- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2016, CP 2017, CF SJPP-Astorga 2021
I started Camino Frances after hard work for long time to be able to take time off to walk from St Jean to Finisterre/Muxia. The first time I walked Camino Frances was in 2015 - also in between jobs. This time I was looking forward to the wonderful mix of solitude, being outside all day, seeing nature and landscape change - take photographs of some of it, meeting nice people and to eat when hungry and sleep when tired. And I had a desire to walk in a rather slow pace - but to walk quite long distances if my body and feet allowed it. And it did. This is most likely because I had walked a lot during the pandemic- I usually always walk a lot. One of the nicest most relaxing meditative 'thing' I do. Did.
Mid October I started in St Jean:
St Jean - Burquete:
Burquete - Trinidad de Arre
Trinidad de Arre - Cirauqui
Cirauqui - Villamayor de Monjardin
Villamayor de Monjardin - Longrono
Logrono - Azofra
Azofra - Belorado
Belorado - Atapuerca
Atapuerca to Burgos (transport) - Burgos - Hontanas
Hontanas - Fromista
Fromista - Calzadilla de la Cueza
Calzadilla de la Cueza - Sahagun
Sahagun - Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas - Leon
Leon - Astorga
I felt strong from the beginning and I felt even stronger every day. It was sad to see how the pandemic had changed the life, business and income to the worse in the villages along the Camino Frances.
I loved the feeling of being physically exhausted every evening, share meals with nice people. Sleep when tired. Every day I sent photos and description of the daily route and Camino life to my father - and when I had reached Astorga I sent a photo of the wonderful bridge - the national monument at Hospital de Orbigo as I knew he would love it. Then he called and said: "I can't walk - the ambulance just arrived and will take me to the hospital". I work within health and was sure that it was a brain stroke and told him I would return as fast as possible. He said that it couldn't be so serious so I didn't have to return. He then told me to continue my Camino and said: "I can't walk, so now you have to walk for both of us."
I of course bought a new ticket and took the bus to Santiago. I flew via some other countries to my home country and then a little later to his home town. When I left Astorga in a bus, I was sure that I would never want to go back to Spain to walk the 'remaining part' from Astorga to Muxia. I felt guilty for not being able to be at the hospital the first days after he was admitted. But I spent much time at the hospital with him days and nights where we shared so many nice moments and memories. And I managed to tell him all the nice things he deserved to hear. He died unexpectedly a few weeks later. I organized the funeral. And started my new job in all this. So here I am - I have stopped walking, I am completely passive and lack initiative - I feel exhausted, sad and overwhelmed. I eat unhealthy. I have to do something. Change something.
Today I had a nice walk in freezing cold weather and snow - and it felt good. I will go back to walking long walks every day - in the woods where I live - even if I don't feel like it. I will eat (healthy food) when hungry - as during the Camino - not as now. I will try to sleep enough. And I am planning to walk from Astorga to Muxia maybe next fall/winter - November 2022. Earlier seems impossible due to the pandemic, work and family. But Galicia is wonderful in itself. And it will be nice. It feels good to think about it. So I will continue my walk at home and in Spain. I am doing it for myself - and my father will be there in a way.
I wish you all a healthy new year!
Mid October I started in St Jean:
St Jean - Burquete:
Burquete - Trinidad de Arre
Trinidad de Arre - Cirauqui
Cirauqui - Villamayor de Monjardin
Villamayor de Monjardin - Longrono
Logrono - Azofra
Azofra - Belorado
Belorado - Atapuerca
Atapuerca to Burgos (transport) - Burgos - Hontanas
Hontanas - Fromista
Fromista - Calzadilla de la Cueza
Calzadilla de la Cueza - Sahagun
Sahagun - Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas - Leon
Leon - Astorga
I felt strong from the beginning and I felt even stronger every day. It was sad to see how the pandemic had changed the life, business and income to the worse in the villages along the Camino Frances.
I loved the feeling of being physically exhausted every evening, share meals with nice people. Sleep when tired. Every day I sent photos and description of the daily route and Camino life to my father - and when I had reached Astorga I sent a photo of the wonderful bridge - the national monument at Hospital de Orbigo as I knew he would love it. Then he called and said: "I can't walk - the ambulance just arrived and will take me to the hospital". I work within health and was sure that it was a brain stroke and told him I would return as fast as possible. He said that it couldn't be so serious so I didn't have to return. He then told me to continue my Camino and said: "I can't walk, so now you have to walk for both of us."
I of course bought a new ticket and took the bus to Santiago. I flew via some other countries to my home country and then a little later to his home town. When I left Astorga in a bus, I was sure that I would never want to go back to Spain to walk the 'remaining part' from Astorga to Muxia. I felt guilty for not being able to be at the hospital the first days after he was admitted. But I spent much time at the hospital with him days and nights where we shared so many nice moments and memories. And I managed to tell him all the nice things he deserved to hear. He died unexpectedly a few weeks later. I organized the funeral. And started my new job in all this. So here I am - I have stopped walking, I am completely passive and lack initiative - I feel exhausted, sad and overwhelmed. I eat unhealthy. I have to do something. Change something.
Today I had a nice walk in freezing cold weather and snow - and it felt good. I will go back to walking long walks every day - in the woods where I live - even if I don't feel like it. I will eat (healthy food) when hungry - as during the Camino - not as now. I will try to sleep enough. And I am planning to walk from Astorga to Muxia maybe next fall/winter - November 2022. Earlier seems impossible due to the pandemic, work and family. But Galicia is wonderful in itself. And it will be nice. It feels good to think about it. So I will continue my walk at home and in Spain. I am doing it for myself - and my father will be there in a way.
I wish you all a healthy new year!