Thomasindocs
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Completed Norte / Portuguese.
Starting Le Puy
Hello, and a Buen Camino to all!
I thought I would introduce myself as I request any available advice for my upcoming Caminos. Mind you, I am researching hours a day and don't mind doing so, but I will also be grateful for any direction some of you may point me in.
First, my request (for anyone uninterested in reading beyond). I intend to begin 2025 walking the following Caminos:
1. The Strait of Gibraltar (Algeciras - Puerto Real)
2. Serrana Road (Gibraltar - Utrera)
3. Argar Road (Almeria - Lorca)
4. Argar Road (Lorca - Mora)
5. Manchego Way (Ciudad Real - Toledo)
6. Cartagena Road (Cartagena - Petrola)
7. The Wool Trail (Javea - Almansa)
8. Southeast Route (Benidorm - Montealegre del Castillo)
9. Southeast Route (Torre de la Horadada - Benavente)
10. The Wool Route (Alicante - Burgos)
Sadly, there is not much information available in English regarding accommodation on these routes or the routes themselves. Of course, I can use an online translator for the Spanish sites I find links to, but it is a different challenge searching for specific information in Spanish as a non-Spanish speaker. Therefore, if anyone has walked any of the above-mentioned Caminos or has links to blogs of others who have, I would greatly appreciate any additional resources.
As for myself, I started my first Camino on June 9th, 2023, my 45th birthday. As an avid traveler, visiting 98 countries to date and counting, I had first heard about the Camino perhaps some two decades ago but had yet to feel the calling. Instead, I had created a life that allowed me to backpack three months a year, choosing different regions of the world to explore. That was until 2022 when everything changed.
I had been living in Saint Petersburg, Russia, as an expat for 15 years when the war began. A war that was thought by most as one that would last no more than days and yet remains ongoing today. I stuck things out for about half a year when rumors of the first round of mobilization were leaked, one which some claimed would include closed borders and the introduction of martial law. As an American citizen, I was not at risk of mobilization myself but certainly had no desire to say goodbye to friends who may be called to the frontlines, likely never to return. I perhaps also wisely understood it would be better to witness these events from outside the country's borders rather than from within and planned my exit.
At the time, I had no idea I would be leaving my chosen home behind for good, packing nothing more than a backpack of important documents and some changes of clothes. I had managed to remove some of the life savings I had in Russian banks, however over USD 30k remains locked inside the country to this day. This is in addition to another $30k+ I have slowly out to others in my attempt to help them escape, money which I can't guarantee will ever be returned. Finally, my 11-hour traumatic experience at the border crossing did not make me feel as though a quick return would be warranted. Thereafter, learning that the FSB began interviewing my neighbors about my life there led me to believe I had made the right decision. I have not returned since.
After exiting, I returned to my home state of California to come up with my Plan B. As my health had greatly deteriorated over the previous half year, I thought a good, long trek could be healing. I initially registered for a Spring 2023 start date on the Pacific Crest Trail and began walking daily in preparation. However, as my long-term goals included getting back to Europe, this idea fell to the sideline when starting my application for European residency. Finally, upon gaining residency the first week of June, the Camino's call was answered.
I started on the North, looking for challenging something with the benefit of views of the sea. I started not with the goal of finishing, something I was unsure I would be able to do in my condition at the time, but with the goal of taking one step after another. Regardless, I reached Santiago on my 30th day but understood I wasn't ready to stop. From there, I carried on through Muxia to Finisterre but still was left feeling incomplete. Porto, I thought and headed out on the Camino Portuguese Coastal with the Spiritual variant. From Porto, I carried on to Lisbon to visit some other displaced friends.
I took a break at that point as my new residency required some bureaucratic attention. Not to mention, my gear was sincerely in need of replacement. But, I headed out again on the Le Puy the first week of September, followed by the French and then the English. After such, again, a rest was in order to replenish my gear, as well as some visits with friends, a bit of dental work, and a brief three weeks in Morocco to escape the winter chill. But, come February 2024, I was off again.
Starting this time on the Camino de La Plata through the Sanabrés, after reaching Santiago, I carried on through the Camino Primitiva, Inverno, Camino Portuguese Central, Camino Fatima, and the Camino Portuguese Interior until mid-May, when I had a wedding to attend. This was followed by the completion of the aforementioned dental work and several days of backpacking as I healed. Finally, a brief 3-day stop to tackle the Lichtenstein Trail, all before returning to Spain.
Next, I completed the Camino Catalán, Camino Aragonés, and Camino Baztan before my gear and my residency renewal were in need of my attention requiring a short break from the way. I started again in September, completing the Camino Vasco del Interior, Camino del Salvador, Camino Lebaniego, Camino Vadiniense, and the Camino de Madrid, before heading back down south and completing the Camino Mozárabe (including all three alternative starts from Almería, Málaga, and Jaén, as well as a side trip to walk the Caminito del Rey), and finally finished off 2024 with the Camino Via Augusta and the Camino del Sur. My current plan is to return to the south of Spain in the next two weeks to tackle the Camino del Estrecha and Camino Serrana before returning to Almeria from where I wish to begin the Camino Argar, followed by heading up the south-eastern coast to complete the Caminos originating from there.
In summary, with my life requiring a full restart after ultimately losing nearly all that I had gained over the 15 years prior, I have found that the Camino has brought me the peace I was greatly in need of as well as the sense of achievement I long for that I used to experience annually from my worldwide treks, mountain summits, and exploration of new countries and cultures. Fortunately, as a self-employed online English tutor, I am able to manage the costs of my journey by teaching in the evenings after my daily treks. My current hope is to manage completing all of the Spanish routes before considering what comes next. It is my desire to photograph all of the various ways for others who wish to follow my path or to simply assist them in choosing their own. For anyone interested, you are welcome to visit instagram.com/thomasindocs to enjoy what I have already managed to share. When the Camino allows, I will continue to update with all the routes I have yet to publish.
So, that's my story; just one of many who walk the Camino for their own unique reasons. I would like to thank everyone in advance for their willingness to offer any information or advice that may help lead me to my goal. And I wish for all of you to feel the same achievements my Caminos have offered me.
My sincerest thank you,
Thomas Lowers
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