For Methodist Pilgrim, it was when he didn't wake up one morning. For others it might be when they are too infirm or do not have funds or have other commitments that require this sacrifice. For still others it is a once-in-a-lifetime-experience which they have no desire to repeat. Lots of reasons I guess;-)
Many of us contributed to plant a memorial tree and obtain an engraved plaque commemorating the late Rev. Philip John Wren (aka "methodistPilgrim98"). Rebekah Scott, who lives at Moratinos kindly sorted everything and the tree is planted. Also, I gather the plaque is around somewhere. She posted an hilarious but respectful accounting of the tree planting on her blog (here comes the plug):
http://www.moratinoslife.blogspot.com/ The posting is titled "A Tree for Philip Wren."
You should know that Rebekah is a professional and published writer, so she can certainly create a scene with words. I laughed for an hour when I read her account. I invite everyone else to have a look too. It will make your day and restore your faith in the weirdness of the ways St. James works...The Camino DOES provide.
I hope to finally meet Rebekah, her clearly patient and ever-so understanding husband Paddy and their menagerie, in mid May. I start from St. Jean on 27 April.
As to the question posed in this post, I would opine that once the "Camino Bug" gets you, you do not stop your Camino until they screw your coffin lid down... Even when you are not actually walking a Camino, you are thinking of it. You either relive it in your mind, or you are planning for your next hoped for pilgrimage. It occupies you conscious mind when you are not engaged in something else requiring brain power. I find myself mentally packing my rucksack...go figure.
I must suppose that there are some people who do a Camino and are NOT especially moved by the experience. But I can say I have not met said person yet. If you DO know of someone who HAS walked a Camino and takes the attitude "meh..." about the experience, I respectfully suggest they were not paying attention the first time. So, they should do it again.
In fact, doing it again is the only effective treatment for "Caminoitis." My plan is to continue to try to do at least one per year as long as health and finances allow, and provided that "she who must be obeyed" gives me the time off for good behavior. I really do try. So far, so good.
So, in short, it ain't over until the winged lady sings...the angels...hopefully greeting you after a life well lived.
Philip Wren certainly deserved that accolade. I only knew him for about a week, but knowing him made a HUGE impression on me. AND I know Rebekah will swear he interceded on her behalf when all else seemed to go against her during the famous (infamous) memorial tree planting incident. Read the tree planting account.
