- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
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I feel that 'click' too. The first few days of any long walk are always a bit rough (possibly because I don't do any training..To me, there's something that happens internally between 10 days and 2 weeks on the Camino, when I am fully "in the Camino groove". Despite the fact that I've completed 4 Caminos now, I still notice that it takes a period of at least a week before I am fully back in Camino mode. This feeling intensifies as I walk, so much so that rest days are not appealing at all. I always want to keep walking and moving forward, even if it's just a few km. I'm not a runner, but maybe it's like a "runner's high", but much deeper. All that I know is that when I'm home I miss it deeply.
I get into the groove after about day three on five caminos and relate to much written in the above post by others. I agree that no other long distance hike feels the same as walking a Camino.
And, in Santiago, I get to hug someone without anybody feeling abused.I was talking with a group at dinner last night after a Conference. They were keen to hear about the Camino. Of course the usual questions came up.
So you like bush walking? Not really.
But you must hike a lot locally? No, not really.
I guess you'll be off to walk the PCT or AT at some stage. No, I don't really see the point in it..........
But you don't want to hike anywhere else?
No. Walking the Camino actually has very little to do with hiking............
That then usually requires a bit of explanation.........
And, in Santiago, I get to hug someone without anybody feeling abused.
...and rice cookers.My Caminos are one big 800 km hug fest!
People, cats, dogs, horses, trees, ................
I get all of that too. I don't consider myself a hiker, and I don't consider the Camino a hike. I'm a walker, and the Camino is a journey in which walking is my mode of transportation.So you like bush walking? Not really.
But you must hike a lot locally? No, not really.
I guess you'll be off to walk the PCT or AT at some stage. No, I don't really see the point in it..........
But you don't want to hike anywhere else?
No. Walking the Camino actually has very little to do with hiking............
I noticed this on my first camino. I scheduled in lots of rest days: one a week, and short walking days at first, as I wanted to be able to finish without too much bodily stress. The short initial days: from St Jean pied de Port to Puente la Reina, were definitely a good idea for me, to get in shape. But I didn't want days off. Aside from a couple of days at Santo Domingo de Silos and at Leon, I didn't want, or take, days off. So I arrived in Santiago about 10 days ahead of time. That was my learning camino. You can't go on camino from Western Canada without booking a return trip, unless you are a lot wealthier than I shall ever be. But now, I regularly walk shorter days and just keep on walking until I am done. I have scheduled in one extra night in Leon on this year's 38 days camino combo, and three days in Santiago at the end, which I can take for rest or injury days, if necessary. But as long as I am well, I shall just keep on walking to Santiago, open to all the experiences of the Way.rest days are not appealing at all. I always want to keep walking and moving forward,
Nah, you just need to make sure that you do minimum of three week Caminos.I guess I need to work on getting ‘there’ sooner... I guess it just means more Camino for me to practice and hone those skills
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking @trecile, or maybe my experience is a bit different.I still notice that it takes a period of at least a week before I am fully back in Camino mode. This feeling intensifies as I walk, so much so that rest days are not appealing at all. I always want to keep walking and moving forward, even if it's just a few km.
Start walking from Lisbon.Nah, you just need to make sure that you do minimum of three week Caminos.
That's why the idea of doing the Portuguese Camino from Porto doesn't appeal to me - I'd just be getting into the Camino groove, then it would be over!
If/when I do the Portuguese route I will start from Lisbon.Start walking from Lisbon.
Nah, you just need to make sure that you do minimum of three week Caminos.
That's why the idea of doing the Portuguese Camino from Porto doesn't appeal to me - I'd just be getting into the Camino groove, then it would be over!
Just being back is exhilarating... but it takes me a week or two to settle my shoes and blisters (or not!)... and knees and my thoughts... by week three usually I feel strong and my head is there... and I usually feel great... alive... free...peace... all of the above.
I feel the sameThe more days 'on the road' the more rewarding the experience in my view.
Something like that happened to me in May, I was supposed to walk for 6 weeks but after week 4 I was too tired and a with a big blister on my left sole, so I cut it short and flew back home. Hope it's not my advancing age, for next year I have extended Camino plans.I am glad that I've have 2 opportunities to walk for 6 weeks. However, I have found that I don't enjoy the last week or two as much - I get tired and start thinking about home.
It takes me a week or so to get "into" the camino. I do it faster now than on my first few trips. Then I have 2 or 3 of weeks of strong and contented walking. However, I find that I don't keep getting stronger and stronger indefinitely. I get tired! And I begin to think about whether I am neglecting husband and grandchildren at home.
I have decided that the most satisfying timing is a month away from home. I have a long journey to Spain and need some days for travel and jet lag, as well as some flex days for the route. So, I now look at 3-week routes.
Did you walk South to North on the Rota Vicentina?I walked the Portuguese camino from Porto this spring as I'd heard quite often that the stretch starting from Lisbon is not as nice as beginning in Porto.
Since I prefer to walk 4-6 weeks at a time I combined it with walking the Fisherman's Trail along the beautiful ocean cliffs of Southwest Portugal. Although not officially a Camino, adding it provided me with a perfect month long walk when the two were combined together...it was lovely!
I flew into Lisbon, then took a bus to Porto Covo, walked south to Sauges, then a long bus ride north to Porto. It worked really well.Did you walk South to North on the Rota Vicentina?
I get all of that too. I don't consider myself a hiker, and I don't consider the Camino a hike. I'm a walker, and the Camino is a journey in which walking is my mode of transportation.
The camino is a journey, but for me walking is both more and other than my mode of transportation depending, of course, on what you mean by transportation.
But I think that the physical act of walking is key to the formation of whatever the magic is that occurs within.I agree.
Perhaps the right way to express this....
Is that the journey is the Camino.
And walking is merely the 'vehicle' that is used to experience it.
i.e. It's not about the walk........
I also felt that the Ingles, though less traveled and interesting, was just not quite enough to click into 'Camino mode'.For me it's 3 days - one of the reasons I found the Camino Ingles to be not quite satisfying: just as you get "into the groove" you can see the spires ahead of you.
But I think that the physical act of walking is key to the formation of whatever the magic is that occurs within.
I know what you mean!! I’m still missing it and completed it October last year!! Was talking about it today even!!To me, there's something that happens internally between 10 days and 2 weeks on the Camino, when I am fully "in the Camino groove". Despite the fact that I've completed 4 Caminos now, I still notice that it takes a period of at least a week before I am fully back in Camino mode. This feeling intensifies as I walk, so much so that rest days are not appealing at all. I always want to keep walking and moving forward, even if it's just a few km. I'm not a runner, but maybe it's like a "runner's high", but much deeper. All that I know is that when I'm home I miss it deeply.
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