100.000 Pilgrims in 135 days

[Peter Fransiscus]

The Path of the record receives the pilgrim 100,000 in 135 days
The Colombian José Enrique Forero completed the route from France
XOAN A. SOLER

MARGA MOSTEIRO
SANTIAGO / THE VOICE 06/17/2018 05:00 H

Almost eight hundred kilometers in 34 days, and many more if you add the distance from Medellín (Colombia) to Compostela are the ones that José Enrique Forero traveled to get to Santiago and become the 100,000 pilgrim to reach the goal. Forero made the French Way for the second time in his life, the previous one five years ago and then he walked alone. On this occasion, he did it with a friend, José Humberto Valbuena, also from Medellín, and although he did not have the honor of being the 100,000th rosemary, he shared with his friend the reception at the International Pilgrim's Welcome Center, where the director of the Cathedral Foundation, Daniel Lorenzo; and the general director of Tourism, Nava Castro. He received the credential that accredits him as a 100,000 pilgrim of 2018, and in addition to the compostela, was presented with a medal and a book of the Cathedral. This significant number is reached this year, more or less a week before last year, which allows us to calculate that 200,000 compostela will be delivered during the summer.

Forero showed his happiness for reaching the goal, and assured that he is already thinking of the next road, which "will surely be on a bicycle". Yesterday, the arrival of his family from Colombia was scheduled, and then they will travel to Fisterra to end their trip.

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Concern about the Touro mine


The International Brotherhood of the Camino de Santiago, which brings together specialists from 27 countries, has expressed concern about the impact of the Touro mine on the historic route. Asked Nava Castro, said that this issue is analyzed by Heritage.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There have been just over 127,000 compostelas so far this year through yesterday. In all of 2005, there was 93,924. Even in 2008 there was only 125,121 for the year.

I glance at the webcam at Bando, San Marcos a few times per week. Of the first 20 pilgrims I watched today, not a single one was carrying a backpack!!

 

[m108]

despite the fact that freedom and spontaneity are what I really like on Camino, I booked accommodation for September. I hope I exaggerated

 

[Two]

Is not carrying a Backpack some kind of problem or against some rules?

 

[MagnusPompey]

I don’t have a backpack, I have a shopping trolley that takes 35 kg and has a cooler for cold food and wine on the front. Backpacks are for goats.

 

[Rich1]

If a webcam had been in place in medieval times, I doubt that there would have been many backpacks in evidence then either
We all walk our own journey...

 

[John Crawford Howell]

I'm a life-time goat. ;-)

 

[Two]

I walked from SJPP in March to Santiago..from the Meseta onwards most of the time I had my iPod on and skipped happily along singing at the top of my voice.....out of tune of course.....lucky for me there was not many others around....before the Meseta I was bombarded by other non judgemental walkers asking me why I had such a small bag..why I had sent my bag on etc etc..this constant questioning almost broke me and my music saved me from this. I walked for no other reason than I like to and it was accessible for me to get to....I walked every step of the way and some twenty five days later I arrived at my destination. Look out for me as I will be back next March I’ll be the one with the iPod on and the small bag..Rucksack gets sent ahead unfortunately Chemotherapy two years ago left me with Peripheral neuropathy my arms,neck,back, and feet are constantly in pain..but I’m happy to talk to any non judgemental people on the way.

 

[MeandIan]

I walked from SJPP in March to Santiago..from the Meseta onwards most of the time I had my iPod on and skipped happily along singing at the top of my voice.....out of tune of course.....lucky for me there was not many others around....before the Meseta I was bombarded by other non judgemental walkers asking me why I had such a small bag..why I had sent my bag on etc etc..this constant questioning almost broke me and my music saved me from this. I walked for no other reason than I like to and it was accessible for me to get to....I walked every step of the way and some twenty five days later I arrived at my destination. Look out for me as I will be back next March I’ll be the one with the iPod on and the small bag..Rucksack gets sent ahead unfortunately Chemotherapy two years ago left me with Peripheral neuropathy my arms,neck,back, and feet are constantly in pain..but I’m happy to talk to any non judgemental people on the way.

I don’t think you need to explain. Hope it all went well!

 

[Registration]

Dearest 2, no need to explain to anyone your reason for not carrying a backpack. Glad you enjoyed your music and your walking. Keep on coming back.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I walked from SJPP in March to Santiago..from the Meseta onwards most of the time I had my iPod on and skipped happily along singing at the top of my voice.....out of tune of course.....lucky for me there was not many others around....before the Meseta I was bombarded by other non judgemental walkers asking me why I had such a small bag..why I had sent my bag on etc etc..this constant questioning almost broke me and my music saved me from this. I walked for no other reason than I like to and it was accessible for me to get to....I walked every step of the way and some twenty five days later I arrived at my destination. Look out for me as I will be back next March I’ll be the one with the iPod on and the small bag..Rucksack gets sent ahead unfortunately Chemotherapy two years ago left me with Peripheral neuropathy my arms,neck,back, and feet are constantly in pain..but I’m happy to talk to any non judgemental people on the way.

No need to explain .
Wish you all the best for your up coming Camino next March . Buen Camino .

 

[Robert C. Deming]

What was the emotional side of the experience like for you - were you walking with a lot of pain? Did you learn anything?

 

[JP]

I met a Frenchman in his late seventies last year on the Camino Frances and he was not carrying a pack of any type and forwarded his stuff by Camino Facile. He put it best for me, he said if he had to carry his pack the Camino would be impossible for him to do. In the end, will all make individual choices on the Camino and that is all right with me.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

I'm a life-time goat. ;-)

Bahhhhhhhhh !

 

[Two]

What was the emotional side of the experience like for you - were you walking with a lot of pain? Did you learn anything?

It all depends how you define Pain......I get up every day with a bit smile and I’m generally the happiest craziest person where I live to the point of probably being annoying at times as I’m always glass half full......physically I was in pain but by not dwelling on it and being positive I’ve kind of learnt to live with it without any medication......we all know someone worse off than ourselves physically and I often tell my self to Get a Grip and move on. Having walked with a backpack many times before I felt guilty every time someone mentioned my Little Bag and then I realised it was their problem not mine. The big plus for me was that by sending your bag on that Make up can be added and hair styling products...so as well as singing along to my iPod some days my hair was done and I had make up on....I bet someone had something to say about that

 

[Bradypus]

Of the first 20 pilgrims I watched today, not a single one was carrying a backpack!!

I walked a long pilgrimage route in Japan recently. Mostly sleeping in open huts and free shelters. Sometimes in sub-zero temperatures. On one night I shared a small tatami mat room provided free by the village with one of the many homeless men who walk the Shikoku circuit as "career pilgrims". I opened my large rucksack and carefully laid out my inflatable mat, four-season down sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner and bivvy bag on the rush matting. My companion then reached into his tiny day pack - his only baggage - which was perhaps 15 or 20 litres maximum and obviously far from full. He pulled a small towel from it which he spread over his legs from just above the knees to his ankles. His only bedding. He then used the day pack as a pillow and went to sleep lying on the bare rush mat after politely refusing my offer of a large coat as a temporary blanket. My rucksack was perhaps four times the size of my companion's. I am certain that it weighed far more than four times as much. Does that make me so much more worthy than him as a pilgrim?