Where to restart?

[AlwynWellington]

BACKGROUND

On Thursday, 4May I pulled a bunch of muscles in my right leg. Walked about 30 km to Estella on Friday, rested four days and transferred to Logrono. Walked two days to Azofra and then transferred to Burgos. Rested one day and walked two days to Hornillos del Camino. Rested for five days.

Transferred to London for medical advice in English. Key advice is to keep moving. Done Thames Path from Windsor to Hammersmith. And currently near Reading having started at Thames Head last Saturday.

I am reasonably certain NOT to return to Spain this yrar. For one thing I suspect it will be too hot.

QUESTION

When I return next year should I return to:

a) Estella

B) Azofra

C) Hornillos

D) some where else

And why?

 

[SYates]

That is so difficult to answer. On the top of my head I would say Estella, but it really depends what you discover about this your pilgrimage in the months to come. I know that planning for the next camino can be vital for some of us but I also acknowledge that it takes time to plan the next step. So, after having given your question some thought I would say:
Wait with your decision until you feel 'the call' and then go for it.
Buen Camino ;-) SY

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

BACKGROUND

On Thursday, 4May I pulled a bunch of muscles in my right leg. Walked about 30 km to Estella on Friday, rested four days and transferred to Logrono. Walked two days to Azofra and then transferred to Burgos. Rested one day and walked two days to Hornillos del Camino. Rested for five days.

Transferred to London for medical advice in English. Key advice is to keep moving. Done Thames Path from Windsor to Hammersmith. And currently near Reading having started at Thames Head last Saturday.

I am reasonably certain NOT to return to Spain this yrar. For one thing I suspect it will be too hot.

QUESTION

When I return next year should I return to:

a) Estella

B) Azofra

C) Hornillos

D) some where else

And why?

Hi Alwyn, I think you are the only one to make this choice.
Listen to your hart and make your decision.
Wish you a wonderful journey and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[VNwalking]

I'm sorry to read this, Alwyn--after all that planning.
The best laid plans of mice and men...
As others have said, only you can know what feels right, depending on your body, your intentions and preferences, the amount of time you have, and what your heart says.
That said, you've asked for our opinions, so here goes (knowing absolutely none of the above...):

If I were in your shoes, I'd restart in Estella, where the continuity of the walk first got broken. Lots of reasons for that, that main one being that connecting with the land and people along the way, continuously step by step, is a powerful and prayerful thing for me. After over a millennium of being trod upon the Camino has a voice--every note of which is worth hearing.
Ultreia and Buen Camino, wherever you decide to pick it up again!

 

[jsalt]

QUESTION
When I return next year should I return to:
a) Estella
B) Azofra
C) Hornillos
D) some where else
And why?

Any one of the above.
Why?
Because it doesn't matter which one.

 

[nreyn12]

I will add my vote for Estella. One, for continuity. Two, because it's a lovely little town with beautiful architecture and a lively promenade on the Plaza Mayor in the evenings. And three because there are super easy, regular, inexpensive, convenient bus connections from both Pamplona and Logroño, which are easy transit points from all major cities with airports.

If I may add an opinion based on experience: Shorter days (say, 20 kms) with hourly rest/stretch breaks go a long way towards preventing injuries. Take good care of your body, every step of the way!

Envisioning you back on the trail, walking towards Santiago...

Nancy

 

[whariwharangi]

I'd start in Estella.

My understanding is they sell bananas in Estella.

Bananas are an essential source of potassium ... very good for the muscles.

You needed a reason ... you didn't say it had to be a good reason.

 

[dougfitz]

I'm sorry to hear this. I know that I missed the Meseta this year when I walked with my wife, and we discussed whether we would return together and do this at a time where she is less likely to be affected by the pollen, etc. I don't think she would, and I think it is time for me to consider a different route.

While the choice is clearly yours, the basic options you have described appear in a more general way to be:

• restart from where you first took a break, including perhaps a sub-option to just fill in the gaps;
• restart from where you last took a break;
  
• start somewhere that is convenient logistically, eg with easy access by bus or train.

Noting that only in the case of restarting in the last 100km does the Pilgrim Office require you to restart at the point where you left the Camino, it appears that really you could treat you 'restart' as an entirely new pilgrimage, and choose your starting point without considering what is now water under the bridge.

 

[FionaClarke]

You will know what feels right when the time comes. My first camino, I flew into Pamplona fully expecting to get a bus to Roncevalles the next morning. When I woke up I felt so strongly that it would be crazy to go backwards by bus, only to be passing through where I was in a few days time. So I set off from there.

Will you fly into Madrid or Bilbao? If so then a bus will get you to Burgos and you may find that you just want to start walking towards SdC when you get there.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Kia ora tātou - greetings to you all and thanks for your observations and suggestions and reasoning (I'm eating a banana as I write).

The consensus last July was to restart from Estella. And that is what I will do late next Tuesday morning, 3 October 2017, after getting a sello, a sim card and a water bottle. That day, as always, I will walk as far as I feel comfortable, having had about 48 hours of continuous travel to get to the start line.

My journey is:
1) Depart Wellington at 21h15 (local) on Sunday, 1 October and arrive at Heathrow T2 at 15h40 (local), Monday, 2 October (30 hours).
2) Meal with whanau at Heathrow T5 and depart 19h20 (local) to arrive Madrid T4 at 22h45 (local).
3) Depart Mardrid T4 bus stop at 01h15 (local) on Tuesday, 3 October to arrive Logrono bus station at 05h00 (local)
4) Depart Logrono bus station at 07h45 (local) on Tuesday, 3 October to arrive Estella-Lizarra bus station at 08h49 (local)

My pack and sleeping bag (courtesy zPack), android tablet (Samsung), collapsible porridge bowl (Kathmandu), tops (merino) and shoes (New Balance 860, but latest model) are unchanged. I will have my 2 person tent (zPack - used for Thames Path and Southwark to Canterbury in 2016) from Estella, both in case of need in Spain and because of the two trips I currently intend to do in Scotland after arrival at Muxia / Fisterra. All other detail is new. Total weight, including water, tablet (with keyboard and cover) is about 8.5 kg and is what I have carried in my training trips this year.

Again, thank you for you support from long ago.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

 

[MTtoCamino]

Wish you well on your Journey