve.
Thank you all
If you are concerned about 15 miles/day, then don't set yourself up for failure. There is no "entire stretch" except what you succeed in doing. There is no official starting point - only an official end point (Santiago de Compostela). More importantly, grief does not have a set unloading distance. Perhaps shortening the distance you plan to walk (starting in Roncesvalles or Pamplona) would give you the same sense of long pilgrimage but reduce some of the pressures that add to your anxiety. Seems to me that daily walking for a few weeks is what you should seek, not to repeat a movie version of a popular route from point A to point B.I am... anxious about... whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day... I *have to* walk the entire stretch - have some grief to unload
None of the variables you are worried about are serious dangers to your health and safety that must be eliminated. The biggest variables you will encounter are things you cannot predict, such as the weather or how you feel that day, what blisters you have, etc. You can only prepare for those uncertainties by training, by modest distance goals, and by carefully choosing what you carry. Booking your pack transport and accommodation far in advance will not eliminate the important variables and they will add new limitations.I want to reduce the number of variables ahead of time.
Book your first couple of nights, at reasonable distances apart. Don't plan on 15 miles during the first few days, especially as you will be jet-lagged. Carry a smart phone with the apps for booking.com or hotels.com or Wise Pilgrim, so you can to book ahead a day or 2 or 3 or 10, when you are on the Camino. If necessary, you can stop for a day, and spend a few hours booking the rest of your journey, but at that time (after a couple of days walking) you will have a much better understanding that you do now! Trust us when we say it will be very easy to arrange bag transport on a daily basis.And how would I book ahead if I don't know where I'll be stopping next?
This is a point that many people seem to miss. Whatever "day pack" you plan to use should not be an inferior pack. A 30-35 L backpack should hold everything you need on the trip and is not too large to be used as a day-pack. It is great to have the ability and flexibility to carry everything in a single bag on your back if necessary, even when walking through the airport, from bus station to hotel, or from town to town. Then, if you decide you don't want to carry it walking from town to town, do as @trecile suggests and get a smallish soft bag (for example a "dry bag") to send your excess things ahead. Then you should still wear your carefully-chosen well-fitted 30-35 L backpack, simply with less stuff in it. That size is not unreasonable for a "day pack" anyway, and it should be very comfortable when loaded, should have chest strap and hip belt even for use as a day pack. When setting off for the day, you will have the weight of water, spare layers, rain wear, etc.Take a backpack that will hold all that you need. You can have a small soft bag that you can put heavy items that you won't need during the day and have that transported if necessary.
It will NOT be at the end of the day. Most people walk from 7am to about 1pm. IF you cannot find a bed you then have at least SEVEN hours to try the albergue up the street, get a bus, taxi, phone around, use booking.com etc etc. But having read the thread, I feel that nothing we can say can reassure you about the accommodation situation. If you want to use a package company, don't feel bad about it. You'll meet the same people every day who are also on your tour, so that will be company.I really was not looking forward to wandering through a village at the end of the day begging for beds.
Welcome to the forum from another Northern VA-er.Thank you both for your tips and advice - much appreciated!
1) I *have to* walk the entire stretch - have some grief to unload
2) would love to not be bound to a fixed/planned schedule but too afraid to find I can' t find accommodation & DO NOT want to spend time looking for one or worse yet - sleep outdoors; In other words - I want to reduce the number of variables ahead of time. And how would I book ahead if I don't know where I'll be stopping next?
3) I am located in Northern VA - very close to D.C.
I am open to all the guidance & advice everyone can give me.
Thank you
I was thinking of a carry-on size bag with (e.g.) rain gear, fleece jacket, extra shorts/tshirt etc that based on the daily weather report I could either send onwards or swap out with other items in my day pack. I want to carry just water & snacks & first aid kit & other essentials. I was advised by another pilgrim that this is a good idea. If it turns out that I stride the Camino like it's a walk in the park & discover that a backpack wighing 18lbs doesn't bother me a jot then I can revise my planning right!
Hello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
... They specifically mentioned that November is not really a good time, for it can get very uncomfortable with cold and chance of snow...it depends on each person. ...
Wow SYates, you inspire me for more - extending the boundaries of thinkingLike my father would have said: There is no wrong weather, there is only wrong clothing/gear. I personally love walking the CF in winter - it really is a bit like in 'the good old times' whenever they were ;-) Buen Camino, SY
They specifically mentioned that November is not really a good time, for it can get very uncomfortable with cold and chance of snow...
Not to mention that -- according to what I've read -- the albergues begin shutting down in November.
Have "they" walked in November? What were their criteria for a "good time"?They specifically mentioned that November is not really a good time, for it can get very uncomfortable with cold and chance of snow...
Of course many shut down, since there is only a fraction of the number of pilgrims. But there is still plenty of accommodation to meet the needs of the people who are walking. Not a bed every km, but certainly frequent enough to be manageable for most walkers.Not to mention that -- according to what I've read -- the albergues begin shutting down in November.
Hello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
Other than one approximately 17 km stretch there are plenty of places to get water along the Camino Frances, so no need to carry more than a liter or so.We are training in the tropical heat of Florida for our August 10 - October20. Temperatures vary from 88F-94F here in Florida , we trek 20+ kilometers with full backpacks( 8kg max) 3 times a week. We are 67 & 66 yrs old. We are trying to get an idea how much liquids we will need to stay healthy in order maintain those distances along the Camino, the only problem being we cannot replicate the mountain terrains. As of now 2L of fluids is the minimum for us along with electrolyte replacement. We also know that if we need extra days of rest, we will take themBy the way... the first 7-10 days of trekking the Camino, each of us wanted to quit a few times...we persevered and finished, as I hoe you will !!!
Buen Camino !!!
Other than one approximately 17 km stretch there are plenty of places to get water along the Camino Frances, so no need to carry more than a liter or so.
I was just thinking that this morning! On one of the Facebook groups I follow there's also a discussion on walking in October, and everyone is talking about how much it rains. It's the main theme. Here, not so much.Although it is frustrating at times to read the debates and seemingly contradictory opinions here on the forum, you can really get an excellent understanding of the wide range of how people react to the many variables on the Camino. That's just the way it is, so be very careful when you hear generalizations!
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? // . . . Anyone?! Please?!
I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable.
Whatever "day pack" you plan to use should not be an inferior pack. A 30-35 L backpack should hold everything you need on the trip and is not too large to be used as a day-pack. It is great to have the ability and flexibility to carry everything in a single bag on your back if necessary, even when walking through the airport, from bus station to hotel, or from town to town. Then, if you decide you don't want to carry it walking from town to town, do as @trecile suggests and get a smallish soft bag (for example a "dry bag") to send your excess things ahead. Then you should still wear your carefully-chosen well-fitted 30-35 L backpack, simply with less stuff in it. That size is not unreasonable for a "day pack" anyway, and it should be very comfortable when loaded, should have chest strap and hip belt even for use as a day pack. When setting off for the day, you will have the weight of water, spare layers, rain wear, etc.
Has "everyone" walked in October or are they just talking? I have walked twice in October and the weather was great. Toward the end of November it did get darker and wetter especially in Galicia.I was just thinking that this morning! On one of the Facebook groups I follow there's also a discussion on walking in October, and everyone is talking about how much it rains. It's the main theme. Here, not so much.
It was a mix of mostly hot sunny days with some nasty cold rainy ones thrown in for good measure but over all, a great time to trek the CaminoHas "everyone" walked in October or are they just talking? I have walked twice in October and the weather was great. Toward the end of November it did get darker and wetter especially in Galicia.
I walked last fall, from the end of September until November 1st, and had virtually NO rain. There were sprinkles and mistiness a few times, but the weather from St. Jean to Santiago was virtually perfect.I was just thinking that this morning! On one of the Facebook groups I follow there's also a discussion on walking in October, and everyone is talking about how much it rains. It's the main theme. Here, not so much.
Hi Erin - Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the reassurances. Unfortunately the same time as I was reading your post I came across another one about a scary incident with a peregrina facing a gun toting guy in the early morning hours! while I fully realize that such occurrences are rare I also can't think that it couldn't happen to me!!! I don't necessarily want to be mobbed but do intend to stay within sight of others just to feel safer!☺Thank you again!Hi Sue-Sheila --
A year ago, I was in your exact position. In fact, every, single aspect of the Camino that I'd worried and obsessed over turned out to be inventions of my anxious mind -- almost laughably so -- and other, smaller things were actually more of a problem.
I'd advise, strongly, against trying to find someone to walk with all of the time, for a few reasons. First of all, in August/September, the Camino will be mobbed -- perhaps too much so! You'll meet an endless stream of pilgrims.
Has "everyone" walked in October or are they just talking? I have walked twice in October and the weather was great. Toward the end of November it did get darker and wetter especially in Galicia.
Hello! I am going the beginning of September. I am starting in saria. I have the same fears as you share. I am also going alone. When and where are you starting?Hello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
Hi Julie - I am starting mid-August from SJPDP! I don't think I'll make it to Sarria by September beginning but I'm planning to (at least) start each morning with others so that I have some company in the early morning time! As for the rest, I'm banking on everyone here being prophetic when they say that it'll be hard to avoid fellow pilgrims in Aug/Sep!!Hello! I am going the beginning of September. I am starting in saria. I have the same fears as you share. I am also going alone. When and where are you starting?
Julie
Sue-SheilaHello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
Hello everyone - Seemingly on a whim I decided that nothing would do for me but walk the Camino and the only time I can do it is mid-August to end September.
I am not overweight but not that fit either - on the trails near my house I can do 2.5 miles per hour but am anxious about what the Camino trails would be like and whether I can realistically walk 10-15 miles a day.
I am ridden with doubts and fears and would give anything to find someone to walk with - not necessarily talk with for I understand that for some this needs to be a quiet time of reflection and not everyone may want to talk. I am perfectly comfortable walking in companionable silence as I am with lending my ears.
Is there anyone out there who is thinking of going around the same time and is beset with similar anxieties and looking for company? I have tentatively made arrangements with a tour company who will be transporting my (very small bag) from hostel to hostel so will be carrying only a day-pack to lighten my load and make my first Camino a little less formidable. Anyone?! Please?!
Hi Erin - Thank you so much for sharing your experience and the reassurances. Unfortunately the same time as I was reading your post I came across another one about a scary incident with a peregrina facing a gun toting guy in the early morning hours! while I fully realize that such occurrences are rare I also can't think that it couldn't happen to me!!! I don't necessarily want to be mobbed but do intend to stay within sight of others just to feel safer!☺Thank you again!
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