Reusing my Credential

[Old Hillwalker]

Due to illness last May (2018) I stopped my walk on the Del Norte in Deba and returned to the US. I now have my ticket to return to Deba this coming September to walk on. Do you think I will be able to continue with my former credential even though it will show a time gap of over a year since it was last stamped in Deba. This will be the fourth Camino credential in my collection and I really don't to lose those stamps previously collected from Irun.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

If you are walking then only the last 100 km gets you a compostela. Continue from where you started and get stamps like you did but start getting at least two a day at the 100 km mark or earlier.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I think this is quite common. When you resume your walk, get the first stamp in the same place as the last stamp before you took your break.

 

[Old Hillwalker]

If you are walking then only the last 100 km gets you a compostela. Continue from where you started and get stamps like you did but start getting at least two a day at the 100 km mark or earlier.

Thanks, I knew this but that was not my question.

 

[oursonpolaire]

A credential is intended to be used for a pilgrimage. Often pilgrimages are interrupted, or take two or three trips to complete. If, e.g., you are walking from Irun to Santiago, and have to break your journey in Deba, take up the pilgrimage again in Deba and continue on. As Raggy suggests, just get it stamped at the next spot, and carry on.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Thanks, I knew this but that was not my question.

Let me try again then.

If you are walking then only the last 100 km gets you a compostela. Continue from where you started and get stamps like you did using your old credential but start getting at least two a day at the 100 km mark or earlier. They will decide on giving you the compostela based on the last 100 km.

 

[trecile]

Many people do the Camino over a number of years and use the same credential every year. That's how you're supposed to do it.

 

[Bala]

I did my Camino over 3 years, being on the Camino 3 different times. No problem at all with using the same credential. In fact, if you want a distant certificate, you'll need your original to show where you started. Just be sure to restart in the same town where you left off and be sure to get a stamp from there.

I ended up with 3 credentials because I love stamps. But my restarts were always from mid-credential. It just worked out that way. In fact nobody really seemed to care, except the hospitalera in Sarria, who was so excited to see me return she gave me a big hug!

 

[cathn]

Due to illness last May (2018) I stopped my walk on the Del Norte in Deba and returned to the US. I now have my ticket to return to Deba this coming September to walk on. Do you think I will be able to continue with my former credential even though it will show a time gap of over a year since it was last stamped in Deba. This will be the fourth Camino credential in my collection and I really don't to lose those stamps previously collected from Irun.

I have re used mine satisfactorily.

 

[Felipe]

I reused it, too, after five years -no problem at all.. And met in Estella a group from Murcia, who was doing the camino walking only the weekends. Unusual, but why not?
Here, the official rule of the Archdiocesis:
You can do the Way in stages, provided they are in chronological and geographical order. However, if you only do the minimum required distance (last 100 or 200 km), you must always get your Credencial stamped at the start and end of each stage, including the corresponding date, to show that the pilgrim has resumed the Way in the same place where they last stopped (i.e. you should always get the stamp at the starting point even though you have already stamped the card in the same place at the end of the previous stage).

 

[woofer]

Due to illness last May (2018) I stopped my walk on the Del Norte in Deba and returned to the US. I now have my ticket to return to Deba this coming September to walk on. Do you think I will be able to continue with my former credential even though it will show a time gap of over a year since it was last stamped in Deba. This will be the fourth Camino credential in my collection and I really don't to lose those stamps previously collected from Irun.

This is perfectly OK you dont have to finish your Camino in one go. There are many people who only have a week who come back year after year to do the next increment.

 

[backpack45]

Due to illness last May (2018) I stopped my walk on the Del Norte in Deba and returned to the US. I now have my ticket to return to Deba this coming September to walk on. Do you think I will be able to continue with my former credential even though it will show a time gap of over a year since it was last stamped in Deba. This will be the fourth Camino credential in my collection and I really don't to lose those stamps previously collected from Irun.

No problem--and even if you started further on it wouldn't matter about a gap as long as the last 100 KM was properly stamped. Congratulations on getting back on this incredibly beautiful route!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Don't fret - I gave out a Compostela to an Irish lady who had spent 10 years walking from SJPP to SdC.

Have a good Camino.

 

[Tertia B]

What if you already have your Compostela from a previous walk? Can you continue to use same credential. Complete Triacastella to SdC last year and planning Porto to SdC later this year.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

What if you already have your Compostela from a previous walk? Can you continue to use same credential. Complete Triacastella to SdC last year and planning Porto to SdC later this year.

If they stamped the Credential when you got your Compostela (which they should have done) then that's it, it's closed down and you'll have to get a new one.

 

[Tertia B]

If they stamped the Credential when you got your Compostela (which they should have done) then that's it, it's closed down and you'll have to get a new one.

Jeff, thank you for clarifying that. Much appreciated.

 

[woofer]

I did my Camino over 3 years, being on the Camino 3 different times. No problem at all with using the same credential. In fact, if you want a distant certificate, you'll need your original to show where you started. Just be sure to restart in the same town where you left off and be sure to get a stamp from there.

I ended up with 3 credentials because I love stamps. But my restarts were always from mid-credential. It just worked out that way. In fact nobody really seemed to care, except the hospitalera in Sarria, who was so excited to see me return she gave me a big hug!

Lucky you !!