Sometimes it’s hard to be a Pilgrim!

[Thomas Yingst]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

 

[Tincatinker]

Oh well, at least you're avoiding sunburn
I hope you get some sunshine soon though

 

[RJM]

My Camino philosophy always is, "when the going gets tough...this pilgrim retreats indoors". lol It is nice and dry indoors and the beer is cold.

 

[nycwalking]

Winter camino 2014, I prayed each day for mud cessation!

Buen camino.

 

[jungleboy]

There’s a lot of mud on the Primitivo at the moment. We also have fog, mist and heavy cloud cover every day, but only one really bad day of rain out of eight so far.

We just try to enjoy the precious little moments the camino provides, even in bad weather, like this:

 

[Anton Bruno]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

Think of rain as refreshing...but yes, two years ago on the Norte, five weeks of daily rain, no other pilgrim on sight until the very last week, unforgettable...glad I did it.

 

[VNwalking]

You'll miss it when you get home.

 

[nycwalking]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

Sometimes it's hard to be a woman. Oh! Wait. You're a man.

Well, sludge through the mud. This too shall pass.

 

[HedaP]

And you haven’t even mentioned the smell of the albergues full of unwashed pilgrim socks and more because no chance of getting anything dry!

 

[DeansFamily]

Yes, it's hard to be a pilgrim on the Norte but so rewarding. Walking into Santiago was magic on Tuesday afternoon. Locals calling out encouragement, fellow Norte pilgrims we knew welcoming us everywhere as we neared the Pilgrim Centre, it couldn't have been better. Hang in there as it will be so worth it....

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

And in the pilgrim office in Sarria I was told there aren't a lot of people walking from Sarria because of the rain. So less competition for beds.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

In May there where 9632 Compostelas for Pilgrims with Sarria as a starting point.

Wish you well , Peter .

 

[Anniesantiago]

Looks like it could rain all the way to Santiago. I’m bummed.

 

[nycwalking]

Looks like it could rain all the way to Santiago. I’m bummed.

Sorry @Anniesantiago.

Buen camino anyway.

 

[OTH86]

Better than the fires last Fall...
Buen Camino!

 

[t2andreo]

It's only rain! Cheer up...it COULD be snow.

 

[Karl Oz]

My Camino philosophy always is, "when the going gets tough...this pilgrim retreats indoors". lol It is nice and dry indoors and the beer is cold.

I always thought it was 'When the going gets tough, the tough get on a Boeing...'

 

[Maggie Y]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully it will change soon. Where are you now?

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

 

[classicalfan]

And you haven’t even mentioned the smell of the albergues full of unwashed pilgrim socks and more because no chance of getting anything dry!

Seriously! I can't believe people are hanging their clothes out to dry. They must have days before they need them!

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

The rain has ceased and the sun is out in Portomarin at least, perhaps all the way to Santiago?

 

[jungleboy]

The rain has ceased and the sun is out in Portomarin at least, perhaps all the way to Santiago?

Sunny in Lugo this afternoon!

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Norte sucks. Nearly died of cold in April may and queues at doctors surgeries

 

[volleyjanice]

Without the rain you wouldn't have an excuse to buy a gorgeous rain poncho. Fashionable and practical (said nobody ever!).

 

[Anniesantiago]

Sunny all the way to Molinaseca today but rain forecast for tomorrow

 

[brian560]

Not as bad as tramping 40 plus kms to finally find an albergue open at Liendo and at A Traba

 

[MisterH]

Back when I was in another life I learned that "They don't call the war on the account of rain" and that you still had to stand guard duty, etc.

 

[RJM]

In walked the Camino once where there was no rain for over three weeks. So sunny and dry. One day I looked on the net for the extended forecast all the way to Finisterre. There was only the most minimal chance shown there rest of the way. I opened my backpack and looked at that poncho rolled up at the bottom. That poncho I had been carrying for three weeks needlessly. Useless weight carried. I then looked the donativo table in the albergue. I then looked at the poncho again. Ten minutes later I was walking out the door of the albergue sans poncho in backpack. So liberating, lol.
and no, it did not rain on me once all the way to Finisterre....

 

[RJM]

Back when I was in another life I learned that "They don't call the game on the account of rain" and that you still had to stand guard duty, etc.

Yes, and when someone with more stripes than you says over and over, "if it ain't raining, it ain't training". So you slog along, swearing when you were a civilian you'd never walk or sleep in the rain and muck again, lol.
I use to curse that guy(s) under my breath, but I never outranked them so I kept my piehole shut, lol.

 

[Rosemary314]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

Yikes, I have been watching the weather!! I keep thinking of those medival pilgrims who walked before us without our rain gear, synthetic, lightweight packs and gortex...and they walked home again after. Bless you and keep smiling!

 

[Tulle]

You should come to Norway and walk St. Olav’s Way! 3 weeks without rain, temperatures 25-30 degrees Celsius. No mud at all)

 

[Marcus-UK]

My first Camino (Ingles) was four and half days of torrential rain and one day of Sunshine. The last day into Santiago was glorious.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Yes, and when someone with more stripes than you says over and over, "if it ain't raining, it ain't training". So you slog along, swearing when you were a civilian you'd never walk or sleep in the rain and muck again, lol.
I use to curse that guy(s) under my breath, but I never outranked them so I kept my piehole shut, lol.

"Basic training was a vacation, and your AIT was a tiptoe through the tulips. Starting in 30 mikes, you will curse me, you will hate me, you will want to kill me, and you will pray that your training and suffering will start getting easier. Hear this, and hear it well.... for the next 62 days you are mine. And for each of those days my cadre will make sure that you know that the only easy day was yesterday."

As soon as I was able, I jotted that welcome speech down into my little notebook so I wouldn't forget it. Now, these many years later, I can still feel the gut clenching sensation of "what the heck have I gotten myself into."

 

[Jim]

Winter camino 2014, I prayed each day for mud cessation!

Buen camino.

I was also walking in 2014, June 8th through July 22nd. Overall, a very cool summer with lots of rain.

 

[Colette Z]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

You should have walked this March like I did. I’m sure the mud & rain you’re experiencing now is only half of what I walked through day in and day out . That’s El Norte and I LOVED IT !

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm reminded of this letter sent home from summer camp:

 

[FSP]

Makes me recall the wise words of one of America's great philosophers "If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain". Dolly Parton

 

[RJM]

I know this thread is about the Camino Norte, but I just did some quick research online of the weather along the Frances, 10 day forecast. I checked all the main cities I could that there would be a forecast for on a weather site, Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon, Astorga and Santiago.
Not a bad forecast ahead. lows to highs of about 8 or 10-21 C (45-70 F). Cloudy a lot, and some showers and just an occasional thunderstorm. Not bad, not really what I would call inclement. Those about to start walking, take note and pack accordingly.

 

[Colette Z]

Makes me recall the wise words of one of America's great philosophers "If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain". Dolly Parton

Funny but I had 5 rainbows one day while walking on the coastal route this March without any rain that day but I don't suppose Dolly ever walked a Camino

 

[susanawee]

There’s a lot of mud on the Primitivo at the moment. We also have fog, mist and heavy cloud cover every day, but only one really bad day of rain out of eight so far.

We just try to enjoy the precious little moments the camino provides, even in bad weather, like this:

View attachment 43185

A really lovely photo to accompany this lovely post....

 

[Rick Chollett]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

A bun at one of the albergues told me that if there were no pain it wouldn't be a true pilgrimage.

 

[Lucy Keenan]

And in the pilgrim office in Sarria I was told there aren't a lot of people walking from Sarria because of the rain. So less competition for beds.

 

[lt56ny]

Looks like it could rain all the way to Santiago. I’m bummed.

This might sound like a load of bull@!/t but The Camino always always always gives you what you need not what you want. I believe there’s a reason for everything on the Camino. Just smile and be happy you won the lucky few on earth to be walking sacred Path. Buen Camino. I know how you feel I walked across the Meseta once andit seems like every day was heavy rain and strong winds in my face for the whole day. The only time my clothes were dry was when I found a dryer. Wouldn’t trade it for the world!

 

[Anniesantiago]

The Camino always always always gives you what you need not what you want. I believe there’s a reason for everything on the Camino. Just smile and be happy you won the lucky few on earth to be walking sacred Path. Buen Camino. I know how you feel I walked across the Meseta once andit seems like every day was heavy rain and strong winds in my face for the whole day. The only time my clothes were dry was when I found a dryer. Wouldn’t trade it for the world!

I’ve walked across the meseta many times - each time has been different.
I prefer dry weather as I live in Portland, Oregon where it rains from September to July 4. I don’t believe there’s a reason for everything. I do believe we can choose how we react and yesterday I chose to be bummed when I saw the weather report - seeing how I’d been hacking up my lungs with fever and the flu for the prior week. I needed sunshine, not cold rain - and by the way, I got it

 

[RJM]

Just smile and be happy you won the lucky few on earth to be walking sacred Path.

Yes, that is how I feel. The absolute worst day weather wise on the Camino is better than the best day (is there such a thing?) at work. Anybody....anybody, with enough time, support and financial resources to walk the Camino is truly blessed and lucky. There are so many faithful poor that wish they were in your shoes. Nothing about walking the Camino is that hard, and guess what...if it turns out to be something you just are not enjoying or digging that much, you can always walk off the path, and go home. Taxis, buses and trains abound.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

What is with all this rain? Camino Norte ... muddy hiking shoes ... wet and sweat .... mud and crud ... sometimes it hard to be a pilgrim

I saw a lovely little sign at the Tobermorey Distillery on the Isle of Mull: 'Todays rain is tomorrows Whisky'. If Whisky isn't your tipple, then think of the rain as part of the beer, or coffe or tea, or what ever your tipple is, process in the making I might lift the gloom.

 

[Jill81]

I was also walking in 2014, June 8th through July 22nd. Overall, a very cool summer with lots of rain.

But all of October 2014 was fabulous! No rain.

 

[lt56ny]

I’ve walked across the meseta many times - each time has been different.
I prefer dry weather as I live in Portland, Oregon where it rains from September to July 4. I don’t believe there’s a reason for everything. I do believe we can choose how we react and yesterday I chose to be bummed when I saw the weather report - seeing how I’d been hacking up my lungs with fever and the flu for the prior week. I needed sunshine, not cold rain - and by the way, I got it

I lived in Ashland for 20 years. I know well how you feel and Ashland is much dryer than Portland

 

[Former member 49149]

I'm reminded of this letter sent home from summer camp:

Thanks for the memory! Not that camp was part of my experience. Not with 5 siblings and and 25 nearby cousins...

 

[classicalfan]

I’ve walked across the meseta many times - each time has been different.
I prefer dry weather as I live in Portland, Oregon where it rains from September to July 4. I don’t believe there’s a reason for everything. I do believe we can choose how we react and yesterday I chose to be bummed when I saw the weather report - seeing how I’d been hacking up my lungs with fever and the flu for the prior week. I needed sunshine, not cold rain - and by the way, I got it

I live in Portland, too! I think it's funny that I'm missing record breaking sun in Portland and hitting (what I think is)
unusually wet weather in Spain!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I live in Portland, too! I think it's funny that I'm missing record breaking sun in Portland and hitting (what I think is)
unusually wet weather in Spain!

Right???

 

[Paladina]

I’ve been soaked to my skin every day this week cycling the Camino Sanabres, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful for a hot shower as I am now, warm and dry at last, just half a day from Santiago. Medieval pilgrims would not have been so lucky.

 

[Former member 49149]

I’ve been soaked to my skin every day this week cycling the Camino Sanabres, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful for a hot shower as I am now, warm and dry at last, just half a day from Santiago. Medieval pilgrims would not have been so lucky.

oh, sorry for your trouble, Paladina! and you are nearly there! Buen camino...

 

[Paladina]

oh, sorry for your trouble, Paladina! and you are nearly there! Buen camino...

Thanks, Kirkie. I hope you’re enjoying the Spanish summer that seems to have temporarily migrated to Ireland.

 

[Former member 49149]

Thanks, Kirkie. I hope you’re enjoying the Spanish summer that seems to have temporarily migrated to Ireland.

Indeed I am! Safe endings and return.

 

[Oravasaari]

I must have beeen very very lucky on my 3 previous caminos (all spring or autumn) as I can't recall more than a handful of damp days and only one really wet one. Headed out on the CF for 2 weeks 13-27 June, so I hope I can bring some of that luck with me for everyone to share! Alternatively I'm due 2 weeks torrential rain to even-up the books!

 

[DeansFamily]

Thinking of this post watching all the sodden pilgrims we passed while driving through sections of the Finisterre and Portugese Caminos. Sitting in a nice dry car, we were really feeling for you. Wishing dry weather for you all.......Buen Camino

 

[Biff]

Think not of it as Rain,
But as Wine yet to be Made!

 

[Albertagirl]

In three years of walking fall caminos: 2015, 2016, 2017, I have had very little rain. But I never paid much attention, since I had rain gear and expected a roof over my head for the night. Now I am setting off on Monday for six days in the Rocky Mountains in rainy weather, and I can't think of anything else. If the tent gets wet while I am setting it up, then the sleeping bag will probably get wet. Trails are very wet, with snow in some passes. I am almost hoping for snow, which can be brushed off the tent. I look back with nostalgia to my few rainy camino days.