Oldies on the Camino

[Sue M]

Having walked 450 miles of the Camino in four stages I am bringing a group of nineteen mostly older people to experience something of the experience next week, 2-11 June. We are travelling from Rugby in England and there are only a couple of us who would be able to walk the Way, although many would probably love to be able to do so. So we will be travelling by coach and every now and then those of us able to walk a short distance will be covering about 6K on foot. If you are walking the Camino and see us, please greet my companions, some of whom, unable to walk, will be waiting for us as they sip 'café con leche' in (hopefully!) as they wait for us to join them after our walk. I feel very responsible as I have persuaded them to travel the Camino in the only way they can, and I really want them to feel about it as I do! We will arrive in Santiago on 9th June and will attend the Pilgrim Mass on 10th. We are bringing a bishop with us. Please look out for us and say Hello!

 

[Sheesh]

This is wonderful. A very "buen camino" to you and the rest of the group, may you enjoy every minute of your journey.

 

[jsalt]

Hi Sue, maybe if you posted your itinerary people will know where and when to look out for your group, and can wish them all a Buen Camino! Jill

 

[stratophile]

Walking is over-rated!

If coach is the only way they can do their Camino, then that is every bit as wonderful as those who walk it. I hope they have a great time -- and kudos to you for organizing such a major undertaking!

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Sue, we arrive in Santiago on 10 June, so we'll look out for you!

Buen Camino to you all.

 

[VNwalking]

I'm sorry that is not my time to walk as it would really be a joy to walk and sip cafe con leche with you and your friends.
Youth is over-rated in our culture, and it's such a pleasure to talk to people who have been around a bit (or a lot) longer than I...although it's getting increasingly hard to do this.....)

 

[Anniesantiago]

Please look out for us and say Hello!

Buen Camino, Sue!

 

[MTtoCamino]

Have a very nice time!
Keith

 

[DurhamParish]

Sue, I'm sorry to say that I will just miss you and your group. I hope you ALL enjoy what the camino gives you. I'm glad that your group does not let any preconceived notions of what a pilgrim must do to enjoy the camino stop them and are letting themselves do what they can.

I just completed an "escorted", rather posh camino with my wife and 4 friends. Not many of them could have done the camino in the "traditional" way. They enjoyed it immensely. I hope your friends will also enjoy.

 

[Angelo]

I wish you well and good on you for organising your Group's Camino. It's very kind of you to let them experience what being on the Camino feels like.
Buen Camino!

 

[movinmaggie]

Having walked 450 miles of the Camino in four stages I am bringing a group of nineteen mostly older people to experience something of the experience next week, 2-11 June. We are travelling from Rugby in England and there are only a couple of us who would be able to walk the Way, although many would probably love to be able to do so. So we will be travelling by coach and every now and then those of us able to walk a short distance will be covering about 6K on foot. If you are walking the Camino and see us, please greet my companions, some of whom, unable to walk, will be waiting for us as they sip 'café con leche' in (hopefully!) as they wait for us to join them after our walk. I feel very responsible as I have persuaded them to travel the Camino in the only way they can, and I really want them to feel about it as I do! We will arrive in Santiago on 9th June and will attend the Pilgrim Mass on 10th. We are bringing a bishop with us. Please look out for us and say Hello!

Just curious; what is the age range of those you are calling 'oldies'. When does that 'category' start…at what age?

 

[freeflyer123]

This is wonderful, and congratulations for making it happen, Sue. Wish I had known earlier as we would love to have joined in if only to help where needed. But we now have engagements for June so not this year. But if you decide to do it again, do give us a shout. Although we rode the Camino in 2013, we do intend to do some walking of the route some time in the future. I am sure everybody in your party is going to love the whole experience.

 

[fiona12]

Am sure it will be a wonderful experience for all. I also wonder at what age one is an 'oldie'.. Well done for getting this trip together. I think about the Camino every single day and can't wait to get back.

 

[Stivandrer]

You do not HAVE to bring your own bishop !! There are plenty of frocks to go around !
Just kidding.. you have done a lot of good by dragging the flock along, now watch and see how many will take the bait and make some pilgrimage in their own right, they will surely be tempted to do some distance another good day ...especially when they see exactly how many "oldies" are out there on the route.

 

[Sue M]

Thanks so much for all your good wishes! I am 70 in October and most of the group are older than me. Three are in their 80s. We have someone with a pacemaker, someone with cancer, someone who has had a major stroke, and another in a wheelchair. At 70 I could still walk the Camino, but my husband has arthritis in hips and spine. Those of us who can manage it will walk about 6k now and then. Oh, and the bishop is a close personal friend! Excuse the typo in the original message, I meant that the non-walkers will enjoy (hopefully!) the sunshine! Our itinerary is as follows: Thursday 4 - St. Jean to Pamplona (via Roncesvalles), Friday 5 - Pamplona to Burgos (via Puente la Reina and Santo Domingo), Sat 6 - Burgos to Leon, Sun 7 - in Leon, Mon 8 - Leon to Sarria (via Astorga, Cruz de Ferro and O'Cebreiro), Tues 9 -Sarria to Santiago (via Portomarin), Wed 10 in Santiago, Thurs 11 - Finisterre and home. I would love to be walking again (especially the Meseta, which I haven't managed to do yet) but it is a good feeling to be taking my companions to see these wonderful places. Hope to meet some of you en route. Buen Camino!

 

[jsalt]

Our itinerary is as follows: Thursday 4 - St. Jean to Pamplona (via Roncesvalles), Friday 5 - Pamplona to Burgos (via Puente la Reina and Santo Domingo), Sat 6 - Burgos to Leon, Sun 7 - in Leon, Mon 8 - Leon to Sarria (via Astorga, Cruz de Ferro and O'Cebreiro), Tues 9 -Sarria to Santiago (via Portomarin), Wed 10 in Santiago, Thurs 11 - Finisterre and home.

Fantastic, Sue. What a great itinerary. Have a wonderful time! Jill

 

[rappahannock_rev]

I recall that the famous Syl led a 'challenged' group along the last 100 k a few years back. Might be useful to check out her old Amawalkers blog entries.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Having walked 450 miles of the Camino in four stages I am bringing a group of nineteen mostly older people to experience something of the experience next week, 2-11 June. We are travelling from Rugby in England and there are only a couple of us who would be able to walk the Way, although many would probably love to be able to do so. So we will be travelling by coach and every now and then those of us able to walk a short distance will be covering about 6K on foot. If you are walking the Camino and see us, please greet my companions, some of whom, unable to walk, will be waiting for us as they sip 'café con leche' in (hopefully!) as they wait for us to join them after our walk. I feel very responsible as I have persuaded them to travel the Camino in the only way they can, and I really want them to feel about it as I do! We will arrive in Santiago on 9th June and will attend the Pilgrim Mass on 10th. We are bringing a bishop with us. Please look out for us and say Hello!

Love it. This is so great to do. Wish you all a great time and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[grayland]

There are many regulars here in that same age group (near or past 80) who walk every year. Maybe they can be lucky enough to see each other.

 

[angelafinnigan]

Having walked 450 miles of the Camino in four stages I am bringing a group of nineteen mostly older people to experience something of the experience next week, 2-11 June. We are travelling from Rugby in England and there are only a couple of us who would be able to walk the Way, although many would probably love to be able to do so. So we will be travelling by coach and every now and then those of us able to walk a short distance will be covering about 6K on foot. If you are walking the Camino and see us, please greet my companions, some of whom, unable to walk, will be waiting for us as they sip 'café con leche' in (hopefully!) as they wait for us to join them after our walk. I feel very responsible as I have persuaded them to travel the Camino in the only way they can, and I really want them to feel about it as I do! We will arrive in Santiago on 9th June and will attend the Pilgrim Mass on 10th. We are bringing a bishop with us. Please look out for us and say Hello!

Wonderful thing to do.

 

[vgen5122]

Thanks so much for all your good wishes! I am 70 in October and most of the group are older than me. Three are in their 80s. We have someone with a pacemaker, someone with cancer, someone who has had a major stroke, and another in a wheelchair. At 70 I could still walk the Camino, but my husband has arthritis in hips and spine. Those of us who can manage it will walk about 6k now and then. Oh, and the bishop is a close personal friend! Excuse the typo in the original message, I meant that the non-walkers will enjoy (hopefully!) the sunshine! Our itinerary is as follows: Thursday 4 - St. Jean to Pamplona (via Roncesvalles), Friday 5 - Pamplona to Burgos (via Puente la Reina and Santo Domingo), Sat 6 - Burgos to Leon, Sun 7 - in Leon, Mon 8 - Leon to Sarria (via Astorga, Cruz de Ferro and O'Cebreiro), Tues 9 -Sarria to Santiago (via Portomarin), Wed 10 in Santiago, Thurs 11 - Finisterre and home. I would love to be walking again (especially the Meseta, which I haven't managed to do yet) but it is a good feeling to be taking my companions to see these wonderful places. Hope to meet some of you en route. Buen Camino!

If you decide to walk over the Pyrenees, You might want to stop in Orission before continuing on to Roncesvalles and stay the night. The distance from St.Jean to Roncesvalles is much more than 6km. I believe it is about 25km. Considering the abilities of your group, you might have to adjust your itinerary a tiny bit. Love your spirit. Buen Camino.

 

[areres]

Hi Sue. Nice surprise seeing you on this forum. Robert here from Canada. We met in 2012 and walked and dined together on and off from St. Jean to Burgos. I remember walking out of Burgos in the dark early one morning and a passing taxi screeched to a halt beside me. Out jumped David, John and you, each giving me a big hug before driving off to the airport. Special moment. I finished the camino, and walked again the following spring from Lisbon to Santiago.
Buen Camino. Wonderful to hear that you're taking your friends.

 

[Sue M]

Great to hear from you Robert! Oh, the power of the Forum! I remember you well and did search for you on the Internet through the wood connection but don't know your surname and couldn't find you. I've walked from Leon to Santiago and from le Puy to Conques but can't find anyone to walk Burgos to Leon with me. It will be amazing to be in Santiago with my friends, even though (as some are infirm) we won't be walking much. My bishop friend is taking part in the Pilgrim Mass on 10th June, which I will find very moving. My Camino experience in 2012 was very important to me, even though I could hardly walk when I got home. Very best wishes, Sue.

 

[Regine]

Buen Camino! Sorry we will not meet you, we arrived in Santiago 11/5.

 

[Bonnie3]

Great what you and your company are going to do. I will arrive in Santiago 10th or 11th. Would love to meet you and your´s.

 

[VNwalking]

Sue, would it be too much to ask you to post a photo of your group here--perhaps once you get to Santiago? It'd be a treat to see you all.
Again, warm wishes for a very buen camino!

 

[Ekelund]

I wish you and your friends a buen camino! It is very good of you to organise it and in a way so everybody can be a part of it. May your group have a wonderful time and enjoy the camino.

 

[nomadko]

Having walked 450 miles of the Camino in four stages I am bringing a group of nineteen mostly older people to experience something of the experience next week, 2-11 June. We are travelling from Rugby in England and there are only a couple of us who would be able to walk the Way, although many would probably love to be able to do so. So we will be travelling by coach and every now and then those of us able to walk a short distance will be covering about 6K on foot. If you are walking the Camino and see us, please greet my companions, some of whom, unable to walk, will be waiting for us as they sip 'café con leche' in (hopefully!) as they wait for us to join them after our walk. I feel very responsible as I have persuaded them to travel the Camino in the only way they can, and I really want them to feel about it as I do! We will arrive in Santiago on 9th June and will attend the Pilgrim Mass on 10th. We are bringing a bishop with us. Please look out for us and say Hello!

Hope you all have a wonderful experience! Enjoy and Buen Camino!

 

[Sue M]

Viranani, I'll post a photo if I can work out how to do it - I'm technologically challenged! Off tomorrow, very excited!

 

[Sue M]

Bonnie, we'll be at the Pilgrim Mass midday Wednesday June 10. Our bishop is going to take part in the service.

 

[areres]

Great to hear from you Robert! Oh, the power of the Forum! I remember you well and did search for you on the Internet through the wood connection but don't know your surname and couldn't find you. I've walked from Leon to Santiago and from le Puy to Conques but can't find anyone to walk Burgos to Leon with me. It will be amazing to be in Santiago with my friends, even though (as some are infirm) we won't be walking much. My bishop friend is taking part in the Pilgrim Mass on 10th June, which I will find very moving. My Camino experience in 2012 was very important to me, even though I could hardly walk when I got home. Very best wishes, Sue.

Hi again Sue. Nice to be remembered. I wrote some things after the camino that I'd like to share with you if you're interested. Don't know if this is the place to give out an email address. I see that you have a few short days left, and then a very special ending with your bishop friend. Hope you get a chance to walk Burgos to Leon sometime. Despite the flatness and lukewarm press it gets, it was my favorite part of the walk. All the best. Robert

 

[Sue M]

That would be great Robert. I have no idea how to pm you. You could probably find me on Facebook.
Well folks, we completed our group pilgrimage and had a great time. We returned home very tired but happy and with far too many photos. The oldest couple in the group (he is 88 and has had a stroke, she is 85 and has cancer) were exhausted, but I think they were glad to have taken part. At the pilgrim Mass on Thursday Michael (retired bishop of Exeter) and I and our two partners were seated on a bench in front of the altar. Michael had to say who we were etc. (an Invocation) and he presented some incense and put it in the botafumeiro which then hurtled past our noses. It was an amazing experience. Then in the afternoon (because we are Anglicans) he was allowed to celebrate the Eucharist in a side chapel. The next day we went on to Finisterre before coming home. I will try to work out how to load photos.
That was my fourth visit to Santiago and I hope it isn't the last!

 

[Bala]

What a wonderful, uplifting, and inspiring journey, Sue. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[GettingThere]

That would be great Robert. I have no idea how to pm you. You could probably find me on Facebook.
Well folks, we completed our group pilgrimage and had a great time. We returned home very tired but happy and with far too many photos. The oldest couple in the group (he is 88 and has had a stroke, she is 85 and has cancer) were exhausted, but I think they were glad to have taken part. At the pilgrim Mass on Thursday Michael (retired bishop of Exeter) and I and our two partners were seated on a bench in front of the altar. Michael had to say who we were etc. (an Invocation) and he presented some incense and put it in the botafumeiro which then hurtled past our noses. It was an amazing experience. Then in the afternoon (because we are Anglicans) he was allowed to celebrate the Eucharist in a side chapel. The next day we went on to Finisterre before coming home. I will try to work out how to load photos.
That was my fourth visit to Santiago and I hope it isn't the last!

Sue, my mother and I were at the mass that day too! We had arrived the day before and attended then, but this second one was somehow more special and meaningful - at least in part because of Michael and the lovely words he spoke. We were sitting near the back of the nave so didn't see a lot but heard every word of his. We were delighted when it was announced the botafumeiro would swing (the Spanish pilgrims in front of us were high-fiving each other!) and wondered if it had to do with a visiting bishop being there, although didn't realize the incense he presented was used - how wonderful. Then later we were walking through the cathedral and heard the end of the service in the side chapel (and the hymn!) Thank you for bringing your group and making this special experience possible.

And I'm sure this won't be your last visit to Santiago!

 

[Tia Valeria]

A lovely camino for you and your friends. We were in Santiago on Monday 1st June and were at the English Mass that morning (67 of us in the tiny chapel) a very moving service. Our greetings (from TerryB and ValerieB) to Bishop Michael, he was our bishop before he retired.

 

[Christian Hiriart]

Buen Camino for you and your friends. Cafe con leche sounds great but a glass of vino sounds even better...

 

[Sue M]

Getting There, so glad we made it extra special for you! Terry & Valerie, Michael was our rector before he became a bishop, we've been friends for 30 years! I'll pass on both these comments to him. This is the Invocation he wrote and read in the Cathedral, in case anyone is interested:

Glorious Apostle Santiago,

I am Michael, Bishop Emeritus of Exeter, in England, and with me are Sue Minton, our pilgrimage leader, and pilgrims from several different Dioceses of the Church of England who have made the pilgrimage to this Cathedral to stand before your tomb, to give honour to you and praise to Jesus Christ Our Lord.

We have come to this holy place and to your shrine, glorious Apostle, for so many reasons. Some of us are here to pray for others, living and departed. Some are here to repent of sins committed and to seek the forgiving grace of God. Some of us have come for the sheer joy of companionship in the gospel and some to say ‘thank you’ for all the gifts God has given us throughout our lives.

We believe that by walking in the way we know also the truth and the life which Our Lord Jesus Christ offers to all those who walk the way of life with him. As you were the Lord’s companion we too seek to be disciples not only on this sacred road but on every road we travel.

We believe that the Camino to Santiago is a road to life and a source of goodness and peace in this world. We believe that all who walk the Way are drawn deeper into faith and come to know Our Lord Jesus Christ just as you knew him as his Apostle and friend.

We thank the Archbishop, the priests of the Cathedral and diocese, the staff of the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago and everyone who welcomes and supports pilgrims. We thank those who provide accommodation and help for pilgrims along the routes to Santiago.

At our journey’s end we salute you, Santiago, for your example of faithfulness to the Gospels and dedication to our saviour, Jesus Christ, and we pledge ourselves to continue in the way of Christ.

And to this great Cathedral we offer this token of our friendship, a box of incense made in England, and with it we ask you to accept our greetings as brothers and sisters of the Way.

 

[Bala]

Sue, your bishop expresses so eloquently so many things I've tried to articulate in my own mind about the "whys" of why I want to walk the Camino. Many, many thanks for sharing these words. It is very moving simply to read them. I can only imagine what it felt like to be there, to hear them spoken and to watch the botafumeiro as it swung, burning the incense he carried on the journey. May the blessings continue for all who accompanied you!