Unless I die or the world ends I am ready for my 1st camino!

[Angie94]

1) After someone told me about the Camino de Santiago I entertained the idea for a brief moment and then it became a tremendous desire, calling, motivation...or whatever!)
2) Began researching
3) Started walking...(first time I reached 3 miles I thought I was really doing something! I really couldn't fathom walking 15 miles, but I told myself "just keep walking"
4) Did more research and joined this awesome forum (I wonder if I would even be REALLY going without having joined this forum - I remember last fall when I joined that the first feelings and thoughts I had were "yes, this is actually possible - just look at all these people who have done it!!" and then feeling so very encouraged by everyone - it turned a desire into a reality.
5) Began buying some gear
6) Started walking more...
7) "met" a few individuals on this forum and conversed with them - they have helped me OODLES!!
8) Began reading books about the camino
9) Bought some more gear and a backpack
10) Started walking more...with a pack
11) Began letting people know that I was going - (definitely mixed reviews on the subject!)
12) Read blogs, did more research ie. transportation, communication, meditation, recreation and accommodations...and the most important for me - the spiritual aspect.
13) Started walking more...with correct gear and pack
14) Began having some fears and anxiety - but talking to some great people on this forum put those feelings to rest. And also the lady who introduced me to this idea in the first place - tremendous help.
15) And this week I have finalized and paid for all reservations, bookings, transportation - planes, trains, transport to SJPP and the first three nights of my camino - and booked two nights for when I arrive in Santiago - I will then walk on to Finisterre and Muxia and then back to Santiago one night before heading to Madrid then back home to Ohio. A special thank you to those of you and I have been 'talking' with. You know who you are
I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)

 

[LakeMcD]

Bravo, and thus the adventure continues!!

 

[NualaOC]

Sounds like you're all set @Angie94! I wish you a wonderful and life-changing adventure.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

1) After someone told me about the Camino de Santiago I entertained the idea for a brief moment and then it became a tremendous desire, calling, motivation...or whatever!)
2) Began researching
3) Started walking...(first time I reached 3 miles I thought I was really doing something! I really couldn't fathom walking 15 miles, but I told myself "just keep walking"
4) Did more research and joined this awesome forum (I wonder if I would even be REALLY going without having joined this forum - I remember last fall when I joined that the first feelings and thoughts I had were "yes, this is actually possible - just look at all these people who have done it!!" and then feeling so very encouraged by everyone - it turned a desire into a reality.
5) Began buying some gear
6) Started walking more...
7) "met" a few individuals on this forum and conversed with them - they have helped me OODLES!!
8) Began reading books about the camino
9) Bought some more gear and a backpack
10) Started walking more...with a pack
11) Began letting people know that I was going - (definitely mixed reviews on the subject!)
12) Read blogs, did more research ie. transportation, communication, meditation, recreation and accommodations...and the most important for me - the spiritual aspect.
13) Started walking more...with correct gear and pack
14) Began having some fears and anxiety - but talking to some great people on this forum put those feelings to rest. And also the lady who introduced me to this idea in the first place - tremendous help.
15) And this week I have finalized and paid for all reservations, bookings, transportation - planes, trains, transport to SJPP and the first three nights of my camino - and booked two nights for when I arrive in Santiago - I will then walk on to Finisterre and Muxia and then back to Santiago one night before heading to Madrid then back home to Ohio. A special thank you to those of you and I have been 'talking' with. You know who you are
I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)

Hi Angie, wish you a wonderful journey and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[James R B]

I've never met you but I'm proud of you.Buen Camino!

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

Just checked the Mayan calendar, you are good to go (just watch crossing the street) Good luck and Buen Camino !!

 

[Introibo]

Number 11 in your list is a big moment. Nurturing dreams is very important. If you
release them into the world too soon they get trampled on and die. If you let them
out when have roots they can bend and sway and take the buffeting that some will
subject them to.

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you have the time of you life

Buen Camino

 

[Waka]

What you are about to experience is mind blowing, just drink it all in.

 

[TD Justus]

Hi Angie94,
My sister & I will be on CF around the same time: leaving Texas May 21st. We are slow walkers (like to stop & look at everything) but perhaps may run into you at some point.
Boy, can I identify with many of your steps listed above! The Camino is exciting, fascinating, sometimes scary but intractably drawing us to walk the Way.
Wishing you buen camino,
TD

 

[movinmaggie]

I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)[/QUOTE]

 

[movinmaggie]

I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)

[/QUOTE]
Sorry Angie, I messed up. Just wanted to say that I know there are many here who are very proud of you. I do wish you a heartfelt Buen Camino. Please keep us informed along 'the way'.

 

[BrienC]

El Camino es la meta. (The Way is the goal.)

Buen Camino!

 

[RobertS26]

I remember when you first popped up on this forum. It's been great to watch you plan your first Camino. Ultreia!

 

[marjude]

Its amazing the different reactions that you get from people when you tell them what you are doing, some just can't believe that a women would be silly enough to go off on her own especially halfway around the world. I must say my most excited supporter was my Aunt in her early nineties who is no longer with us. Buen Camino Judy.

 

[movinmaggie]

Its amazing the different reactions that you get from people when you tell them what you are doing, some just can't believe that a women would be silly enough to go off on her own especially halfway around the world. I must say my most excited supporter was my Aunt in her early nineties who is no longer with us. Buen Camino Judy.

Bless your aunt…...

 

[Annette london]

1) After someone told me about the Camino de Santiago I entertained the idea for a brief moment and then it became a tremendous desire, calling, motivation...or whatever!)
2) Began researching
3) Started walking...(first time I reached 3 miles I thought I was really doing something! I really couldn't fathom walking 15 miles, but I told myself "just keep walking"
4) Did more research and joined this awesome forum (I wonder if I would even be REALLY going without having joined this forum - I remember last fall when I joined that the first feelings and thoughts I had were "yes, this is actually possible - just look at all these people who have done it!!" and then feeling so very encouraged by everyone - it turned a desire into a reality.
5) Began buying some gear
6) Started walking more...
7) "met" a few individuals on this forum and conversed with them - they have helped me OODLES!!
8) Began reading books about the camino
9) Bought some more gear and a backpack
10) Started walking more...with a pack
11) Began letting people know that I was going - (definitely mixed reviews on the subject!)
12) Read blogs, did more research ie. transportation, communication, meditation, recreation and accommodations...and the most important for me - the spiritual aspect.
13) Started walking more...with correct gear and pack
14) Began having some fears and anxiety - but talking to some great people on this forum put those feelings to rest. And also the lady who introduced me to this idea in the first place - tremendous help.
15) And this week I have finalized and paid for all reservations, bookings, transportation - planes, trains, transport to SJPP and the first three nights of my camino - and booked two nights for when I arrive in Santiago - I will then walk on to Finisterre and Muxia and then back to Santiago one night before heading to Madrid then back home to Ohio. A special thank you to those of you and I have been 'talking' with. You know who you are
I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)

Gosh! So much and planning and you deserve to have a wonderful time Angie. Please keep in touch via the live posts from the Camino to let us all know how you are doing. Am a bit envious I have to admit as we won't be going again till 2017 but so happy for you.

 

[C3 to Camino]

How wonderful that it is all coming together. Good for you! I imagine my list when I finally go (planning for 2018) will be similar although not in the same order. I've already told my oncologist I was planning this, and his reaction was "my wife is doing that this summer".

I'm already "training", actually starting to walk again with a walker which is why my Camino is so far away. A lot of work to do there.

Is it terrible that I'm starting to feel a little jealous of everyone who is doing it sooner than me? Meanwhile, living vicariously through all your posts is both motivating and gets me a little nostalgic for Galicia!

 

[Angie94]

How wonderful that it is all coming together. Good for you! I imagine my list when I finally go (planning for 2018) will be similar although not in the same order. I've already told my oncologist I was planning this, and his reaction was "my wife is doing that this summer".

I'm already "training", actually starting to walk again with a walker which is why my Camino is so far away. A lot of work to do there.

Is it terrible that I'm starting to feel a little jealous of everyone who is doing it sooner than me? Meanwhile, living vicariously through all your posts is both motivating and gets me a little nostalgic for Galicia!

Prayers for a continued and speedy recovery and a return to good health so that you may be able to partake in this wonderful endeavor, I really believe so much of the fun and excitement is in the learning and planning! ~ Buen Camino!!

 

[Magwood]

Well, I sincerely hope you start your Camino safely - options one and two would be a bit extreme.
Buen Camino!

 

[Magwood]

On a more serious note, regarding your item (4), this place was my first experience of an Internet forum. It has given me so much. I don't think I even asked any questions because I didn't know what I didn't know. I just immersed myself in all the available informative and humorous threads, and following all this wonderful advice, made very few mistakes on my first Camino.

@Angie94, I wish you a camino that equals or surpasses my first experience. I don't doubt that you will have a wonderful camino experince that will probably draw you back time and again.
Buen Camino!

 

[Angie94]

In my case there are those in my life who are genuinely worried and concern, those who are a bit envious and would LOVE to do this but are too consumed with fear to ever even try and those who would like to but very poor health prevents it.
The saddest ones (in my opinion) are the few that do not get it at all and put forth a thin vale of mockery which I am trying to not to pull in and be hurt by that. And then there are some who are just generally uninterested...
And then there are those who are genuinely excited for me, support me and love to engage in conversations about it (which I try to keep relatively brief so as not to wear out my welcome with it!) Who knows maybe it will inspire someone else in my family to experience it.

 

[movinmaggie]

Just hold this thought......It's' your Camino.

 

[Angie94]

I didn't know what I didn't know.

LOVE this!
I have read so many of your wonderful blogs Maggie...all I can say is WoW. You are such a tremendous inspiration to me (and I imagine) countless others. Reading through your experiences was one of the keystones in helping me understand that this trek - for me - was indeed possible!

 

[Angie94]

Just hold this thought......It's' your Camino.

with that thought in mind I want to share something that happened recently (and I will make it public as it may be of assistance to someone else...)
I met for dinner with the lady who has walked the camino and first introduced me to the idea. She has been trying to help me with my unrelenting anger, disappointment, confusion and a few fears thrown in there just for good measure. I have had my heels dug in thinking to myself "I will work on this when I do the camino, I will dump all this negative stuff when I walk...."
After talking for a bit, she looked me right in my eye and said the following words, "Angie, this pilgrimage can be a very spiritual thing, people have been walking this path for thousands of years, St. Francis himself walked this very path that you are about to walk," she went on to say..."It is such a beautiful, wonderful and life changing experience...do you really want to take all this negative stuff with you and have it rob you of your camino??"
wow. that one statement may possibly change the entire reason of why I thought was doing this trek....

 

[movinmaggie]

Just sent you a PM….

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Angie,

Your start date and Brieley's suggested stages gets you to Sahagun about June 12th. Sahagun celebrates June 12 big time as it is the saint's day for St. John of Sahagún. There will be festivities like bullfights and running of the bulls through the streets. The first day of a few they set aside for fun will likely include young men in the bullring teasing young bulls and then running and hiding. Some guys though will run at the bull and jump and somersault over them. A later day will have professionals doing similar with big bulls and another day will be the bullfighting. The parade and the run-up to it are lots of fun. We had to stay in town for a few days and it was fun. Watch your camino timing.

Also in Sahagun, the old convent, now museum, Senora la Peregrina will print out a compostella for you for finishing half of the Camino Frances. Both museum and Spanish siesta hours apply so, again, watch your timing.

Buen camino.

 

[Urban Trekker]

1) After someone told me about the Camino de Santiago I entertained the idea for a brief moment and then it became a tremendous desire, calling, motivation...or whatever!)
2) Began researching
3) Started walking...(first time I reached 3 miles I thought I was really doing something! I really couldn't fathom walking 15 miles, but I told myself "just keep walking"
4) Did more research and joined this awesome forum (I wonder if I would even be REALLY going without having joined this forum - I remember last fall when I joined that the first feelings and thoughts I had were "yes, this is actually possible - just look at all these people who have done it!!" and then feeling so very encouraged by everyone - it turned a desire into a reality.
5) Began buying some gear
6) Started walking more...
7) "met" a few individuals on this forum and conversed with them - they have helped me OODLES!!
8) Began reading books about the camino
9) Bought some more gear and a backpack
10) Started walking more...with a pack
11) Began letting people know that I was going - (definitely mixed reviews on the subject!)
12) Read blogs, did more research ie. transportation, communication, meditation, recreation and accommodations...and the most important for me - the spiritual aspect.
13) Started walking more...with correct gear and pack
14) Began having some fears and anxiety - but talking to some great people on this forum put those feelings to rest. And also the lady who introduced me to this idea in the first place - tremendous help.
15) And this week I have finalized and paid for all reservations, bookings, transportation - planes, trains, transport to SJPP and the first three nights of my camino - and booked two nights for when I arrive in Santiago - I will then walk on to Finisterre and Muxia and then back to Santiago one night before heading to Madrid then back home to Ohio. A special thank you to those of you and I have been 'talking' with. You know who you are
I am so excited!! (Camino dates May 16th- June 26th 2016)

They used to say "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" That is so 1960ish. You really meet the nicest people on the caminos. I have walked 2 different routes to date with #3 in April so I know this is true. You will be amazed by the random acts of kindness you will experience not only from pilgrims but from the people who live on the camino.
Your list is thorough and thoughtful and I have no doubt what so ever that you're ready to go. Just one thing I don't see. Be sure to notify your bank and card holders of your travel plans and dates. Otherwise your will find your cards canceled and you destitute on the camino. Buen Camino

 

[Angie94]

thank you for that tip! will do...

 

[Angie94]

We had to stay in town for a few days and it was fun.

I may have to do that