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At 67 I’ll be walking my second Camino, this time out of Lisbon. This weekend I was ready to book the hostel out by the park and found it fully booked 6 weeks out. I’m done with planning. I told my wife I’ll sleep in the gutter if needs be.
Still possible to be spontaneous provided you are willing to deal with the unexpected when it appears! Of course a lot has changed and in my curmudgeonly old fart mind not all for the better. I think part of the problem now is an excess of information - just far too much stuff about the Camino out there on the interwebs and much of it wildly contradictory. So people "research" for months or even years and attempt to micromanage their journeys while still thousands of km from the starting point. Or "walk" it virtually by drone or bodycam footage in advance. Fine if that's your style but it isn't mine either. I'll be back in SJPDP to walk with a friend next week. Because it is peak season I've booked beds for SJPDP, Roncesvalles and Zubiri. The rest we will play by ear. And a warm summer night in Spain isn't a bad time or place for a night under the stars if it all goes pear-shaped!
That is the spirit!! On my Camino Frances last year I developed the same spirit....i would rather sleep rough than worry.
When I walk alone this is my thought - unfortunately, when I'm walking with a group or 4-6 pilgrims we have to book and right now I'm booking almost a year ahead!
We've all become smartphone-ised since those 1990s Caminos ...
You may be becoming an old pilgrim. Many people still do the Camino in a spontaneous fashion, often successfully.
Or if you are...Honestly, though...if you're not a believer in the Christian God, what event, place, or person *hasn't* changed in 28 years?
I've walked the CF in 2019 and booked only 1 single accomodation ahead (Puente de la Reina).
It seems the, "unexpected," is becoming the norm.Still possible to be spontaneous provided you are willing to deal with the unexpected when it appears! Of course a lot has changed and in my curmudgeonly old fart mind not all for the better. I think part of the problem now is an excess of information - just far too much stuff about the Camino out there on the interwebs and much of it wildly contradictory. So people "research" for months or even years and attempt to micromanage their journeys while still thousands of km from the starting point. Or "walk" it virtually by drone or bodycam footage in advance. Fine if that's your style but it isn't mine either. I'll be back in SJPDP to walk with a friend next week. Because it is peak season I've booked beds for SJPDP, Roncesvalles and Zubiri. The rest we will play by ear. And a warm summer night in Spain isn't a bad time or place for a night under the stars if it all goes pear-shaped!
Well said
Hope you haven't started a trend to post music videos,I have enough trouble tearing myself away from the site as it is
What was the deer’s take on the situation?
Bravo, good luck and Buen Camino!
I have seen a few, usually in music related posts. I think we're all addicted to the forum as part of our Camino addiction.
That's generally true of the Francés, but other routes can have fewer accommodations.
Good sense of balance. I am doing my first from SJPDP in 3 weeks. I reserved albergues thru Roncevilles...I will call 24 hours in advance for othersStill possible to be spontaneous provided you are willing to deal with the unexpected when it appears! Of course a lot has changed and in my curmudgeonly old fart mind not all for the better. I think part of the problem now is an excess of information - just far too much stuff about the Camino out there on the interwebs and much of it wildly contradictory. So people "research" for months or even years and attempt to micromanage their journeys while still thousands of km from the starting point. Or "walk" it virtually by drone or bodycam footage in advance. Fine if that's your style but it isn't mine either. I'll be back in SJPDP to walk with a friend next week. Because it is peak season I've booked beds for SJPDP, Roncesvalles and Zubiri. The rest we will play by ear. And a warm summer night in Spain isn't a bad time or place for a night under the stars if it all goes pear-shaped!
Buen camino
Six weeks ago I walked the Inglis camino with my family group of 6. We never booked ahead and never had a problem finding a bed in either the municipal albergues or private pensions.
The unrest is everywhere. This will be my first Camino and according to many on this (and some other) forums, I'm woefully underprepared (apparently because I haven't trekked with a full payload every day for six months prior), I won't find a place to lay my head (cue video of the Band playing 'The Weight' here) and I'm committing pack suicide by being 100 grams over my 10% body weight. I do have tickets; flying into Paris from Adelaide South Australia, night train to Bayonne then commuter train to SJPDP. Because I know I'll need to stop at Orisson and reassure my titanium knee that we've got this, I've booked there and at Roncevalles. Then - nothing. No bed bookings, no sending packs ahead, no ticket home. Just coming in on a wing and a prayer.
With a attitude like this , you’ll do fine
I realize you are playing with a bit of hyperbole here, but I need to come to the defense of this forum. I don't think you will find a single thread on this forum that lets that sort of silly statement go uncontested.
I walked just five years ago and it was vastly different this year. Too much time utilizing electronics to arrange the experience. Not enough time with others.
Deer are the embodiment of spontaneity.
Well put. For some, research, anticipation, planning, training, are ways of extending the experience, as much as being present during and reflecting on after.
sed tempus fugit amor manet in aeternum
Timing is everything on the Inglés.
Yes - love of the Camino doesn't change, and the Camino doesn't really change either. Only the people change.
I set out at age 61 with no preparation¹ and my only discomfort was blisters—and those were from walking around Cardiff, not Camino. So I just sort of ignore all the warnings I get about costs, bookings, training.
Is that you Uncle Tom?
No, I'm not Uncle Tom, but I am walking the Camino Portuguese in late September through October. Hope to see you on the trail so we can catch up on Portland's culinary scene.
We walked the Camino in June with a group of twelve. We did just fine without planning everything out ..
What's going on? A pilgrimage was a once in a lifetime experience. It's now become an 18 times and more, holiday. Not judging, just stating facts.
Got mine !!
Thank you for your informative post. When I was 75 I walked, with pack and alone for 670ks of the CF and loved every minute of it, even though I had to literally crawl up one rocky incline on hands and knees at one time and became so ill I had to return to Australia twice.Still possible to be spontaneous provided you are willing to deal with the unexpected when it appears! Of course a lot has changed and in my curmudgeonly old fart mind not all for the better. I think part of the problem now is an excess of information - just far too much stuff about the Camino out there on the interwebs and much of it wildly contradictory. So people "research" for months or even years and attempt to micromanage their journeys while still thousands of km from the starting point. Or "walk" it virtually by drone or bodycam footage in advance. Fine if that's your style but it isn't mine either. I'll be back in SJPDP to walk with a friend next week. Because it is peak season I've booked beds for SJPDP, Roncesvalles and Zubiri. The rest we will play by ear. And a warm summer night in Spain isn't a bad time or place for a night under the stars if it all goes pear-shaped!
In a bar in Cirauqui at the moment. Hiding from a thunderstorm and monsoon-like rain! Just as well we have a short day in mind. Lightning flashing, thunder shaking the place and streets you could almost canoe in just now!
And that's an improvement on last night's spectacular storm which dropped the temperature from 33C to a more comfortable 19C.
I will go and check my records so I can see where you are, your weather sounds horrific. We, here in Australia are just venturing into spring but our winters are mild here on the Gold Coast. Thanks for your reply. Buen CaminoIn a bar in Cirauqui at the moment. Hiding from a thunderstorm and monsoon-like rain! Just as well we have a short day in mind. Lightning flashing, thunder shaking the place and streets you could almost canoe in just now!
Just walked from Cirauqui to Lorca in almost continuous rain. Flowing water on the paths in many places over boot depth. Field ditches, arroyos and rivers all full of fast-flowing brown run-off. Not one of the better weather days!
I hope for better weather for you. I have just put feelers out for may 2024 as both occasions past I walked then and it was considerably better weather. Of course I am older now but living the dream of completion. Buen Camino.
On the Portuguese, sleeping rough is not likely to be much of a risk. There are an awful lot of small, friendly, but non-advertising places around in the smaller towns. Someone will find you a bed!
Except potentially in Porto, Vigo, or Redondela. Only Porto of those three for me last year, but Redondela was a close call !!
