Easy ways to share Camino updates with family?

[Seekingpeace]

Hello! Excited to be walking <3 weeks from now. Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog, and not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments… just something relatively simple where we can quickly jot down a couple sentences and maybe a picture or short video. Does such a thing exist, are there apps out there that make this easy?

 

[Former member 104756]

If you / your family members use Messenger or What’s app, you could create a family group before you go and send brief updates with photos / videos that way. Both will work with wi fi. And your messages will go to all in the group. Or you could use ‘old fashioned’ email. And you could let them know you probably won’t regularly respond to comments etc for the reasons you mention

Apps like Find Penguins (which I use) or Polar Steps are excellent but will require a little more set up

 

[Lexicos]

I find WhatsApp to be the best and easiest way to stay in touch. Easy for pics and for text.

 

[Walkerooni]

Anything wrong with a simple group e-mail list? No apps required.

 

[trecile]

I know that you said not a blog, but the app/website Find Penguins is super easy to use. The people that you invite to view it don't have to have the app or even sign up for the site. You give them access via a link, and you can set it as private or public. The benefit to you is that you only have to upload the photos once, and your friends and family can check in on your Camino any time. It also creates a map of your route as you walk.

 

[Former member 92300]

I used my Apple Watch to record my walk and the relive app on my phone to make a map video with pictures from my day. (Takes very little time to do) and I uploaded it daily to Facebook with a short “journal” of my days events.

This year I bought some digital picture frames for my family and will use the app for the frame on my phone to send my husband and sons some pictures of our hike. I also bought a frame for me to have at work, but while I am gone it will be at my husbands workplace. He works nights, so I can send home some pictures and then call him at work at 1am his time and he can see what we did the day before. Then when I get home - I will take the frame that will already be loaded with my favorite pictures to my work to show my co-workers.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

All good suggestions. In addition if you want to just let one or two people know where you are so that they can follow you on a map then Google Maps let's you share your current location.

Sometimes people don't necessarily want others to know where they are and so it is not for everyone. It only sends updates when Maps has an Internet connection and so if you turn off cellphone data and use WiFi in accommodation and restaurants then you have more control over when updates are sent.

Ask if you want details on how to set it up.

I have never used it over a longer period like a Camino but I do often use it if I am meeting someone in town so that we can both see when we are getting close to each other.

 

[markie6]

as doughnut says, google is fine when you want to allow just certain people to track you. can be switched ona nd off with ease

 

[Flatlander]

Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

You'll need to define Social Media. For some WhatsApp (and the like) are SM, for others not.

not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments

That's what you want - you might want to make sure that the recipients understand that too!

There are lots of good suggestions already but most are going to require the recipients to download/log in or at least navigate to certain websites.
The challenge for you will be sending the appropriate link(s) if they already do not use any of the main electronic communicators.

For any folk especially reluctant to go online you could start in advance of your departure and help them through the process.

It may be worth considering if one link will allow someone to follow the whole journey or if they will need to receive new links to see the new "content",

It may also be a good idea to clearly set out your purpose with this, otherwise the lack of an update or two or "deadlines" missed might lead to a stream of calls/texts and unnecessary anxiety. You might have done your research but they might have some strange ideas about where you're going to!

In fact, there's a good argument to be made for an almost complete "switch off" and a "no news is good news" policy. Perhaps one family member is nominated to be the contact and they get a regular message to say that all is good. The news filters out from them.

Is there anything to be said for a good ol' postcard?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog

Just on this, whatever about a Blog, my travel experience has been heightened significantly by developing the habit of taking notes as I wander along. On a modern phone, most photos are geotagged so I can see exactly where I was when I took them, notes and voice memos then can flesh out the detail of that one photo (normally conveniently time stamped).
Maybe it's me, but it's amazing how a daily routine like on a Camino can become blurry and confused over time. (In fact, there's a lot to be said for not being particularly bothered by what day of the week it is!) A daily flick through some photos and a quick read (or listen) of notes at the end of the day can really "bed in" the memories.
Not for anyone else. For you.

Buen Camino

 

[trecile]

All good suggestions. In addition if you want to just let one or two people know where you are so that they can follow you on a map then Google Maps let's you share your current location.

I always turn on location sharing with my husband and kids. Works great unless you break your phone!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Another thing to consider.

In 2019 lots of friends and family were interested in what I was doing before I left and so I set up an email group and a group to share photos with on Google Photos.

Once I was walking I found that people were interested during the first week but after that their interest dropped off quickly and after about three weeks only one person was actually reading the photos and associated commentary and they were probably deleting the emails without reading them.

People have their own lives and mostly people are really busy and so I quickly drifted out of their attention zone.

The only person who kept up to date with my "postings" was my retired brother. I guess that he had plenty of available time for this.

This is worth keeping in mind. The Camino is a big deal for you when you are on it, especially that first time but for everyone else it has to fight for attention.

I recommend concentrating on you and your reactions to the Camino as it is happening rather than trying to capture what you are experiencing in order to share that with others.

Keep your own diary and if others are interested then you can share with them after you get back home.

I am leaving for my next Camino in three days and this time I am not planning on keeping anyone updated on my progress. If someone asks then, of course, I will update them but this Camino is for me.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I used an email list where anyone (approved by me first) could send to an address and all would get a copy of every email sent. I found that a great way of sending messages but it wasn't good due to it being open to responses. You are highly unlikely to do the same but let me give you a warning on the email concept, you don't want responses going to everyone else; they may annoy everyone else and it means that no or late replies make you look rude to more people and that puts pressure on you to reply, even if you feel like it at the time.

Edit: I saw that another post was sent when I was writing mine. I ignored it until I submitted mine but I see that my post and that of @DoughnutANZ have a bit in common.

 

[J Willhaus]

Agree with Rick and DoughnutANZ. My elderly Mom keeps up with us but no one else usually cares except maybe people on the forum who follow a Live from the Camino thread. Mainly she just wants to know we are safe. Keep track of things for you so you can look back on your journey.

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

I know that you said not a blog, but the app/website Find Penguins is super easy to use. The people that you invite to view it don't have to have the app or even sign up for the site. You give them access via a link, and you can set it as private or public. The benefit to you is that you only have to upload the photos once, and your friends and family can check in on your Camino any time. It also creates a map of your route as you walk.

View attachment 147754

This is what I used as I did not want to spend much time on my phone. I could create a footprint, add photos and videos easily, go back and edit if I wanted to and post it one time. When I got back, I ordered the book they offer and it completely blew me away! It is top notch and contains everything I put in plus photo captions and all the comments made by the people who followed me. In addition, things like the elevation and temperature were added to each post. Videos are included by way of QR codes and work perfectly! The whole book, mine was 195 pages, cost less than $90 including shipping and came in less than three weeks.

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

Another thing to consider.

In 2019 lots of friends and family were interested in what I was doing before I left and so I set up an email group and a group to share photos with on Google Photos.

Once I was walking I found that people were interested during the first week but after that their interest dropped off quickly and after about three weeks only one person was actually reading the photos and associated commentary and they were probably deleting the emails without reading them.

People have their own lives and mostly people are really busy and so I quickly drifted out of their attention zone.

The only person who kept up to date with my "postings" was my retired brother. I guess that he had plenty of available time for this.

This is worth keeping in mind. The Camino is a big deal for you when you are on it, especially that first time but for everyone else it has to fight for attention.

I recommend concentrating on you and your reactions to the Camino as it is happening rather than trying to capture what you are experiencing in order to share that with others.

Keep your own diary and if others are interested then you can share with them after you get back home.

I am leaving for my next Camino in three days and this time I am not planning on keeping anyone updated on my progress. If someone asks then, of course, I will update them but this Camino is for me.

I used Find Penguins and noticed the same thing but the good thing is that I didn't have to change anything I was doing while walking. Now that I'm home and ordered the book that Find Penguins offers, I have a quality product to show anyone interested plus I can look back on my trip and relive so much.

 

[Seekingpeace]

Thank you all! Several of you have put into words what I didn’t/couldn’t articulate in my first post, that I am specifically not looking for bidirectional communications - more opt in only, and especially something that can work well as a journal of sorts for me to revisit later, like @DoughnutANZ and @J Willhaus say. @Flatlander and @Rick of Rick and Peg thanks for raising some considerations I hadn’t thought of - and will be really helpful/critical with managing expectations if I do share updates.

@Pelerina and @trecile I'm glad you mentioned Find Penguins - and glowing recommendation from @RibbonRomanceAuthor! - on first glance that seems to fit the bill of what I was imagining and didn’t know existed. Thank you! @jeanineonthecamino thanks for sharing the frame idea and Relive app too!

@DoughnutANZ and @markie6 thank you for mentioning location sharing, it hadn’t hadn’t occurred to me and now that you mention it, it seems pretty useful/handy! There are some other Portlandia chapter (APOC) peregrin@s we met at our chapter’s hike & shell ceremony last Sunday who we might end up crossing paths/caminos with. And critical for keeping family updated and reassured too - thanks @trecile!

For anyone reading this later, I did a quick search and found this how-to link shared on on a prior forum post:

Share your real-time location with others - Android - Google Maps Help

You can choose who can find your location and how long to share your location with Google Location Sharing. Tip: Other Google products may also allow you to share a one-time location with others.&nbs

support.google.com

Mil gracias y Buen Camino a tod@s!

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

You'll need to define Social Media. For some WhatsApp (and the like) are SM, for others not.


That's what you want - you might want to make sure that the recipients understand that too!

There are lots of good suggestions already but most are going to require the recipients to download/log in or at least navigate to certain websites.
The challenge for you will be sending the appropriate link(s) if they already do not use any of the main electronic communicators.

For any folk especially reluctant to go online you could start in advance of your departure and help them through the process.

It may be worth considering if one link will allow someone to follow the whole journey or if they will need to receive new links to see the new "content",

It may also be a good idea to clearly set out your purpose with this, otherwise the lack of an update or two or "deadlines" missed might lead to a stream of calls/texts and unnecessary anxiety. You might have done your research but they might have some strange ideas about where you're going to!

In fact, there's a good argument to be made for an almost complete "switch off" and a "no news is good news" policy. Perhaps one family member is nominated to be the contact and they get a regular message to say that all is good. The news filters out from them.

Is there anything to be said for a good ol' postcard?

Just on this, whatever about a Blog, my travel experience has been heightened significantly by developing the habit of taking notes as I wander along. On a modern phone, most photos are geotagged so I can see exactly where I was when I took them, notes and voice memos then can flesh out the detail of that one photo (normally conveniently time stamped).
Maybe it's me, but it's amazing how a daily routine like on a Camino can become blurry and confused over time. (In fact, there's a lot to be said for not being particularly bothered by what day of the week it is!) A daily flick through some photos and a quick read (or listen) of notes at the end of the day can really "bed in" the memories.
Not for anyone else. For you.

Buen Camino

My Camino was about a year ago and while I still have flashback memories of a particular moment, the details can be pretty sketchy. I used the Find Penguins app to create a daily footprint to which I attached pix and video. As long as I got a footprint started, it also contained the elevation and weather, details I would not have thought to add. I was able to edit footprints to add detail at the end of my day and once I posted, anyone following me could stay updated. Or not. Their choice. But now I have a printed book with everything. It is beautiful and well worth the $90 it cost and the book contains way more than any album I could create.

 

[Seekingpeace]

Also, in response to a DM, just to reassure anyone who might have concerns reading this post - gratefully the family members in question aren’t the reactive type and know that I tend to unplug while overseas. When I was a teen exchange student over 3 decades ago in a village of 500 with one satellite phone, I called them a couple days after I arrived and then didn’t communicate for 2+ months. I think the forums and U.S. embassy will be safe from panic!

I will, however, emphasize to them that 1) this Camino is for me and my son 2) wifi can be spotty at times along the Camino - just so they understand updates (IF they happen) won’t necessarily be linear or regular.

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

Also, in response to a DM, just to reassure anyone who might have concerns reading this post - gratefully the family members in question aren’t the reactive type and know that I tend to unplug while overseas. When I was a teen exchange student over 3 decades ago in a village of 500 with one satellite phone, I called them a couple days after I arrived and then didn’t communicate for 2+ months. I think the forums and U.S. embassy will be safe from panic!

I will, however, emphasize to them that 1) this Camino is for me and my son 2) wifi can be spotty at times along the Camino - just so they understand updates (IF they happen) won’t necessarily be linear or regular.

All true. I was still able to create a footprint but sometimes had to wait for wifi to post it so others could read it. That was never a problem. Each footprint still had temp/elevation info attached and I was able to edit/add info/correct spelling and then post it for whoever was following me to see it.
I've created other trips that are only for me so I make the trip Private. The books for those trips will not have comments from people but will have all the other info that I want to remember.

 

[502550]

My son is hiking right now and sends us a Relive video each day. Tracks his route and automatially inserts his photos. We love viewing them.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I've only considered this method but it could work. It doesn't require anyone to use a tool they don't already have, only you can write to it and it should be private enough. Just keep writing to a file that is kept in the cloud in some common format that has an editor that you have experience with. Give it a weird name and permission for others to read. Then give others notification of where the file is so they can use their browsers to read it whenever they want.

 

[PaulaRC]

This is what I used as I did not want to spend much time on my phone. I could create a footprint, add photos and videos easily, go back and edit if I wanted to and post it one time. When I got back, I ordered the book they offer and it completely blew me away! It is top notch and contains everything I put in plus photo captions and all the comments made by the people who followed me. In addition, things like the elevation and temperature were added to each post. Videos are included by way of QR codes and work perfectly! The whole book, mine was 195 pages, cost less than $90 including shipping and came in less than three weeks.

What is footprint?

 

[trecile]

I've only considered this method but it could work. It doesn't require anyone to use a tool they don't already have, only you can write to it and it should be private enough. Just keep writing to a file that is kept in the cloud in some common format that has an editor that you have experience with. Give it a weird name and permission for others to read. Then give others notification of where the file is so they can use their browsers to read it whenever they want.

Google Docs would work for this.

Google Docs: Online Document Editor | Google Workspace

Use Google Docs to create, and collaborate on online documents. Edit together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device.

www.google.com

What is footprint?

On Find Penguins it's a new post.

 

[Sandcruiser]

I plan to make a "Shared Album" on google photos and invite the people who want to follow.

You can share pictures and also can make comments

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

What is footprint?

In the Find Penguins app, a footprint is a post that you can name. Footprints will also contain the date and location and, I found out once I got the book, the elevation and temperature of the location where you created the footprint. You write the post and add pix and videos to each footprint. You can create as many footprints as you like. For example, when I was in Bilbao, I created a separate footprint of the Guggenheim Motion display.

 

[AnneMarie1]

Hello! Excited to be walking <3 weeks from now. Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog, and not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments… just something relatively simple where we can quickly jot down a couple sentences and maybe a picture or short video. Does such a thing exist, are there apps out there that make this easy?

I’m using Polarsteps and loving it. Both for keeping people informed and for me, to reflect on and record the day.

 

[USSusan]

Hello! Excited to be walking <3 weeks from now. Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog, and not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments… just something relatively simple where we can quickly jot down a couple sentences and maybe a picture or short video. Does such a thing exist, are there apps out there that make this easy?

I used What’s App….worked well

 

[henrythedog]

I always turn on location sharing with my husband and kids. Works great unless you break your phone!

I do the same.

More precisely Mrs HtD always knows where my ‘phone is, which may not 100% of the time be where I am.

 

[JaneinOz]

In the Find Penguins app, a footprint is a post that you can name. Footprints will also contain the date and location and, I found out once I got the book, the elevation and temperature of the location where you created the footprint. You write the post and add pix and videos to each footprint. You can create as many footprints as you like. For example, when I was in Bilbao, I created a separate footprint of the Guggenheim Motion

Thanks for this info. Wondering if you take the photos in the app, or select them from your phone camera roll?

 

[henrythedog]

Thanks for this info. Wondering if you take the photos in the app, or select them from your phone camera roll?

The latter.

 

[trecile]

Thanks for this info. Wondering if you take the photos in the app, or select them from your phone camera roll?

You select them from you camera roll. To make it easier, on my Android phone I can mark pictures as "favorites" with a red . Then I can quickly choose those photos for the blog.

 

[Flatlander]

Just to be pedantic and take us even more off course, it is also possible (at least on Android) to add "external" photos (from a camera, for example) to your "Camera Roll" and include them too.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I am very non-techie, so on my first five Caminos I made a simple email group for close family and friends who were interested. Every year I tweak the list a little.
Last fall, when I was to go on the Via Francigena, a forum friend who is on my email group, asked me why I do not share my journal updates on the forum, so I reconsidered and started a "Live from the Camino" forum thread. I copy and paste the text from one to the other. It seems a few here have appreciated my public content. I am set up with blind copies on my phone, so the 30+ email recipients do not see replies from each other.
Although this set up works for me, I realize it is an archaic method of "blogging". I used to print out my journaling notes after I got home, but after walking so many Caminos, I now find that looking at my various picture folders is enough to satisfy memories from my trips.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Just to be pedantic and take us even more off course, it is also possible (at least on Android) to add "external" photos (from a camera, for example) to your "Camera Roll" and include them too.

Yes, in a manner similar to copying files from your smartphone to your computer. For that operation your PC is the "master" and the phone is the "slave". You need a device called a USB OTG (for On The Go) to convert the phone into a master with the OTG becoming the slave. You hook a flashdrive into one end of the device and the other into the phone and then use a file manager app to copy the photos. (You can also copy photos from the phone to a flashdrive for backups this way.) The flashdrive you use to get photos from a camera is most likely one that you insert your camera's SD card into (but possibly your camera has USB connections that you can plug directly into the OTG or through a cable connection).

Here's an introductory video.
YouTube video id: RsmTwg3zndg

Edits after the original submission:

If that wasn't pedantic enough here's more.

With USB OTB you can hook up other devices to your phone such as keyboards and mice, even wireless ones.

The video shows OTGs with a cable connection between the ends, that can be handy but is not needed. If you do a internet image search for USB OTG adapters you will see various kinds. In fact, when I traded in my Pixel 3a for a 6a the 6a came with a plug looking USB OTG to transfer files from the old phone to the new before shipping the old phone. (This made the new phone the master and the old one the slave and file transfers were done automatically by the program doing the upgrade.)

When done with the copying do not just pull out the OTG and/or flashdrive. You want to prepare for that first by doing a software eject. On my Pixel (an Android phone) a notification is made when I connect the OTG and flashdrive. Before removing them I check my notifications by pulling down from the top of the display. I select and expand the one for USB drive and then click eject. Then I can safely remove the OTG.

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

I used What’s App….worked well

Recently my cousin used What'sApp for the month she and her hubs were in Thailand so they were able to keep interested parties informed. However, the time difference meant that often we in the states were getting the pings when we were sleeping. Also, several of us ended up with all their pix in our pictures! They took a lot of pictures! It caused us to have to scroll through tons of pix to see things we needed to see. Because there was a concern that they had lost something in their travels that might have included their pictures, we were afraid to delete the ones we had until we were sure they had theirs.
So to contrast WA to Find Penguins or something similar, notices to followers came by email and could be read during waking hours and none of my pictures showed up in anyone else's pictures.

 

[SusanGS]

I know that you said not a blog, but the app/website Find Penguins is super easy to use. The people that you invite to view it don't have to have the app or even sign up for the site. You give them access via a link, and you can set it as private or public. The benefit to you is that you only have to upload the photos once, and your friends and family can check in on your Camino any time. It also creates a map of your route as you walk.

View attachment 147754

I like this. Obrigada.

 

[trecile]

So to contrast WA to Find Penguins or something similar, notices to followers came by email and could be read during waking hours and none of my pictures showed up in anyone else's pictures

Also, those who follow you can opt out of notifications if they want.

 

[kje]

Hello! Excited to be walking <3 weeks from now. Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog, and not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments… just something relatively simple where we can quickly jot down a couple sentences and maybe a picture or short video. Does such a thing exist, are there apps out there that make this easy?

We used Find Penguins and loved it

 

[KariC]

Anything wrong with a simple group e-mail list? No apps required.

I did that, so every day I'd just do a "reply all" w/o quoting previous content, and attaching 1-3 photo collages, so they'd transmit easier, showing scenes from my day. I'd strongly consider a WhatsApp group now, although not everyone has that (more universal o/s the US, in my experience, but more and more folks in the US have it now)

 

[TexasIndia]

Last fall when I was by myself on the Camino del Norte, I sent a few pictures and a short message every evening to my mother on Messenger. That’s the only app she has or knows how to use. I copied the same message to my kids and husband on Signal. If you don’t know about Signal please check it out. It’s encrypted, not owned by Meta. See https://support.signal.org/. It’s independent (for now).

 

[JCarpenter]

Hello! Excited to be walking <3 weeks from now. Looking for recommendations for sharing short updates with family… especially those not on social media?

Not looking for anything too involved like a blog, and not wanting something that draws away from the focus of our walk with long/involved conversations & responding to comments… just something relatively simple where we can quickly jot down a couple sentences and maybe a picture or short video. Does such a thing exist, are there apps out there that make this easy?

I second the Find Penguins app. I have used on road trips across the US when I was driving long fast days and wanted family to know my whereabouts. You must have your phone locations permissions on so that the pics and your track are live- posted. Family could see where I was by logging in. Pics and comments tracked with me. Once I was lost in the middle of nowhere New Mexico or Utah, not sure, I called them to see where I was and give directions because I couldn't get google maps. Weird but it worked.

 

[hulagirl]

If you / your family members use Messenger or What’s app, you could create a family group before you go and send brief updates with photos / videos that way. Both will work with wi fi. And your messages will go to all in the group. Or you could use ‘old fashioned’ email. And you could let them know you probably won’t regularly respond to comments etc for the reasons you mention

Apps like Find Penguins (which I use) or Polar Steps are excellent but will require a little more set up

Thank you I just signed up to find penguins, it took 2 minutes.

 

[trecile]

I'd strongly consider a WhatsApp group now, although not everyone has that (

A problem with WhatsApp is that all the photos could end up in the recipients' photo galleries on their phones as @RibbonRomanceAuthor said:

Recently my cousin used What'sApp for the month she and her hubs were in Thailand so they were able to keep interested parties informed. However, the time difference meant that often we in the states were getting the pings when we were sleeping. Also, several of us ended up with all their pix in our pictures! They took a lot of pictures! It caused us to have to scroll through tons of pix to see things we needed to see

 

[Seekingpeace]

A problem with WhatsApp is that all the photos could end up in the recipients' photo galleries on their phones as @RibbonRomanceAuthor said:

Picture mixups aside, the message notifications with time zone difference are more of a dealbreaker here. Both for my 80+ year old non-techie parents, *and* for me… my sleep will be disrupted enough on the Camino without people on the west coast pinging me at 3am!

(Edit: I know I can turn off notifications but I do want to be able to receive messages from the people in question if there is a true emergency.)

 

[AlwynWellington]

I have rather enjoyed reading this stream and you all have given me much food for thought.

For reasons I will mention later, I have set aside using emails, WhatsApp and other interactive apps such as Facebook.

Find Penguin seems an attractive solution in that "everything happens while your phone is in your pocket" or words to that effect.

I have signed into Find Penguin. That was quite quick and painless. Then I quite soon had the feeling I had lost control of what is important to me: words, descriptions of interactions with others, my feelings about an event or whatever.

As writing in my day job has always involved words, I am of an age where words come first and images can help to tell the story. And other information, such as where, how high, far, long and warm (or otherwise) can be added without too much difficulty.

I used a blog site (see below) for my first trip overseas. I was in control, rather than having to fit into someone else's view of how things should work. Albeit, the sequence was back to front.

Going forward I can see how Find Penguins can be useful to do the numbers side on an expedition and I can choose what, and when, to feed into my text.

Hope to hear more from others.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong)

 

[HappyValerie]

I did the Camino Frances end March/April 2022. I has a few Whatsapp groups. My immediate family Whatsapps I kept on, in case they needed me more urgently. The others' notifications I switched to silent.
The numbers on my groups grew as I went, as more & more wanted to walk it virtually. Most won't ever get to do it for real, due to a whole variety of reasons, but they loved their almost daily update. They were fascinated by my whole experience, & they were experiencing it in real time, ie over 39 days. As a result, I found it a bit easier to assimilate as I wasn't trying to start from scratch. They were already " in the know " to quite an extent, and & I felt less disconnected on my return. This helped somewhat to minimise post-Camino blues. Mind you, everyday I'm still reliving it, & still keep checking out every hiking store.
Before next time, I might explore Find Penguin. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Sandcruiser]

This thread has been great. I signed up to find penguins
www.FindPenguins.com/stevebroyles

The ability to use a custom URL is a nice addition.

I'm still figuring out the best way to post... Using my pre-Camino travel as a testbed. So far it feels easy and fairly intuitive.

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi @Sandcruiser . Good idea to have a trial run to explore! I also find it easy and intuitive.

The Travel Books are also easy to customise and have printed, if you'd like that keepsake when you return. Good quality too. Enjoy!

PS Something to bear in mind if you think you will want to make a printed book later. The more pages in the book, the more it will cost - naturally. And the book is not completely customisable, e.g. if you want to reduce the size of your book by deleting some words and photos for the book version - you can only do this by making those changes to the online 'footprint'. At least that's my understanding. I only upload some of my photos - you can mark them in advance if you want as @trecile mentioned at #31.

 

[Former member 104756]

PS Correction: re my last para above - I'm now preparing my travel book from my recent Camino Baztan, looks like I can in fact 'hide' some photos for the book version if I want to, without deleting them from the online 'footprint'. I hadn't noticed this before.

 

[RibbonRomanceAuthor]

Hi @Sandcruiser . Good idea to have a trial run to explore! I also find it easy and intuitive.

The Travel Books are also easy to customise and have printed, if you'd like that keepsake when you return. Good quality too. Enjoy!

PS Something to bear in mind if you think you will want to make a printed book later. The more pages in the book, the more it will cost - naturally. And the book is not completely customisable, e.g. if you want to reduce the size of your book by deleting some words and photos for the book version - you can only do this by making those changes to the online 'footprint'. At least that's my understanding. I only upload some of my photos - you can mark them in advance if you want as @trecile mentioned at #31.

For reference, my book that included all my footprints/photos/captions/comments from followers and videos came to 195 pages. Total cost including shipping was just under $90 USD.
Also, I'm not connected with Find Penguins in any way other than as a very satisfied customer. : )

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I always turn on location sharing with my husband and kids. Works great unless you break your phone!

My location sharing is always on for hubby regardless if I am on Camino or at home. It has other pluses than just camino situations.