Search 69,459 Camino Questions

the rhythms of the camino: new article

The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Loved your article Rob - and I've entered the competition to win your book! Hold thumbs!
 
Rob,

Thanks for sharing, it makes me want to go again, and meet you along the way.

Jerry
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
HI Rob,
I was one of many who listened to you speaking when you were in Vancouver a year or so ago. I enjoyed your speech and your book which I either bought at the meeting or later. And I still enjoyed your article! Thank you for your refreshing perspective.
Yes - the rhythms - hmm - for me they include of course the walking each day for most of the day, the pleasure and pain of the daily use of my body in a way I don't experience anywhere else, the smiling 'buen camino' greetings from others, walking through mile after mile (km after km) of spring flowers- changing as the landscape changes, the time alone where thoughts wander, new and friendly faces and the time with others which has no expectation of anything beyond the moment, cafe con leche (I never drink coffee at other times), freshly squeezed orange juice, bocadillos and tortillas, lifting the pack off and on - knowing it contains everything I need, misty, moisty mornings and days tucked inside my rain clothes far away from the stresses of the world, stopping for a rest and taking my boots off for a lavender cream rub, church bells, little villages, kindness where it is unexpected, sharing meals, end of day showers, climbing into a top bunk, going to bed sore but happy... so many rhythms... so healing to a neglected soul.
cecelia
 
As cyclists some of our 'rhythms' are different.

I did a lot of mulling about hills this year as we edged round the Massif Central.

There's the satisfaction of getting a hill right - speed, gears, energy, all paced right so that there's something left for the final push.

As a lumpy 50 something on a laden high street store basic bike, more often than not I would get it wrong, so I did lots of walking up hills too. Sometimes I needed Peter to pace me - or I would set too fast a pace and exhaust myself.

But a good long steady walking push is an opportunity for close study of the hedgerow or field edge. There was an exquisite sky blue butterfly on a lilac blue scabious flower that I won't forget for a long time. What is the rusty red (in autumn) fluffy growth I saw in the bushes - a round clump like a miniature mistletoe so I assume it's parasitic? Toadstools on the cut ends of logs stacked up, autumn crocus, blackberries, the way the light reflects of blades of grass, the variations in vine leaves - plenty to appreciate as the miles slowly go by. All these are familiar to walkers as well, of course.

But for us cyclists after the uphill comes a downhill! Suddenly we can stop all physical effort, settle our bottoms comfortably on the saddle and go-ooooo! A minute before we were hot and sticky, maybe panting, noticing a beetle crossing the road and hearing every rustle in the dry leaves, now the wind is cooling and drying us off and instead of heads down, studying every botanical detail, we're heads up, looking out across the landscape, considering the bigger picture - why are the hills that shape? which river valley is this we're sweeping into? where have the vines gone and what is that crop over there? is that church spire the first sign of our night's rest or is there much further to go?

And of course, sooner or later, as the rhythm re-asserts itself, along comes the next uphill!!

If I can do it, attached is a picture of Peter eating lunch at the top of the long uphill out of Tonnerre, north of Vezelay, during which we saw the butterfly on the scabious mentioned above!

No I can't - I'm sure I managed to do it before?! Well, when I can work it out, I will do so!!
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles

Most read last week in this forum

Am taking the bus from Madrid on arrival to Ponferrada to start the Camino a couple stages beyond. Hearing that Molinaseca is a very special place, began thinking of maybe detouring by bus or...
I’m walking now with my daughter from Roncesvalles celebrating our birthdays and I’m finding places with really good local food in El Camino. I want to mention cafe Ttipia in SJPDP Hotel...
Hi all, Second journey upcoming but with my wife. Coming from South Dakota, USA and walking from Burgos to Santiago and then to Muxia . She won't be able to walk much and we want to move her...
Time is rushing on 8 weeks to go, as is my training programme. I watched a lot of camino training advice on You Tube and adapted some of that to fit my ramshackle plan .My first CF back in 2015...
This is an extract from my Web-App (under construction) for Camino Frances and shows the gradient graphs (with maps) for the combined as well as 32 individual walks. Select walks (in groups of 5...
Hello, if it was your first Camino, what would you do regarding below dates? Any adjustments you suggest? I am planning my very first Camino. Current loose plans are to start around April 10th...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top