PhD fieldwork on the Camino Vasco & Camino Frances July-August 2016

[Ramblanista]

Having toyed with the idea of hiking the Tunel route in reverse at the end of my field trip I'm now contemplating doing it the 'right' way round as a precursor to joining the Frances at Burgos. This is partly because I've been alarmed by some of the reports of girt, humungeous numbers of pilgrims setting out from St Jean - some of which I'm taking with the proverbial pinch of salt - but also because I think the research might benefit from having a less-well hiked camino to compare with the Frances experience, especially since I walked the Frances in 2012. I would have liked to carry out fieldwork on a less busy camino but I need numbers and I need to revisit previous landscapes.

I'm a student at Exeter University, England, engaged in research that brings together geography and theology as well as aspects of anthropology and ethnography and, of course, Pilgrim Studies. I'm looking at how pilgrims and hikers respond to the landscape in ways that might be considered religious, spiritual or emotional. I'm interested in how specific landscapes - such as the meseta or the climb to O Cebreiro - might certain responses but also how the accumulation of days spent on the trail might enhance their impact or produce different landscape 'experiences'. The project was inspired by a spiritual/religious landscape experience of my own on the Ruta Dragonte section of the Frances in 2012 though I should stress that it's not confined to those with religious/spiritual beliefs.

I shall be hiking the Camino as a pilgrim and a researcher and hoping to talk to people, informally, as I encounter them and/or walk alongside them. As I'm arguing that these experiences are produced, at least in part, by personal background and motivations for walking the camino I'd like a bit of autobiographical detail, within the usual ethical guidelines, of course.

It looks like I'll be setting off from Irun on Sunday 24 July, though the hike actually begins on the Le Puy route and gets to Irun via Roncevalles and the GR11. If anyone's on the trail at about that time and would like to be part of my research please do get in touch. I'm expecting most of my encounters to be spontaneous but my supervisors would be happy if I had something pre-arranged. Mine is a very informal methodology, particpant observation at its most particpatory.

More details here: http://ramblanista.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/you-are-land-land-is-you.html

Thanks

Sian

 

[Davey Boyd]

I will be walking from Bordeaux - Irun - Vasco del Interior - Burgos - Frances to Finisterre from June 16/17th, so I will unfortunately miss you. But good luck with the research and Bon Chemin/Buen Camino!

Davey

 

[Anemone del Camino]

On the trail now and was blessed to say hello to an old friend yesterday, one that is being made more beautiful Imsee her: the Santiago cathedral. Brought to tears for the same time when seein her. Yes, she is becoming an old friend.

Best of luck in your research; may you collect interesting data.

 

[Pelgrimpaul]

Wow, working on similar research;-)
See your fb messenger if you like.

 

[siuloir]

Having toyed with the idea of hiking the Tunel route in reverse at the end of my field trip I'm now contemplating doing it the 'right' way round as a precursor to joining the Frances at Burgos. This is partly because I've been alarmed by some of the reports of girt, humungeous numbers of pilgrims setting out from St Jean - some of which I'm taking with the proverbial pinch of salt - but also because I think the research might benefit from having a less-well hiked camino to compare with the Frances experience, especially since I walked the Frances in 2012. I would have liked to carry out fieldwork on a less busy camino but I need numbers and I need to revisit previous landscapes.

I'm a student at Exeter University, England, engaged in research that brings together geography and theology as well as aspects of anthropology and ethnography and, of course, Pilgrim Studies. I'm looking at how pilgrims and hikers respond to the landscape in ways that might be considered religious, spiritual or emotional. I'm interested in how specific landscapes - such as the meseta or the climb to O Cebreiro - might certain responses but also how the accumulation of days spent on the trail might enhance their impact or produce different landscape 'experiences'. The project was inspired by a spiritual/religious landscape experience of my own on the Ruta Dragonte section of the Frances in 2012 though I should stress that it's not confined to those with religious/spiritual beliefs.

I shall be hiking the Camino as a pilgrim and a researcher and hoping to talk to people, informally, as I encounter them and/or walk alongside them. As I'm arguing that these experiences are produced, at least in part, by personal background and motivations for walking the camino I'd like a bit of autobiographical detail, within the usual ethical guidelines, of course.

It looks like I'll be setting off from Irun on Sunday 24 July, though the hike actually begins on the Le Puy route and gets to Irun via Roncevalles and the GR11. If anyone's on the trail at about that time and would like to be part of my research please do get in touch. I'm expecting most of my encounters to be spontaneous but my supervisors would be happy if I had something pre-arranged. Mine is a very informal methodology, particpant observation at its most particpatory.

More details here: http://ramblanista.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/you-are-land-land-is-you.html

Thanks

Sian

Hi Sian

I'm Mary from Ireland and I've walked the Frances including some of the Dragonte, the Primitivo, Lebaniego and Vadiniense. This July 20th I'm hoping to walk from Bayonne to SJPP (3 days) and then scoot over to Irun and walk the Vasco - so if all goes to plan that could possibly be the 24th - I'd have no problem talking to you for your research purposes so who knows we might meet. Good luck with your research and Buen Camino. - Oops never mind - I see your post was made in 2016 - If you have any useful info on the Vasco I would greatly appreciate it - thanks

Mary