Here is a wonderful website of pictures from the Camino.
http://bit.ly/14H7tcE
Enjoy and Buen Camino!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Changes
As the time to travel to Spain draws near, some of my original plans have changed.
I was initially going to start walking on Oct. 1, 2013, which would have been my Mom's 80th birthday.
In trying to make my dreams and reality segue as smoothly as possibly, I realized I needed to push my trip off until after Oct. 15th. People on tax extension have until October 15th to file. I'm a self-employed tax lady and need to be here to serve my clients.
My initial plan was to start my walk in Roncesvalles, Spain. I now plan to start in Sarria. People start at various places along the Camino Frances. Where people start depends on how much time they have to spend walking. I had planned to be gone for 7 weeks but as spring moved into to summer and September was drawing close, I knew that I couldn't stay gone for 7 weeks. I don't even want to.
I have a business that needs me almost daily. I have a greyhound who loves our morning walks. So, between these two, I decided that 3 weeks was long enough. Honestly, being gone from my Gallagher dog for even three weeks just sounds awful! Once I begin, though, it will be fine.
When arriving at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, if you have walked at least the last 100km (68 miles) from Sarria to Santiago, you will receive a compostela signifying your achievement.
Even at the slow pace that I intend to walk, I should be able to walk from Sarria to Santiago in a week. It will be leisurely, enjoyable and liberating. The weather should be glorious and the crowds thinned down. I expect at least 50% of my time to be spent walking in rain. I have bought good rain gear.
One final change to my itinerary: My Mom's ashes were to travel with me in a special necklace designed to carry the ashes of a loved one. Since purchasing that necklace, my Dad has also passed away. So, the ashes of both my Mom and my Dad will be around my neck in a new necklace that I bought and had engraved. Together, we will make this journey of discovery.
It will be a special time, indeed.
I was initially going to start walking on Oct. 1, 2013, which would have been my Mom's 80th birthday.
In trying to make my dreams and reality segue as smoothly as possibly, I realized I needed to push my trip off until after Oct. 15th. People on tax extension have until October 15th to file. I'm a self-employed tax lady and need to be here to serve my clients.
My initial plan was to start my walk in Roncesvalles, Spain. I now plan to start in Sarria. People start at various places along the Camino Frances. Where people start depends on how much time they have to spend walking. I had planned to be gone for 7 weeks but as spring moved into to summer and September was drawing close, I knew that I couldn't stay gone for 7 weeks. I don't even want to.
I have a business that needs me almost daily. I have a greyhound who loves our morning walks. So, between these two, I decided that 3 weeks was long enough. Honestly, being gone from my Gallagher dog for even three weeks just sounds awful! Once I begin, though, it will be fine.
When arriving at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, if you have walked at least the last 100km (68 miles) from Sarria to Santiago, you will receive a compostela signifying your achievement.
Even at the slow pace that I intend to walk, I should be able to walk from Sarria to Santiago in a week. It will be leisurely, enjoyable and liberating. The weather should be glorious and the crowds thinned down. I expect at least 50% of my time to be spent walking in rain. I have bought good rain gear.
One final change to my itinerary: My Mom's ashes were to travel with me in a special necklace designed to carry the ashes of a loved one. Since purchasing that necklace, my Dad has also passed away. So, the ashes of both my Mom and my Dad will be around my neck in a new necklace that I bought and had engraved. Together, we will make this journey of discovery.
It will be a special time, indeed.
Walking To My Own Drummer
It's easy to get caught up in the feelings, opinions and experiences of others when stepping into something new. This has been very true for me as I plan my trip to Spain.
When I first decided to go to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago, I had every intention of walking as much of the 800km as I could. As I did more research, chatted with other pilgrims online and searched my own soul, I realized it was not a realistic goal for me.
But, realizing it and changing my plans were two different things altogether.
Why?
Because of postings that I read on Camino forums where 'tourist pilgrims' are bashed and ridiculed.
There are some who have walked the entire Camino Frances, and to them, anyone doing anything else is a sham. They are vocal in expressing their disdain for tourist pilgrims.
For a non-athlete like me, someone who just wants time alone to walk, to think and to be one with God, this kind of unnecessary judgmentalism was disconcerting. It took months for me to realize that I answer to no one. If my Camino experience doesn't mirror that of the best of them, so what?
My plan now is to have no plans. I'm going to Spain on October 17th and returning home on November 7th. What happens between those two dates is up in the air. I will walk, I will reflect, I will enjoy life but most of all, I will spend time writing.
You see, the walking is secondary. What happens when I walk is that my soul is open to Spirit.
My goal is to be whole, to seek truth and to put words on paper. And, to do that, I need to be unburdened from society, from demands and from routine. Finding myself while losing myself.
How that will unfold is still unknown. As a tourist pilgrim, I will find my own way.
When I first decided to go to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago, I had every intention of walking as much of the 800km as I could. As I did more research, chatted with other pilgrims online and searched my own soul, I realized it was not a realistic goal for me.
But, realizing it and changing my plans were two different things altogether.
Why?
Because of postings that I read on Camino forums where 'tourist pilgrims' are bashed and ridiculed.
There are some who have walked the entire Camino Frances, and to them, anyone doing anything else is a sham. They are vocal in expressing their disdain for tourist pilgrims.
For a non-athlete like me, someone who just wants time alone to walk, to think and to be one with God, this kind of unnecessary judgmentalism was disconcerting. It took months for me to realize that I answer to no one. If my Camino experience doesn't mirror that of the best of them, so what?
My plan now is to have no plans. I'm going to Spain on October 17th and returning home on November 7th. What happens between those two dates is up in the air. I will walk, I will reflect, I will enjoy life but most of all, I will spend time writing.
You see, the walking is secondary. What happens when I walk is that my soul is open to Spirit.
My goal is to be whole, to seek truth and to put words on paper. And, to do that, I need to be unburdened from society, from demands and from routine. Finding myself while losing myself.
How that will unfold is still unknown. As a tourist pilgrim, I will find my own way.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Walk
Lately on the Facebook APOC forum, we've been discussing being Snail Pilgrims. We're going to walk our own pace and not worry about how far we go. Stop and smell the roses.
Conquering My Fears....And There Are Plenty To Conquer!
Planning a walk on the Camino is overwhelming. There is so much to learn, so much I need to know, and so much that I need to figure out. Things like:
- Can my body handle five weeks of walking?
- How can I survive with only the few things I'll be carrying in my backpack?
- Where will I sleep?
- I don't speak Spanish.
- Can I really be gone from home for five or six weeks?
- What if I get lost?
- What if I get hurt?
- What if something happens at home?
Of all of these questions and fears, only the first two continue to be question marks in my mind.
I don't know if my body can handle it. From what I know of my body, it will be very difficult. Being on my feet for a few hours has ill effects on my lower back and sciatica. This is my greatest concern.
I tend to overpack wherever I go, so to limit myself to 10 pounds of stuff will be a challenge, but I know I must. I will trust that what I need will be provided.
- Can my body handle five weeks of walking?
- How can I survive with only the few things I'll be carrying in my backpack?
- Where will I sleep?
- I don't speak Spanish.
- Can I really be gone from home for five or six weeks?
- What if I get lost?
- What if I get hurt?
- What if something happens at home?
Of all of these questions and fears, only the first two continue to be question marks in my mind.
I don't know if my body can handle it. From what I know of my body, it will be very difficult. Being on my feet for a few hours has ill effects on my lower back and sciatica. This is my greatest concern.
I tend to overpack wherever I go, so to limit myself to 10 pounds of stuff will be a challenge, but I know I must. I will trust that what I need will be provided.
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