Dilemma - please weigh in (all opinions welcome)

[Takahiwai]

At the beginning of this year, I took a term off (plus 3 weeks of school holiday) with the intention of walking a number of small, connecting routes in Spain. It's very stressful living in Burma, and I hadn't had a holiday for two years, so I thought it would be a good way to ponder my options and de-stress. Unfortunately, a very old friend decided to join me (just for a week, she said, but it turned out to be the entirety of the walk) and completely took over my camino. We finished the Via de Bayona (but skipped some stages that she wouldn't walk, including the all-important Tunel day), and failed to finish the Invierno because she contracted tendonitis.

I had planned to save up for a couple of years to fund my next visit to Spain, but I have the opportunity to go back next February. So, my question is, should I go back and redo those two caminos, or should I set my sights on another camino entirely?. . I don't want to bring back bad memories, but I hate leaving things unfinished, or badly done. In a quandary, so what would you do?

 

[Robo]

Sorry to hear of your experience.

If it were me?

I think I would pick a ‘fresh’ Camino route.

 

[Takahiwai]

Sorry to hear of your experience.

If it were me?

I think I would pick a ‘fresh’ Camino route.

There were good parts to it, but the destressing part didn't work out at all. At the moment, I'm leaning towards your opinion that something fresh might be good. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

I'm with Robbo on this one: pick a new camino.
Leave those bad memories and all of that negativity behind and go for something new.

Alone

A double bonus: you get to research a route that is new to you. Enjoy!

 

[VNwalking]

Hmm. Good question.
Loving both of those routes as I do, in your shoes I'd do the same ones by yourself, gloriously alone, and make very good memories. That's the unfinished business.

The Tunel San Adrian alone makes it worth it...not to mention whatever of the Invierno you had to miss.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I would start afresh, to give the bad experience some time to settle down and go quiet in my mind. If it calls you back again someday, by all means go. But don't do it just to 'tie up a loose end." A camino is a big commitment, don't let your little compulsions rule your common sense!

 

[trecile]

I think that you will find plenty of solitude on any route in February, event he Francés.

Regardless of which Camino you choose, you should check the weather and availability of accommodation in February.

 

[nycwalking]

I think that you will find plenty of solitude on any route in February, event he Francés.

Regardless of which Camino you choose, you should check the weather and availability of accommodation in February.

Trecile makes a good point.

The Frances has the best off season infrastructure.

Maybe an excellent reason to walk that route.

Whatever you do, this time walk your own camino.

Buen camino.

 

[Takahiwai]

@trecile @nycwalking - I'll never walk that route again, but thank you for your thoughts. (1998 CF - my first camino - was such a life-changer that I could never go back to it.)

 

[trecile]

How much time do you have available? The Camino Invierno might be a good option.

 

[woody66]

Good luck with whatever route you decide to walk!
My personal opinion would be walk a new route; where there are no previous emotional triggers for you.
New walk new day new you
Buen Camino
Woody

 

[Takahiwai]

How much time do you have available? The Camino Invierno might be a good option.

Definitely 8 weeks, possibly 11.

 

[roving_rufus]

There are arguments for both - redo or fresh.

Just a note about accommodation on Via Bayonne- alot of it is open year round (I walked Vitoria to Burgos in January) but the issue could be snow up after the San Adrian tunnel which is a bit remote.

Truthfully - I like to complete things

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

At the beginning of this year, I took a term off (plus 3 weeks of school holiday) with the intention of walking a number of small, connecting routes in Spain. It's very stressful living in Burma, and I hadn't had a holiday for two years, so I thought it would be a good way to ponder my options and de-stress. Unfortunately, a very old friend decided to join me (just for a week, she said, but it turned out to be the entirety of the walk) and completely took over my camino. We finished the Via de Bayona (but skipped some stages that she wouldn't walk, including the all-important Tunel day), and failed to finish the Invierno because she contracted tendonitis.

I had planned to save up for a couple of years to fund my next visit to Spain, but I have the opportunity to go back next February. So, my question is, should I go back and redo those two caminos, or should I set my sights on another camino entirely?. . I don't want to bring back bad memories, but I hate leaving things unfinished, or badly done. In a quandary, so what would you do?

Embrace and live with the uncomfortable feelings, start again with a new Camino and walk alone....Buen Camino

 

[Albertagirl]

I would like to thank you for the wonderful gift that you gave to the woman who wanted to walk with you. She seems to have found what she needed from the camino and perhaps would never have had the confidence to go alone. It was her camino that she walked, not yours. It may be difficult for you to determine how you can choose the right camino for yourself after your experience in giving up your camino for someone else's. Listen to your own heart and make the decision that is right for you now.

 

[Annette london]

At the beginning of this year, I took a term off (plus 3 weeks of school holiday) with the intention of walking a number of small, connecting routes in Spain. It's very stressful living in Burma, and I hadn't had a holiday for two years, so I thought it would be a good way to ponder my options and de-stress. Unfortunately, a very old friend decided to join me (just for a week, she said, but it turned out to be the entirety of the walk) and completely took over my camino. We finished the Via de Bayona (but skipped some stages that she wouldn't walk, including the all-important Tunel day), and failed to finish the Invierno because she contracted tendonitis.

I had planned to save up for a couple of years to fund my next visit to Spain, but I have the opportunity to go back next February. So, my question is, should I go back and redo those two caminos, or should I set my sights on another camino entirely?. . I don't want to bring back bad memories, but I hate leaving things unfinished, or badly done. In a quandary, so what would you do?

Unless Spain is the place you want to be
Have you thought about Italy and. the Via Francigena, to Rome, perhaps from the very north of Italy as the St Bernard Pass may be closed then, not sure
It’s a wonderful route although most probably more expensive than Spain
Also the infrastructure, I think has improved since we walked it in 2014
Of course, you could also start in Canterbury and work your way southwards

 

[trecile]

Definitely 8 weeks, possibly 11.

With that amount of time the Via de la Plata could be a good option that time of year.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I haven't read all the replies, but in February I would pick a camino in the SOUTH!

 

[dailycamino]

There were good parts to it, but the destressing part didn't work out at all. At the moment, I'm leaning towards your opinion that something fresh might be good. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

I too would pick something completely different. Also, I’d be very selective about who I tell about it. If people want to get in on it I would be VERY clear about my boundaries. It would be hard pass. The last thing I want is to have to feel like I’m obliged to take care of someone else. That doesn’t mean I can’t interact with people along the way or help people along the way, but if they want to do a Camino, they need to be able to do their Camino and not expect me to babysit them by making all the arrangements, doing all the talking in Spanish etc. etc.. Too many times in life people are trying to cross boundaries and unless one is extremely firm, they do not understand.

 

[henrythedog]

I would like to thank you for the wonderful gift that you gave to the woman who wanted to walk with you. She seems to have found what she needed from the camino and perhaps would never have had the confidence to go alone. It was her camino that she walked, not yours. It may be difficult for you to determine how you can choose the right camino for yourself after your experience in giving up your camino for someone else's. Listen to your own heart and make the decision that is right for you now.

Seriously?

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @Takahiwai
How unfortunate that an adventure you planned to be "restorive"(my words) gets commandeered.
I am in the camp with @Rebekah Scott, go back to the start. Sit down and plan your first week and then take it from there. (Just as an aside - in 2015 I cycled from Pamplona, in 2017 I returned and this time walked from St Jean all of the Frances - it was a totally different experience).
Á very special Buen Camino, go with the wind in your sails and wings on your feet.

 

[CTLawGal]

I agree with those who say start fresh with a new Camino - your experience with your friend is still too fresh. Going back now to do it "your way" seems a little bit too much like living in the past - let it go and move on, literally and figuratively. I feel like the experience would be more enjoyable if you are walking in the present. Go back when the feelings are not so strong - you're young, you'll have time.

I recently had a travel experience with a friend that felt more like babysitting (major health issues I wasn't aware of before the trip), and in many ways dealing with those issues disrupted my enjoyment of the trip. I tried to experience it as a practice of compassion, I'm not sure how successful I was at it. I need to go back on my own, just not right away.

Since you are starting in February, I too recommend La Plata - it's one I've been eyeing for a start at that time of year, February seems like the perfect time to start .

 

[J Willhaus]

Longer Caminos in the South like the Mozarabe or VdlP.

 

[nycwalking]

Definitely 8 weeks, possibly 11.

Lucky you.

VdlP.

Camino Invierno.

Via Mariana, an alternative route to Muxia and Finisterre. Sara Dhooma on YT posted her walk on this route.

You have plenty of time and options.

Buen camino.

 

[Takahiwai]

There are arguments for both - redo or fresh.

Just a note about accommodation on Via Bayonne- alot of it is open year round (I walked Vitoria to Burgos in January) but the issue could be snow up after the San Adrian tunnel which is a bit remote.

Truthfully - I like to complete things

I did Bayonne - Burgos in February, and had no problem with accommodation either. I pretty much picked the route at the very last minute, based on the weather forecasts at the time. I failed to factor in the French section of the route, where the weather was atrocious!

 

[Dani7]

@Takahiwai. What is your gut and heart telling you? Unfinished business lives there. Our minds can rationalize all day and tell us what we should or shouldn’t do. Whichever voice rings truest with you, there is your answer. Buen camino