Senior woman on three month Camino - ?!

[formysons]

Hi, I hope to walk the Camino for three months during summer of 2014, using interlinking routes. I will be turning 70 and walking on my own! Any suggestions?

 

[bacaak1]

Practice walking up and down hills when training.....I walked 2 hours daily when training but never trained enough on hills. Get used to using walking sticks, they are invaluable when you need an extra boost or something to help steady yourself on muddy paths or when walking on paths.

 

[Yallah]

If you travel by train to or from the camino, you are entitled to a 25-40% discount for being over the age of 60. Ask for the "Tarjeta dorada." One of the perks of being senior!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[piogaw]

hello formysons,

go for it, there are many senior peregrinos walking the camino de santiago. i walked my first camino, the camino frances in may/june 2012 when i was 69 of age. it took me 31 days.

then i walked my second camino, the camino de la plata during this past winter in february/march in 36 days. i have always walked alone at the beginning to eventually linked up with some camino family at the end. and i have just turned 70 recently.

walk at your own pace, this is your camino. when your feet or your body gets tired, it is time to stop for the stage and get a bed. do not over-extend yourself. you will be alright. you will have plenty of time to get to sdc. you will never be alone in the summer. you will be walking alone only if you preferred to be walking alone.

re the discount on the tarjeta dorada (golden card). this is a card issued by the spanish national railways RENFE, which will entitled anyone over the age of 60 to have a discount on purchase of tickets on spanish trains and cercanias (suburban trains). you will have to purchase the yearly discount card at a cost of 5.15 euros (valid for 1 year and can be renewed annually) by showing your id, preferrably your passport at any RENFE station. this card will entitled you to a discount of 40% on monday to thursday, and a discount of 25% from friday to sunday and any bank (public) holiday.

hope these info are helpful to you. give me a shout if i can be of assistance in any other ways.

 

[Pieces]

maybe more specific on which suggestions are needed ?

as I can see you walked before, I assume you really don't need to be told to pack light...

assuming you are asking on routes to fill the 3 months it would be helpfull to know more about your won thoughts i think

 

[David]

What a wonderful person you are! 'formysons' .... aawww ... how sweet.

You haven't given much but you seem to be the sort of pilgrim that will do fine, fine! and you have given yourself true time, as much as you want and need - marvellous.

Will you be alone? You must be joking! they (the other pilgrims) will absolutely love you -

I met a stick-thin Frenchman once, in his nineties. He had been Caminoing for years. He stopped at my firstaid/English tea post and asked me to help him take off his rucksack. When he left he had to be helped into his rucksack - which was rather large and heavy. He apologised and explained that he could still walk the Camino but could no longer put on or take off the rucksack! He was marvellous and you, a youngster in his eyes, are marvellous - enjoy!

Buen Camino :wink:

 

[formysons]

Thank you for all the replies, greatly appreciated.
I will definitely train very hard on the hills and pack lightly, will try for 6kg pack!
I think I will start with the Via de La Plata then on to Finisterre and maybe Inglis from Santiago backwards, what do you think?
I do not want to plan too much, would like to stay over as and when I feel like it.
I know it is important to be able to speak some Spanish so I will have to work on that.
Last time I had a lot of trouble with blisters and my achilles tendon so will really have to get my feet in tip top shape.
Thank you so much for the advice re the "tarjeta dorada", I will most certainly buy one of those.
I know it is still a long way off but I am already getting so excited about the dream becoming a reality, of course anything can happen to make me not go, like illness or worse but all things staying as they are I will be going!!!!
I will be asking many more questions and advice before then, I already feel so connected to you all because of this wonderful experience we all love.
On my Camino notebook I have written the following : "EL CAMINO ES UNA DROGA"

 

[piogaw]

hello formysons,

yes the camino is a drug. it is very addictive for many peregrinos who keep on returning to the camino year after year. i personally am planning my next camino, caminho portugues, hopefully soon.

you are wise to think about doing the camino de la plata in the summer. it is a beautiful camino all the way from sevilla to sdc. take your time to visit all the beautiful cities and pueblos. it is also a lot less crowded as compared to camino frances. if you are a history buff, you will enjoy sevilla, italica, merida, caceres, salamanca, zamora and many more places.

god bless.