My first (and, so far, only - next is spring 2025), I walked 42 days, felt overwhelmed with emotion when I arrived in Santiago, then left the next day to walk to Finisterre/Muxia. I felt great, felt like I had a lot of energy left. After spending the night in Cee, I left early the next morning for Muxia with everything shrouded in a heavy mist - my last day of walking and I my legs felt so tired, I felt I could barely move forward. I felt like this was the universe's way of telling me to slow down, savor this last day of walking and reflect on all I had accomplished. I felt the first pangs of regret as I left Santiago the next morning, but as I was planning on spending some days in Barcelona and Valencia, I didn't really start to experience the "Camino Blues" until after I returned home.
I had been gone over two months, and was glad to be home - but I experienced pangs of sadness and longings to return. I started planning my next Camino and spending more time on this forum to feel connected, definitely a little blue, but also savoring all the good memories and scrolling through my pictures, longing to return. My plans for 2024 were derailed by a move and settling in to my new house and town, but I am eager to return in April for what will be 50 something days of walking.
I am wondering if I will feel the same way after my next walk, will there always be that blue feeling at the end? Will I feel it less on a longer Camino, more on a shorter one? Does it help to plan some traveling at the end or even to have thoughts in mind of the next Camino to follow, or is it always just a little sad at the end? I am eager to find out!
. I am not sure there is a cure for that feeling of loss, except to stay fit and keep on walking back home and spend time outdoors.
