HumbleWalk
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- walked September 2012 and Jul/Aug 2013
I (female) walked solo from SJPdP to Logrono from 5 Aug 2013 and returned home safely. The walk was amazing and had no blisters or other inconveniences (of course I prepared myself as good as I could).
The following occasion is I think important to mention for solo walker like me. Entering Viana I walked by myself in the heat of the day, in a quiet farm land on the right side of the path I saw a shirt left by someone, thought nothing further and kept walking.
Suddenly a shirtless guy appeared from the farm on my left and started to walk behind me, (with that shirt in his hand). I thought he was just some guy from the area working in the farm. Although he did not look like a farm worker, more like a guy doing work-out but why in the farm, who knows (handsome, youngish, six pack body). From the shadow I saw and noticed he walked so close behind me that I begun to be suspicious, I turned my head to face him and to let him pass me.
As it turned out, he was not planning to walk pass me at all, he wanted to start a conversation. He was local, so he said and from Logrono.
At first, I did not mind but short after he started to say how beautiful I was and started to be so friendly by putting his hand under my elbow. I did not like it and thought long and hard as to how to get rid of him quickly.
In the end I had the courage to be firmed and pointed with my walking stick to leave me alone. He was shocked and acted surprised (said sorry), but I did not care, I walked fast ahead and dared not look back. I prayed he would disappear and not harmed me from behind my back. Then I noticed he disappeared and I was then so happy to be in the city of Viana where I could breathe normally and had coffee.
That was my first real scary experience on the Camino. I did not prepare myself for this, as I concentrated my self more on difficult routes along the way which I successfully handled. I understand, I was lucky I was not robed or raped and things like that, but I wish women could feel safe entirely. After this experience, I wonder if I will take another try to walk alone on the Camino.
Has anybody else experienced this? I was not sure if I should have reported this incident to someone/authority, but now I think it is better to alert others just to be aware of the situation and be prepared.
The following occasion is I think important to mention for solo walker like me. Entering Viana I walked by myself in the heat of the day, in a quiet farm land on the right side of the path I saw a shirt left by someone, thought nothing further and kept walking.
Suddenly a shirtless guy appeared from the farm on my left and started to walk behind me, (with that shirt in his hand). I thought he was just some guy from the area working in the farm. Although he did not look like a farm worker, more like a guy doing work-out but why in the farm, who knows (handsome, youngish, six pack body). From the shadow I saw and noticed he walked so close behind me that I begun to be suspicious, I turned my head to face him and to let him pass me.
As it turned out, he was not planning to walk pass me at all, he wanted to start a conversation. He was local, so he said and from Logrono.
At first, I did not mind but short after he started to say how beautiful I was and started to be so friendly by putting his hand under my elbow. I did not like it and thought long and hard as to how to get rid of him quickly.
In the end I had the courage to be firmed and pointed with my walking stick to leave me alone. He was shocked and acted surprised (said sorry), but I did not care, I walked fast ahead and dared not look back. I prayed he would disappear and not harmed me from behind my back. Then I noticed he disappeared and I was then so happy to be in the city of Viana where I could breathe normally and had coffee.
That was my first real scary experience on the Camino. I did not prepare myself for this, as I concentrated my self more on difficult routes along the way which I successfully handled. I understand, I was lucky I was not robed or raped and things like that, but I wish women could feel safe entirely. After this experience, I wonder if I will take another try to walk alone on the Camino.
Has anybody else experienced this? I was not sure if I should have reported this incident to someone/authority, but now I think it is better to alert others just to be aware of the situation and be prepared.