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love this....Do not let the action of that one man take even a fraction of that away from you.
If you do choose fear, you risk drawing it to you; perhaps wait until such time as you deem it to be a non-issue.As you can read from my profile, I have been in the Camino Frances many times since 1997-- more repeatedly since 2011. I always, but once, walked by myself, often times many, many kms in isolated areas. Never much of a fear...until Denise Thiem's tragedy.
I want to do another Camino, but feel a lot of trepidation and fear to walk by myself. To make this a worse dilemma, I love to do the Camino solo and don't think I would enjoyed as much with permanent company (I do love the temporary, sporadic, Camino companions).
Any thoughts? What Camino would you choose next given the above? Any tips to somewhat mitigate this new fear?
What a beautiful response!@Olivares amiga, I do not know what I can say that has not already been said many times in this last year but I will say this. The Caminos are safe places to be. Far safer than many of the towns and cities we all live our daily lives in. Death comes to the Camino sometimes - from cold and rain; from a failing heart or an overtaxed blood vessel; from a speeding truck or a careless footstep: and once in living memory from the actions of a man who now resides in a Spanish prison awaiting justice. I know you have walked the camino. You know that it is a rare thing to be alone on the Frances. There are always other pilgrims around. You know that you can walk beside them. It doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement, it doesn't have to be a formal arrangement. You know that at any time you can ask your fellow pilgrims "May I walk with you today?" and you know what their answer will be.
Do you remember how scared you felt as you took your very first tentative steps on the Camino? Perhaps even before you got to Spain. Nervous on the transit, shaky on the 'plane. Bewildered at passport control in a country about which you knew only stories.
Take deep, slow breaths Peregrina. Remember the joy, remember the glory, remember that personal triumph. Do not let the action of that one man take even a fraction of that away from you. There are thousands of good people walking the Camino. There are millions of good people who live along the camino. He is not there anymore.
If you want to get together and talk about this in person I believe we live pretty close to each other. I too walked much of it alone and loved the solitude, but terrible as this murder was, I would not let it stop me doing something so beautiful and meaningful. I am going back in September, not alone this time, but with my husband and daughter. But only because they have the time now, not because i am afraid. Take care, Cherry
Take a good look at your fear. What would make you feel more secure? To have a companion in the near distance? To have your phone with the emergency numbers ready? To take some training in self-defence before you leave? I've been thinking about such a training myself, because physical self-defense does not come natural to me. First this scared me, and now I'm becoming increasingly irritated about my lack of skills in this respect. I want to regain my power! I trust that I will find mine, and you will find yours. Buen Camino!
I walked the VdlP in June last year but with my husband. I think he too was worried about my walking alone after what happened. Anyway, we didn't meet anyone for days whilst walking.
Thank you for the kind advice. I am fascinated by VdlP, but it worries me that it is that solitary.
It is solitary in June/july/August, for obvious reasons : the heat! It may not be in the Spring, why don't you ask people in the 'VdlP' section? They'll know....
It is a great walk and I don't want to put you off but I definitely don't advise the Summer.
really sound and good advice and very well put.@Olivares amiga, I do not know what I can say that has not already been said many times in this last year but I will say this. The Caminos are safe places to be. Far safer than many of the towns and cities we all live our daily lives in. Death comes to the Camino sometimes - from cold and rain; from a failing heart or an overtaxed blood vessel; from a speeding truck or a careless footstep: and once in living memory from the actions of a man who now resides in a Spanish prison awaiting justice. I know you have walked the camino. You know that it is a rare thing to be alone on the Frances. There are always other pilgrims around. You know that you can walk beside them. It doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement, it doesn't have to be a formal arrangement. You know that at any time you can ask your fellow pilgrims "May I walk with you today?" and you know what their answer will be.
Do you remember how scared you felt as you took your very first tentative steps on the Camino? Perhaps even before you got to Spain. Nervous on the transit, shaky on the 'plane. Bewildered at passport control in a country about which you knew only stories.
Take deep, slow breaths Peregrina. Remember the joy, remember the glory, remember that personal triumph. Do not let the action of that one man take even a fraction of that away from you. There are thousands of good people walking the Camino. There are millions of good people who live along the camino. He is not there anymore.
As you can read from my profile, I have been in the Camino Frances many times since 1997-- more repeatedly since 2011. I always, but once, walked by myself, often times many, many kms in isolated areas. Never much of a fear...until Denise Thiem's tragedy.
I want to do another Camino, but feel a lot of trepidation and fear to walk by myself. To make this a worse dilemma, I love to do the Camino solo and don't think I would enjoyed as much with permanent company (I do love the temporary, sporadic, Camino companions).
Any thoughts? What Camino would you choose next given the above? Any tips to somewhat mitigate this new fear?
As you can read from my profile, I have been in the Camino Frances many times since 1997-- more repeatedly since 2011. I always, but once, walked by myself, often times many, many kms in isolated areas. Never much of a fear...until Denise Thiem's tragedy.
I want to do another Camino, but feel a lot of trepidation and fear to walk by myself. To make this a worse dilemma, I love to do the Camino solo and don't think I would enjoyed as much with permanent company (I do love the temporary, sporadic, Camino companions).
Any thoughts? What Camino would you choose next given the above? Any tips to somewhat mitigate this new fear?
Hi Cherry!! Yes, I remembered we lived in the same area! I took a hiatus from the Camino in 2014 after my husband fell ill. While still battling a chronic condition, he has retired from work and that has somehow lead to some improvement on his mobility and travel abilities. So, for the first time in almost two years I am looking at the Camino again and letting myself have some hope that I will get back on it soon.
Your upcoming Sept plans sound lovely! I would love to pick up again on the plans we had talked about to meet (Saratoga?and have some Camino Talk! All the best! Buen Camino!
Hello Cherry! -- very glad to hear from you! Yes, next week (towards the weekend?) sounds like a great idea, specially since the weather will be improvingHi again - I'm down in the City attending our daughter's graduation from Pace U (summa cum laude, we are so proud of her) but I will be home this weekend. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's health, but glad he's doing better. Maybe we can get together sometime next week? Take care, Cherry
Cherry - I want to walk the del Norte by myself this June. I would like to correspond with you if it is Ok. I'm not up to speed on using boards like this so I don't know how to make our conversation private without posting my email address. I will "wander" around this cyber site and see what I find. Thanks, SusanIf you want to get together and talk about this in person I believe we live pretty close to each other. I too walked much of it alone and loved the solitude, but terrible as this murder was, I would not let it stop me doing something so beautiful and meaningful. I am going back in September, not alone this time, but with my husband and daughter. But only because they have the time now, not because i am afraid. Take care, Cherry
click on her name under her avatar. click on start a conversation.Cherry - I want to walk the del Norte by myself this June. I would like to correspond with you if it is Ok. I'm not up to speed on using boards like this so I don't know how to make our conversation private without posting my email address. I will "wander" around this cyber site and see what I find. Thanks, Susan
@Olivares amiga, I do not know what I can say that has not already been said many times in this last year but I will say this. The Caminos are safe places to be. Far safer than many of the towns and cities we all live our daily lives in. Death comes to the Camino sometimes - from cold and rain; from a failing heart or an overtaxed blood vessel; from a speeding truck or a careless footstep: and once in living memory from the actions of a man who now resides in a Spanish prison awaiting justice. I know you have walked the camino. You know that it is a rare thing to be alone on the Frances. There are always other pilgrims around. You know that you can walk beside them. It doesn't have to be a permanent arrangement, it doesn't have to be a formal arrangement. You know that at any time you can ask your fellow pilgrims "May I walk with you today?" and you know what their answer will be.
Do you remember how scared you felt as you took your very first tentative steps on the Camino? Perhaps even before you got to Spain. Nervous on the transit, shaky on the 'plane. Bewildered at passport control in a country about which you knew only stories.
Take deep, slow breaths Peregrina. Remember the joy, remember the glory, remember that personal triumph. Do not let the action of that one man take even a fraction of that away from you. There are thousands of good people walking the Camino. There are millions of good people who live along the camino. He is not there anymore.
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