23 years later ...

[LeslieC]

Hola, peregrinos.
I set out from St Jean on 7 September 2001. Yes, four days before That Day in New York, so that was an interesting time for sure! Aside from that, the airline I was booked to go home on nearly went bankrupt and my left knee decided 'no more' in Santo Domingo. I bussed to Burgo and gave it a couple of days' rest - didn't help - then took the train to Santiago, on the basis that that might be the only way I'd get there!
But on the plus side, I made a friend in France I'm still in touch with, and had some amazing experiences in the short time I was walking.
Now, much later, my wife and I have taken up Nordic walking to ease the knees and are talking about having another go at the Camino in 2026, when we'll both turn 70. Madness!
Back then I was a member of the Santiagobis Yahoo group and I've already spotted a couple of names on this forum I remember (including Ivar himself). I'm sure things will have changed a lot on the infrastructure along the way, but I hope the old Camino feeling is still there. Looking around the forum, I'm pretty sure it is.
Looking forward to chatting with some of you as we go through our planning.
- Leslie

 

[Sirage]

when we'll both turn 70. Madness!

Hardly ! You will be amongst many of that age and distinctly older.

Hopefully there is not much ageism on this forum.

 

[Lexicos]

70? If you’re fit and in good health you’ll be fine. I met many this year quite a bit older. Many. If you’re adaptable and flexible and like walking and meeting people, go for it.

 

[henrythedog]

Hopefully there is not much ageism on this forum

If there was there would be hardly anyone here!

Buen Camino to the OP.

 

[lesmac]

i walked the VDLP from Merida last Spring and will be 74 before my next walk (hopefully the Catalan and Aragonese)
My first Camino was the Frances in 2009 so I can relate to your doubts about returning years later. However I would put these aside and take the plunge.
Have a wonderful trip and enjoy the planning.
Buen camino to both of you

 

[David Tallan]

Hola, peregrinos.
I set out from St Jean on 7 September 2001. Yes, four days before That Day in New York, so that was an interesting time for sure! Aside from that, the airline I was booked to go home on nearly went bankrupt and my left knee decided 'no more' in Santo Domingo. I bussed to Burgo and gave it a couple of days' rest - didn't help - then took the train to Santiago, on the basis that that might be the only way I'd get there!
But on the plus side, I made a friend in France I'm still in touch with, and had some amazing experiences in the short time I was walking.
Now, much later, my wife and I have taken up Nordic walking to ease the knees and are talking about having another go at the Camino in 2026, when we'll both turn 70. Madness!
Back then I was a member of the Santiagobis Yahoo group and I've already spotted a couple of names on this forum I remember (including Ivar himself). I'm sure things will have changed a lot on the infrastructure along the way, but I hope the old Camino feeling is still there. Looking around the forum, I'm pretty sure it is.
Looking forward to chatting with some of you as we go through our planning.
- Leslie

I also had a bit of a gap between my first and second Caminos (1989 and 2016). It sure had changed! And I would say that the atmosphere and pilgrim culture were not exactly the same. Of course not, with 60x or more the number of pilgrims. There was a bit of a new Camino feeling. But it was still a Camino feeling that has brought me back again and again.

 

[Bradypus]

I also had a bit of a gap between my first and second Caminos (1989 and 2016). It sure had changed!

Things have changed enormously since my first Camino too. I sometimes struggle to adjust to the scale of those changes and the current situation on the Frances and the Portugues as I have a strong personal preference for quiet and solitude on my walking journeys. One of the positive changes in recent years for me has been the growth of infrastructure on the less-travelled alternatives to the Camino Frances and also the widening of the pilgrimage "season" which makes a range of options available for those for whom a main season Camino Frances lacks appeal.