My Shell!

Embee12 · Mar 22, 2022

About a month ago, I had some wonderful visitors who'd reached out to me in November when I first introduced myself in the forum. We'd had one long zoom - and by the time they came, I felt like we'd known one another forever. They showed me their well-worn map, a jam-packed credencial and a big coffee table photo journal from one of their caminos. And they told me about the shell, and how the ridges signify the myriad paths leading to SdC; and that you hang it on your pack by some cord, and how it would identify you as a pilgrim in a non-pilgrim crowd so that you'd already have a friend. And I asked, Where do I get one? Am I supposed to get one before I arrive?

And from a sweatshirt pocket - they pulled out my shell. I got so choked up. Pics below. (Please disregard messy kitchen! :O)

(FYI: I got consent about photo.)

MAW6 · Mar 22, 2022

How lovely! Buen Camino!

Vince Rollason · Mar 22, 2022

Embee12 said:
About a month ago, I had some wonderful visitors who'd reached out to me in November when I first introduced myself in the forum. introduction in November. We'd had one long zoom - and by the time they came, I felt like we'd known one another forever. They showed me their well-worn map, a jam-packed credencial and a big coffee table photo journal from one of their caminos. And they told me about the shell, and how the ridges signify the myriad paths leading to SdC; and that you hang it on your pack by some cord, and how it would identify you as a pilgrim in a non-pilgrim crowd so that you'd already have a friend. And I asked, Where do I get one? Am I supposed to get one before I arrive?

And from a sweatshirt pocket - they pulled out my shell. I got so choked up. Pics below. (Please disregard messy kitchen! :O)

View attachment 121031
View attachment 121032

(FYI: I got consent about photo.)

How lovely.
Let me tell you a story about my shells. When I finished my first Camino, I had a one-year-old granddaughter and I gave her my shell which she keeps in a memory box. One day a few years later I walked in and she was showing this to my second granddaughter who looks up and asks "Where's my shell granddad?". "Do I have to walk 500 miles for you to have a shell?" I enquired. "Yes" came the simple answer. Off I went, they met me in Santiago to relieve me of her shell and had a wonderful time. In May the oldest one will be 10 and in July the other one will be 8 and they now have a 2-year-old sister. On 29th May my son-in-law the two girls and I will set off from Morgade to walk the last 100k into Santiago. The girls will carry a shell each, one for their sister and one for their mother. Later when they are old enough, they plan to emulate grandad and walk the whole Camino. This will be my fifth Camino and their first and as we train for it the excitement mounts. I guess in a few years the youngest one might try to get me to walk with her. .
Buen Camino
Vince

J Willhaus · Mar 22, 2022

Vince Rollason said:
How lovely.
Let me tell you a story about my shells. When I finished my first Camino, I had a one-year-old granddaughter and I gave her my shell which she keeps in a memory box. One day a few years later I walked in and she was showing this to my second granddaughter who looks up and asks "Where's my shell granddad?". "Do I have to walk 500 miles for you to have a shell?" I enquired. "Yes" came the simple answer. Off I went, they met me in Santiago to relieve me of her shell and had a wonderful time. In May the oldest one will be 10 and in July the other one will be 8 and they now have a 2-year-old sister. On 29th May my son-in-law the two girls and I will set off from Morgade to walk the last 100k into Santiago. The girls will carry a shell each, one for their sister and one for their mother. Later when they are old enough, they plan to emulate grandad and walk the whole Camino. This will be my fifth Camino and their first and as we train for it the excitement mounts. I guess in a few years the youngest one might try to get me to walk with her. .
Buen Camino
Vince

That's lovely. I was going to comment about you starting in "Melide", but looks like you did an edit!

stevepjq · Mar 22, 2022

When my wife and I walked the Camino back in 2013, we carried 4 shells painted with the cross of St James. Each one of our children gave us these shells - I wore 2 and my wife the remaining 2. We had them since SJPP. As we approached Ponferrada, we came across a group of university students from Fairfield U. We dined with them one or two evenings and shared some miles together. As we settled into Palais de Rei, we once again met these young adults and my wife got to talking to a young gentleman. He told my wife that he hadn't talked with his Mother in quite a long time. My wife simply gave him one of her shells and perhaps some encouragement. Several hours later as we were walking to our albergue, this young man tracked down my wife and with tears in his eyes, told her that he just got off the phone with his Mother. Made us both cry as well.
I fly out for my next Camino on Monday. I have 4 new shells painted this time by my grandkids. I'll see how many of them are still with me as I arrive in Santiago.

Vince Rollason · Mar 22, 2022

J Willhaus said:
That's lovely. I was going to comment about you starting in "Melide", but looks like you did an edit!

Yes. I realised as soon as I pressed send. We have only managed to negotiate an extra week off school for them after the half term break. Melide would be too much of a stretch.

J Willhaus · Mar 22, 2022

Vince Rollason said:
Yes. I realised as soon as I pressed send. We have only managed to negotiate an extra week off school for them after the half term break. Melide would be too much of a stretch.

You will pass through Melide if you start in Morgade...

Vince Rollason · Mar 22, 2022

J Willhaus said:
You will pass through Melide if you start in Morgade...

Yes. My brain is not in gear today I meant not enough of a stretch. Melide is a possible stop for us depending on how things are going.

Former member 92300 · Mar 22, 2022

Nice! I was so excited to get my shell... but I hated it being attached to my pack haha! It was always moving around making just enough of a "thumping" noise that I tucked it into a pocket after the first day or so. I think I will skip it this summer. I might wear a small shell necklace instead. Or maybe not.

J Willhaus · Mar 22, 2022

Actually I have broken 2 shells clanking around on my backpack so the one I have now was a gift in Estella in 2019 from ANFAS which is an organization that supports people with disabilities and runs one of the albergues in Estella. I will try to wear it on my backpack this summer when I walk, but good thing replacements are easy to find! I can imagine that if I were a medieval pilgrim that I would be devastated, but after the second one shattered, I have chalked it up to trying to not focus on "things"--even if they are meaningful.

RibbonRomanceAuthor · Mar 22, 2022

I have a couple of shells from a breast cancer walk I do every year so they have a pink ribbon painted on them. I hope I can drill a hole in them without shattering the

LavanyaLea · Mar 22, 2022

RibbonRomanceAuthor said:
I have a couple of shells from a breast cancer walk I do every year so they have a pink ribbon painted on them. I hope I can drill a hole in them without shattering the

I made a few shells a few weeks ago. The trick to avoid cracking the shell is to cover it with masking tape… I used power drill (on slow setting!) and fingers crossed the holes came out alright.

J Willhaus · Mar 22, 2022

I think for our American Pilgrims on the pre-Camino "shell" ceremony we just ordered them from Ivar and had them shipped to the US so people would have them before they began.

Embee12 · Mar 22, 2022

I do worry about it breaking while flopping around on my yet-to-be-bought backpack. Do people ever sew them on in some way to secure them better?

LavanyaLea · Mar 22, 2022

Embee12 said:
I do worry about it breaking while flopping around my yet-to-be-bought backpack. Do people ever sew them on in some way to secure them better?

Probably tie the string into a tighter loop so it doesn’t dangle as much?

jsalt · Mar 22, 2022

Embee12 said:
I do worry about it breaking while flopping around on my yet-to-be-bought backpack. Do people ever sew them on in some way to secure them better?

Hi, you could tie it on, close to the pack, so it doesn't dangle:

maryloufrommadison · Mar 22, 2022

I got teary just reading some of these. Thank you.

I will get my shell on April 9 at a shell ceremony with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino. I am so excited for that day, and for the day 18 days later when I finally take my first steps from SJPP to Santiago.

Tandem Graham · Mar 22, 2022

Embee12 said:
I do worry about it breaking while flopping around on my yet-to-be-bought backpack. Do people ever sew them on in some way to secure them better?

Yes, me too.
My (Jack Wolfskin) pack has an unused elasticated loop near the base, meant for hooking walking poles, I think. I tie the shell with linen thread just above the loop, then stretch the loop over the shell to stop it wobbling around in time with my stride!
It works, though I sometimes wince when I scrape the shell against a wall or seat back as I take it off. Hasn't fallen off yet though!

RibbonRomanceAuthor · Mar 23, 2022

LavanyaLea said:
I made a few shells a few weeks ago. The trick to avoid cracking the shell is to cover it with masking tape… I used power drill (on slow setting!) and fingers crossed the holes came out alright.

Thanks for the tip! I masked the shells and started with a small bit and gradually went bigger until the hole can support a cord.

rba · Mar 26, 2022

Vince Rollason said:
How lovely.
Let me tell you a story about my shells. When I finished my first Camino, I had a one-year-old granddaughter and I gave her my shell which she keeps in a memory box. One day a few years later I walked in and she was showing this to my second granddaughter who looks up and asks "Where's my shell granddad?". "Do I have to walk 500 miles for you to have a shell?" I enquired. "Yes" came the simple answer. Off I went, they met me in Santiago to relieve me of her shell and had a wonderful time. In May the oldest one will be 10 and in July the other one will be 8 and they now have a 2-year-old sister. On 29th May my son-in-law the two girls and I will set off from Morgade to walk the last 100k into Santiago. The girls will carry a shell each, one for their sister and one for their mother. Later when they are old enough, they plan to emulate grandad and walk the whole Camino. This will be my fifth Camino and their first and as we train for it the excitement mounts. I guess in a few years the youngest one might try to get me to walk with her. .
Buen Camino
Vince

GREAT !!

witsendwv · Mar 26, 2022

Embee12 said:
I do worry about it breaking while flopping around on my yet-to-be-bought backpack. Do people ever sew them on in some way to secure them better?

I make mine from felt. (Courtesy of Liz Brandt) They are light weight, don't flop or break and are much lighter. One side is customized to the camino we are walking! I may purchase this for our next camino:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/700746...click_sum=563bf3bc&ref=shop_home_feat_1&frs=1 Just punch a hole in the top and add a ribbon!

dbier · Mar 26, 2022

Vince Rollason said:
How lovely.
Let me tell you a story about my shells. When I finished my first Camino, I had a one-year-old granddaughter and I gave her my shell which she keeps in a memory box. One day a few years later I walked in and she was showing this to my second granddaughter who looks up and asks "Where's my shell granddad?". "Do I have to walk 500 miles for you to have a shell?" I enquired. "Yes" came the simple answer. Off I went, they met me in Santiago to relieve me of her shell and had a wonderful time. In May the oldest one will be 10 and in July the other one will be 8 and they now have a 2-year-old sister. On 29th May my son-in-law the two girls and I will set off from Morgade to walk the last 100k into Santiago. The girls will carry a shell each, one for their sister and one for their mother. Later when they are old enough, they plan to emulate grandad and walk the whole Camino. This will be my fifth Camino and their first and as we train for it the excitement mounts. I guess in a few years the youngest one might try to get me to walk with her. .
Buen Camino
Vince

Awww...love this

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