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But fortunately, you created those memories to enjoy now! I remember you walking into the albergue in Uterga one morning, after what I think was your last stage on the camino. Best wishes!Unfortunately now I am only able to walk long distances in my memory.
I read a good book on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage by Robert Sibley. Not a guide book, but Sibley's personal experiences and some insights into the Japanese people he walked with that enriched his own pilgrimage. There is a thead about it in this fourm.Towards the end of the 1100+km pilgrimage circuit on Shikoku there is a small pilgrimage museum. There is a photograph and caption in one of the glass cases. I would love to be able to ask Nakatsukasa-san a similar question.
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Somewhere on the multiple caminos I passed the point where I needed others to understand me. That is one of my reasons...I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Why walk the Camino Frances multiple times? Is it because it is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
Hello Bob, I to have walked the Camino Francis three times 2017/2018/2019. Yes well.When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
If you have never walked the same camino twice, it would be a new experience to do so. When you think about it, the joys of familiarity exist just as surely as the joys of discovery. Each of us weighs them and makes a decision, but the attraction for both does not baffle me.I don't disparage those who do walk the Frances over and over but I am completely baffled by it. ... I have 5 compostellas under my boots, none the same.
The first one was in 1985, if he didn't fail any year.Four times in the vain hope that one day I'll get it "right".
Back in 2001 I met a Belgian who was on his 17th . . . mind you he did write the annual guide for the Belgian confraternity.
Hi Annie, I walk twice a year too for many of the same reasons. At 74 people mistake me for 54 and I believe the meditation of walking, the people I meet and the routine of each day is very healing. And yes the gym could give me the same result but I'd rather walk in Spain and pick grapes off the vine.2021 will make 22 or 23 times on the CF, including once or twice on several other routes, full and/or partial, like the Aragones, the Madrid, the VDLP.
Sometimes I walk twice a year for 6-8 weeks each time.
I walk for my health.
According to my specialist, it chelates the chemicals that settle in my muscles, organs, and bones.
I usually feel 100% better at the end of each Camino.
The next Camino, you are not the same person, the camino is not totally the same, weather will be different, again you will meet people from all over the world you never met before, new situations and experiences every day. For me, every Caminowalk is a new lifejourneyWhen I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
I told my wife if she were to pass away before me after over 50 years of marriage, to come for me on the Camino Frances. I told her I would keep walking until she came for me.When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
Possibly even earlier - his wife Alice died while cycling the Camino in '86 and he was injured. I think he missed out on a couple after that. Terrific guy though - knew all the best places to eat!The first one was in 1985, if he didn't fail any year.
Then it is probable that the Belgian passed El Cebrero, Puertomarín......Mellid (Melide).....
5 times on the camino although last time I did not finish. I just find the Frances beautiful and peaceful. Enough flat land to make it not too difficult and enough mountains sit on top of, look back and enjoy God's tapestry. And of course my fellow peregrinosI have walked the Camino Frances three times. The first journey was driven mainly by curiosity for something totally beyond my own very limited experience: language, history, landscape and culture all way outside my small-town Scottish upbringing. With a dash of religious enthusiam on the side. I walked my second Camino 12 years later to try to recapture some of the joy which I encountered on that first journey. My first Camino had been a profound moving and transformative experience and at that particular point in my life I desperately needed some more of that. My third Camino Frances was walked with far fewer expectations or hopes but more as a way of observing for myself the changes in the Camino which had taken place over 25 years and to find if the reality of the day corresponded with the descriptions of the modern Camino which I had read here and in other places.
Possibly even earlier - his wife Alice died while cycling the Camino in '86 and he was injured. I think he missed out on a couple after that. Terrific guy though - knew all the best places to eat!
Why not? We all repeat things we enjoy . . . listening to a piece of music, . . .
I don't disparage those who do walk the Frances over and over but I am completely baffled by it. I think the Frances is the best first Camino anyone can take on. With so many other caminos to experience along with other treks in other parts of this great planet and so little time I just can't grasp walking the same one over, especially the Frances.
Each to their own as always of course but I sit on the 'Oncer' side of the fence...so much world, so little time...For me personally it is more important to experience novelty and new horizons in my walks and travel in general. That desire overrides the undoubted pleasure I would feel if I repeated a long walks. The desire to return to particular places has certainly occurred to me but so far the lure of new horizons has triumphed.
Bradypus, I echo your sentiments here. I couId have written this myself. I walked my first Frances for primarily the same reasons in 2018 and felt the same way afterward. I will be embarking on my second Frances in 2020 for very much the same reason as well, to try to recapture that feeling of euphoria (like a drug addict). God willing there just may be a third.I have walked the Camino Frances three times. The first journey was driven mainly by curiosity for something totally beyond my own very limited experience: language, history, landscape and culture all way outside my small-town Scottish upbringing. With a dash of religious enthusiam on the side. I walked my second Camino 12 years later to try to recapture some of the joy which I encountered on that first journey. My first Camino had been a profound moving and transformative experience and at that particular point in my life I desperately needed some more of that. My third Camino Frances was walked with far fewer expectations or hopes but more as a way of observing for myself the changes in the Camino which had taken place over 25 years and to find if the reality of the day corresponded with the descriptions of the modern Camino which I had read here and in other places.
There's no way that you can experience every village, city and town on a single Camino Francés, and the first time can kind of be a blur, especially the first few days as you are adjusting to the routine,
I don't get it. With all the wonderful things to see and do in the world, why would you limit yourself to the same thing over and over, The world is big and beautiful. Experience the difference.
With all of the wonderful people in the world to see and interact with, why would you spend time with the same people over and over again? There are billions of wonderful people in the world. Ditch your family and friends and experience the differences to be found in other people.I don't get it. With all the wonderful things to see and do in the world, why would you limit yourself to the same thing over and over, The world is big and beautiful. Experience the difference.
When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
When we repeat the Camino, we are not trying to recreate precious memories - memories themselves will shift over time as our perspective changes. Nothing stays the same, impermanence is all. Our precious memories allow us to reflect, rethink, and remember where we have been and how far we have come.When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
Like you, Mike, for me it was a case of "do it on a bike", or not at all. I remember fondly my first camino, the VdlP, as a very leisurely affair. I just checked my credencial and it took me 25 days - that's an average of 40km per day at maybe only 8km per hour. I'd recommend that experience to anybody.... and secondly to see if the Camino at 5km per hour was anyway different to the camino at 20 km per hour. Upon arriving in Santiago I was totally convinced that walking was a significantly different experience, especially being able to stop; take in the vista; take a photo; stop and talk to a fellow pilgrim.
This isn't why I've walked the CF a few times, but have found a benefit of having done it over and over - I "walk" it if I can't sleep or to pass time on a plane or ...
Frequently, I start these "walks" further along the CF not always in SJPP - after Lorca or Logroño or Nájera, Rabé, Carrion, Astorga, Camponaraya, Ruitelán for some variety.
Wonderful ~ and sooo relaxing z z zzzz
The first is special but it gets better with experience. Plus the high or awakened state of consciousness lingers and lasts longer and gives a glimpse of a state of higher conscious that is proactive instead of reactivenever reaches that "high" you once achieved on your first.
Not for me. The first is still the most special. And the reason I keep coming back or trying other pilgrim routes in other countries. I think that the other journeys have been in large measure an attempt to recapture something of the outstanding spirit of that first Camino. Sometimes fairly successfully, occasionally less so. And the Camino Frances has changed so much over the years that after walking my third CF in 2016 I am fairly sure that I will not be back to walk it again. Looking in other places now.The first is special but it gets better with experience.
Maybe this says more about your expectations , why do you feel the need to recapture anything. I thought the same about my youth and then realised the value of my health, body and mind for where I am now. One of many lessons I've learned is too leave behind your expectations and go forward with hope and give out love.recapture something of the outstanding spirit of that first Camino.
Actually, no, I don't expect the "best." I hope for a good experience. I don't need to identify "the best" and compare it against the first or the others. It would be as helpful as trying to identify the best year of my life! Can't be done!I will have another best time of my life.
If you have left behind your expectations so completely why return to the same route at all? Isn't returning to the same route a response to something positive that you wish to experience again? Isn't there some expectation behind a decision to revisit the same place?Maybe this says more about your expectations , why do you feel the need to recapture anything. I thought the same about my youth and then realised the value of my health, body and mind for where I am now. One of many lessons I've learned is too leave behind your expectations and go forward with hope and give out love.
When I walked the CF I met a man who was walking the CF for the third time. The first two times were with his wife. After she passed away here he was walking for the third time, but by himself.
He was not particularly talkative. Once I met him deep in thought sitting on a seat and I was about to join him. I checked myself in time and left him in peace instead of disturbing a moment that seemed important to him.
It made quite an impression on me. Since then I have discovered that quite a few people walk the same Camino multiple times and it has always intrigued me.
I would love to hear why others have chosen to walk multiple CFs.
Bob M
Haven't we all changed over the years and isn't change inevitableAnd the Camino Frances has changed so much over the years that after walking my third CF in 2016 I am fairly sure that I will not be back to walk it again. Looking in other places now.
In hindsight it turned out I had unfinished business and although I had a choice when you submit to the so called 'call' something beckoned me back and it turned out that I had more lessons to learn plus it felt like returning to visit an old friendIf you have left behind your expectations so completely why return to the same route at all?
Isn't returning to the same route a response to something positive that you wish to experience again?
Not necessarily if you leave expectation behind the place you find yourself can appear different through a new set of eyesIsn't there some expectation behind a decision to revisit the same place?
I take the Camino how I find it, a people path of positive intention and any joy is carried inside and I try not too let the outside in uninvitedThink back to your first Camino. Now imagine that each and every pilgrim you met is accompanied by seventy friends. Can you say with honesty that you would embrace the second imaginary experience with all the joy of your first Camino?
And I know that deliberately exposing myself to situations which place mental and emotional stress upon me is harmful to them. So I choose my routes with that in mind. Is that so very wrong?
Seriously?...Who can tire of dry chorizo bocadillos or fried until it's boot leather pieces of cow?
Sometimes, we (I ! ) need something familar to gently ease us back to life. And walking a familar path does the trick.
Whatever you decide, you have my best wishes ... Let us knowI just revisited this thread to read the newer answers and saw yours and it really resonated with me this morning. I have been waffling, trying to decide if I will finish the VDLP this year or since I'm walking alone with Joe (not taking a group,) will go on the more familiar CF . I'm feeling pulled to the CF, exactly for the reason you state, it's familiar and the ease of it makes it feel like "coming home." I still haven't decided. I'm back in the California desert today after all my medical appointments up in Oregon - and will take a look at the weather statistics on both routes today. I'm also stuffing my backpack today, putting it on, and walking a few kilometers to see if it bothers the biopsy site (since there's no pack transport on the VDLP). I need to make a decision in the next few days, but the Frances is calling me, I think, like an old friend ...
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