📰 News Update

• Walking the Celtic Camino

• I went on a 100-mile English pilgrimage for a king I’d barely heard of

• How Many Days Off Did You Take on the Camino Frances? 

👍 Recommended Gear I Used This Year

This little piece of kit has come on every single Camino with me, and for good reason.

The Sea to Summit ultra-light backpack is sturdy enough to carry a day’s walking supplies if you ever need to transport your main rucksack to your next destination. It can also be used for grocery shopping to save on plastic carrier bags. Additionally, if you put your rucksack in the airplane hold, it makes a perfect day bag for the airport.

It’s super lightweight, packs away to nothing, and is a product that lasts – I’ve had mine since 2016!

It costs $37.50 US (£28.99) and is a handy addition to any pilgrim’s packing list.

🏡 Camino Accommodation Recommendation

Viva Avis – Camino Frances

Sometimes you need to treat yourself to a comfy bed and a good night’s rest on Camino, and this little gem is up there with the best.

This delightful little hotel rural is situated after Astorga in the small town of Santa Catalina de Somoza – Stage 23 on Gronze

This hotel rural is built in a beautiful 18^th Century house that has been tastefully renovated and modernised.

The rooms are comfortably cool in the summer heat, thanks to the thick stone walls, and all come with en-suite bathrooms.

The courtyard is great for relaxing in the sunshine with a glass of wine or beer, and the views from the common area are breathtaking.

A double room is 80 Euros and comes with a decent sized breakfast.

But there is one downside to this wonderful hotel rural, I slept so well I didn’t want to get up and start walking again the next day! 😂

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When You Need To Escape The Camino Crowds

Have you ever been surrounded by people on Camino yet felt the need to be alone?

 A desire for silence and solitude over chat.

I experienced the need to pull away from the crowd this summer while walking the Camino Francés. I felt slightly overwhelmed by all the people in an albergue near the end of my trip. I had the feeling I’d been ‘on’ all day and craved some alone time. In that moment, I remember thinking, ‘Am I a bad pilgrim for wanting to get away from everyone?’

What do you do when you’re in a social situation but feel the need for time by yourself? Do you excuse yourself, or ignore the urge and stay?

If this feeling takes hold on Camino, a simple solution available to all is to walk solo.

But what if you’ve finished your walking for the day? What then?

I felt a tinge of unease at the voice inside my head that didn’t want to be around people that day. It was totally at odds with my love of connecting with people on Camino.

We often find it easier to treat others with compassion, but when it comes to ourselves, we set high standards and berate ourselves when we fail to maintain these unrealistic expectations.

My internal standards that day played havoc with my thoughts: ‘I love the Camino Frances, the community, meeting new and interesting people. Why don’t I want it today? Maybe this is it, I’ve walked one too many!’  

What was needed in this moment was to stop and…

Breathe.

In everyday life, you learn to ignore what your body is telling you. You’re tired, but you ignore it to get up early and make it to work on time. You’re hungry, but you’re in back-to-back meetings, so it’ll have to wait. You yearn for a day on the sofa over the weekend, but you have social invites you feel you really should attend.

Away from the daily demands of modern-day life, the Camino gives you time and space to turn your focus inward, affording you the opportunity to check in with yourself.

Listen…

What is it telling you?

What would I have found that day if I’d looked inward and listened?

‘I’m tired and want to rest.’

‘I want to be in my own space and spend some time with myself. I need to recharge.’

Not feeling sociable that day wasn’t a sign I’d walked too many Caminos. It was a sign of being tired and needing a time out from the communal aspects of the Camino. Taking some time away from the group does not make you a bad pilgrim; it makes you a human being. Human beings get tired and aren’t always up for sharing a room with 20 strangers – and that’s okay.

Every journey you take will be with yourself, so why not get acquainted with your internal travelling companion. Learn to listen to the voice inside you. Often, it’s this quiet inner voice that can provide you with insight or a nod in the right direction when you need it most. 

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