This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

LIVE from the Camino Struggling with doubt on the Camino Frances

Sssnek

Camino Frances 2023
Time of past OR future Camino
9/20/23 to 10/28/23
I just finished day 6 of CF in Estella, and am having my first major moment of doubt. Today was crazy hard for me. Puente la Reina to Estella, it was pretty hot, and in the last 5km or so, my right Achilles started to hurt a ton.

I’m doing a half day tomorrow, just ~9km to Villamayor de Monjardin, and hopefully a little body and brain break will help, but I still would love advice.

What do you do when doubt creeps in?

I’m not sure why, but there’s a little voice in my head whispering, “See? You can’t do this. You were never going to make it to the end.” Hopefully this is temporary, a product of me being tired and hurting. I’m just feeling a bit rattled.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
You have made it 6 days so far! WELL DONE! And you have crossed the Pyrenees!

however...I tell myself "I can" - then I treat myself as bit fragile - a short day (or a rest day), some nice food (a decent meal can help), maybe even a private room if I haven't had great sleep. I have a cry if I need to, put pen to paper and write it out. If there are other pilgrims I go and hang out for some company.

(If you have a bit of an injury consider sending your pack ahead for a day or 2 and see if that helps too)

No-one walks on the camino without some doubts, or having a rough day or days - and few can say they haven't had some physical injury or issue. So for the moment keep telling that doubting voice...I can keep putting one foot in front of the other a bit longer - this is just a long walk.
 
You are doing the right things. A short day. Be kind to yourself whatever form that takes be it a good meal or a glass of vino. Everyone has had doubts at one stage or another on a long Camino. Allow yourself to feel proud and acknowledge what you have achieved thus far. You can do this. Transporting your pack as suggested would make a difference too. Maybe walking for a few days with others if that’s an option. The support of fellow pilgrims can be a great help in getting through some tougher étapas.
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Good evening, @Sssnek. Thank you for writing. @roving_rufus has shared some wonderful ideas. I am beginning my third week tomorrow and based on my limited experience, I can say that taking off your shoes & socks, a shower, and a nice reward at the end of the day (gelato, ice cream, wine, coffee - whatever makes you smile) has helped me recover each day.

While walking, I remind myself to slooooow down, put on good music and dance. Seriously. It’ll make you laugh or lighten your load.

And lastly, be abundantly kind to yourself. You are stretching yourself in AMAZING ways, but stretching can hurt too. So be gentle with the self-talk. No matter where you end up, you should be proud of yourself. With all the best!
 
Day 6 through day 8 is when many pilgrims may start to question their ability and their will to continue. The body is aching and possibly sleep deprived, and the mind is in turmoil. It is a very vulnerable time when some pilgrims may pack it in.

If you have been staying in Albergues, a private room can help you get a decent night's sleep. But don't separate yourself for too long from the direct companionship of others. Your fellow pilgrims along the route can be a great source of inspiration. Keeping to yourself at this time can cause ruminations and doubts to fester and grow. And remember that others are going through the same thing as you. Perhaps being of service to someone else in need will help you too.

Walking a shorter day now and then can help immensely, something under 15 km. Try to book a reservation for the night so that you can start a little later in the morning, walk unhurried to your destination, take lots of stops along the way.
 
Generally you can walk shorter distances and still find lodging on the Camino Frances. Some injuries are the result of pushing your body harder that it is used to being pushed. Do you have the time to slow your itinerary? Even if you have to bus ahead one or two days in the future, you may want to give your body some time and space to heal a little.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I’m not sure why, but there’s a little voice in my head whispering, “See? You can’t do this. You were never going to make it to the end.” Hopefully this is temporary, a product of me being tired and hurting. I’m just feeling a bit rattled.

Tell that little b#&%@ to piss off! I often hear of people breaking down around Estella. The first week is physically hard, especially for those who have not done a lot of hill training. Tough climbs, tougher descents. Take a few short days, stretch, stretch, and did I mention stretch? I am sure you will soon find yourself back on track.
 
Sssnek, as Sheesh and Walkerooni point out, from Estella through to about Najera can be a real crunch section. Your body has been over-worked and worn hard for days, and hasn't yet readjusted and started to build back and supply you with the necessary strength to settle into a thru-hiker rhythm. And that creates a big mental challenge too - as successive days actually seem to be harder.
But hang on in there! your body is in the process of toughening up.. and you should be close to the turnaround point. Just go gently for a few days, look after yourself and avoid red-lining.
To someone that freezes on a high ledge they shout 'don't look down!' and the equivalent on the camino is not to look too far ahead - just deal with each day on its own terms, each with its own challenges, delights, encounters, experiences and vistas. That's all you need to do.. and good luck
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
Sssnek said:
What do you do when doubt creeps in?
Click to expand...
Yeah, doubt can be debilitating if you feed it - directly, by taking it too seriously; or indirectly by trying to make it go away by force or suppression.

Sssnek said:
Hopefully this is temporary, a product of me being tired and hurting. I’m just feeling a bit rattled.
Click to expand...
Fortunately, it's not going to last forever.
It's there because you're stretching yourself. You've never done this before!

So first not to take the thoughts too seriously. Then simply and kindly hold that niggle of anxious uncertainty. Feel it, acknowledge to yourself that this is a challenge, and then just take a deep breath and another step. One step at a time is all you need to do to get all the way to Santiago! No need to think about how far that is, because every step gets you that much closer.

And as others have said, taking care of the body, letting it rest when it needs to (even for five minutes!) is refreshing. A short day even more so. And asking the question you just asked us to others around you - because for sure you're not the only one, and bringing doubt into the light by sharing those stories helps everyone.

Hang in there and buen camino!
 
Bless you.
It's not unusual to have doubts. I had serious "what was I thinking?!" days& nights in Los Arcos and again mid-Meseta.
I followed much of the advice above.
It helped.
Sleep, good food and foot-pamering does wonders.

I did finish last year and cried when I did. I learned so much about myself.
It was all worth it.
At least for me.

But above all, be kind to yourself.
Whatever you choose for you is right right for you.
 
Sssnek said:
What do you do when doubt creeps in?
Click to expand...
Just focus on the next few hours.
Getting to second breakfast, that next village, lunch, your accommodation.
Don't think about how far you still have to go!

Try to push the negative away. If you look for it, you can find lots of it
Focus on the positives.
Celebrate the little milestones.
Enjoy all the little things along the way.

Do others have these doubts?
I think most of us do on our first Camino!

I wanted to go home a few times
Self doubt, guilt for being away, injury......

It usually only lasted a day or two.
And I finally cast it away for good at the Cruz de Ferro.

What you are feeling is quite normal.
You've got this
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
People often talk about the three 'phases' of a Camino.
I'm sure you've heard of them.

For some they don't occur.
And if they do, it's not to a 'schedule'.

Phase 1. The physical.
As your body gets used to the effort, and the new 'routine'.
It can be tough physically.
And you can tend to focus a lot on the 'physical'.
Often said to last the first 5-7 days.

Phase 2. The Emotional
Often 'on top' of the physical.
The self doubt, why am I 'here'?
I should be 'there' wherever that is.
Everyone else seems to cope, why can't I?
Often said to be he 'next' 5-7 days.

Phase 3. The 'Spiritual'
Call it what you will.
You're totally at peace with the journey now.
You start to 'soar'.....
The physical and emotional may still linger a bit.....
But you recognise them now for what they are.
You can handle them.
If not already, you now feel the power of the Camino, all around you.
Everything seems to have more meaning, you might have discovered a greater purpose.
You know why you're here!
And you're probably planning the next one........
Because you want to feel like this again and again

And you'll look back to those early days.
When the doubt crept in.
And smile, with a little pride, that you pushed through it.
Realising what you would have missed......

Buen Camino Pilgrim


P.S. that 3 phase 'transition' changes a lot the more Caminos you walk.
I think on my first day out of Seville this year. I hit phase 3 after about an hour

P.P.S. Reading this thread again I love the suggestions.
Done them all on my first Camino, including Dance, Sing and Cry (with joy) LOL
 
Last edited:
Robo said:
People often talk about the three 'phases' of a Camino.
I'm sure you've heard of them.

For some they don't occur.
And if they do, it's not to a 'schedule'.
Click to expand...
This is too canned, simplistic, and formulaic for my taste, because as @Robo says it's not to a 'schedule'. Any of this can happen at any time. The 'phases' myth comes in part because the physical discomfort often comes early on, and then eases. But injury can happen at any time. As can emotional or spiritual upheaval. Riding the waves of all this is what transforms our psyches on the Camino, bringing new resilience and confidence.

Ultreia e suseia...upwards and onwards!
Walking to Santiago has been hard since forever, hence the traditional encouragement along the way.
 
Sssnek - on each of my Caminos, I had the "what was I even thinking and why am I here" thoughts. St. John of the Cross called this The Dark Night of the Soul. I had to release myself from feeling any self-inflicted pressure to continue. I also had to release myself from the "I'll be disappointed in myself if I don't finish" way of thinking. As others have said, give yourself a break, go shorter distances, pamper yourself, do what you need to do to lift your spirits.
I tried to unite my aching feet, aching legs, aching sprit to the suffering of so many people in the world, as well as to the suffering of all the Pilgrims who have suffered on the Camino. Somehow I made it.
BUT - you need to do what works best for you! One of my Camino friends flew home shortly after we got to Castrojeriz. It was absolutely the right decision for her and she does not regret it.
Whichever way it goes for you, I wish you peace and blessings!
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Take care of your feet. They are your major bodily tool for walking a pilgrimage. Do something about that Achilles - maybe a pharmacist could suggest something or refer you to a local who specialises in feet. Do you need some sort of insert to support your arch? or different socks or ointment, or bandaging to relieve the pain of feet which have had the skin rubbed off? Or just to take the weight off your feet by getting your pack transported? If you want to go on walking with a minimum of pain, you must take care of your feet. God bless and Buen camino.
 

What I do is take time off. I make sure I am fully hydrated and that I am fully replenished with food and calories. Then I make sure I am getting a good nights sleep with a plan to sleep in, or at least have a very leisurely wakeup. Then a good breakfast, a relaxed walk around the location I am taking a break in.

After that, I will ask myself those questions which may concern a change in my plans. It is far better to take a day or two off if that will keep your plans intact, than to look back in regret that you might have been able to meet your personal goals on a camino.
 
Last edited:
Rest and relaxation can go far in helping to lift your spirit. I had a tough day once and had a "ready to go home" moment. Once I got into town and checked into an albergue...I showered, washed my clothes and hit the local watering hole. I sipped on a Cubata while transferring my camera images to a backup drive and all was good in my world again. I'm sure a break will suit you. Buen camino.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Three words: you. got. this.

FWIW, that particular stage tends to put me over the edge. Hopefully by now you've rested, hydrated, gathered your energy, and maybe hit the farmacia to tend to your achilles. Your body is still adjusting to walking, so be gentle.
 
Last edited:
Sssnek said:
I just finished day 6 of CF in Estella, and am having my first major moment of doubt. Today was crazy hard for me. Puente la Reina to Estella, it was pretty hot, and in the last 5km or so, my right Achilles started to hurt a ton.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed the bit about the Achilles. Mine suffer from start to finish

Whilst we are all different, what I find works really well for my inflamed Achilles 'during ' the Camino is:

Good hydration! Even mild dehydration makes it worse, a lot worse. If you don't know how to check, google dehydration and urine colour If you feel dehydrated, you are already quite dehydrated. Lots of different charts around. Here is one.



Stretching. Just normal calf stretches. I do this before I start walking, whenever I stop, before starting again, before going up hills. Like 50 times a day! Get it......
Just a 10-20 sec stretch each side. Use a wall, tree, your poles, or I often just put one leg out behind me and do it without any 'external' support. But 'really' stretch those Achilles. It feels better immediately.



Painkillers?
I used to use pain killers and anti inflammatories alot, but avoid them now. They 'mask' what is going on too much. So I keep them for emergencies only.

See a Physio (Fisio)
Physios are great in Spain. If you need a professional to check your Achilles.
A Pharmacy (Farmacia) could direct you to one.
They might prescribe certain stretches, taping, heel wedges and other stuff.
Been there, done that........
It's all fixable to a degree
 
Last edited:
That was a hard day for me as well. It didn't help that there about 10 signs saying Puente la Reina 12km at every turn. I'm exaggerating the quantity of signs but there were quite a few. It was a frustrating day.

If you can, book a rest day and nap, have a bath or a very, very long shower, and a double scoop of gelato. It gets easier, and some days will be hard. Speak to a medical professional about your achilles tendon - the pharmacy is a good place to start with that as they can offer topical treatments and direct you to the appropriate center. Every town will have ice for sale, and icing inflamed muscles and tendons is always a good idea.

I hope you are feeling less sore and less defeated soon!
 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I started in Pamplona in late March and hit a bit of a wall about a week later in Belorado where both body and mind started to rattle.

I ventured on a bit further to Villafranca Montes de Oca and decided to splurge at the Saint Abad hotel. This did wonders for me. I started out late the next morning because I simply could sleep in and the salubrious surroundings were a salve. But more than that, I was amazed at how much my body had recovered overnight, no doubt aided by the fine linen.

I suggest allowing yourself a little splurge and a late sleep to recuperate. You’d be surprised what it can do for the soul.
 
On my first Camino I got sick, really sick, one week in at Los Arcos. I had to pull out and head to London to rest and recuperate. So glad I then went back and finished the CF from Logrono. It was the beginning of what I am sure will be a life long love affair with El Camino. Be kind to yourself and remain open to the possibilities. Buen Camino.
 
I had just one mooment of doubt - had a very heavy cold in Loen, and lay awake in bed at night asking myself if I really wanted to soldier on... Got up next morning and forgot all about it and went on the have three wonderful caminos (and hope to have more)...

In your position, i would probably take a day off and rest...
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice. I think a rest day in Estella followed maybe by a couple shorter days until Logroño might be helpful.

I stayed in a slightly nicer place this past night, and I think it actually added to some of the isolation. I’m a pretty good sleeper, so maybe I’ll head to one of the more communal albergues tonight.

As much as I really really want to do that 9km short day, I think in this case staying put, even if it’s the harder option, is the right one.

Robo said:
Good hydration! Even mild dehydration makes it worse, a lot worse.
Click to expand...

This is also such a good reminder. My hydration could probably be described as mediocre to this point, so I’ll add that to my stretching routine!

Again, thank you all so much. You’ve helped a lot.
 
On my first Camino in 2008 I had some doubts about what I‘m doing when it didn‘t stop raining after 6 days.
I prayed to the universe and told those people up there , if they won’t stop the rain, I‘ll stop and go home.

The next day there was bright sunshine and I went on to Santiago.
I arrived there after a total of 4 weeks hiking.

Keep on going (slowly and short for the next days).

Yes, you can!
 
I think you're doing the right things. You're listening to your body and mind. You're taking a break to recover. The Camino will challenge your negative core beliefs, such as feeling you're not good enough and you can't do it, and then throw you into fight or flight, or even shutdown. When you're tired and hurting, as you say, you are most vulnerable to this. This is a normal reaction of your body and past experiences. So do what you can to soothe yourself. Get a private room. Have a good dinner with other pilgrims. Do shorter distances. It sounds like you know what to do.
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
That climb from the river up into Maneru finished me. It is 5 years later and my quads still hurt when palpated. Always listen to your body. If it needs rest, give it rest. A short day is a good idea, even if that is all you can do for the rest of the Camino...but that will likely not be the outcome.
 
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
 
Press through the wind press.

Keep on truckin’ baby you gotta keep on truckin’.

Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking across the floor. Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door.

Stretch your calves for sore achilles.

Stretch your confidence, heart, excellent interior dialogue for all else.

Put one foot in front of the other.

Buen camino.
 
Camino Cleanup Program & Retreat
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
I remember my wife and I having doubts even before we left home. We decided to just take it day by day...and those days added up to both of completing our Camino. Don't think of next week...think of tomorrow (or possibly the next day, if you are taking a deserved day off) and celebrate that you survived the day...then think of the next.

Also, sending your pack ahead can make for some easier, healing days.
 
The above responses covered just about all you need in the way of advice. Rest, hydrate, treat yourself, ensure it is a discomfort, not an injury.
However, on the bright side the physical and mental stress you are experiencing is a necessary stage that we need to push through. Pushing thru this barrier will open the pilgrim experience to us.
It's only after your mind has tired of telling you to stop what your doing, that it hurts, that it's exhausting, that it is wearisome, and after being repeatedly ignored, that it "leaves the moment" and occupies itself on other subjects. Subjects that we may not be aware are important to us, experiences we may not have thought of in a long time, giving us perhaps a different perspective, or helping us to come to terms with.
This meditative state helps the pilgrim reflect on themselves and assist the individual in achieving insight into what is really important to them.
A good pilgrimage should be an enlightening experience, helping us improve ourselves, and making us more at peace with who we are.
For what it's worth that's my take on it.
 
Considering that this was posted yesterday my advice may be already too late esp with 6 hours difference, but...
Leave Estrella, make it to the Irache Fountain, stop, take your backpack off and "hydrate" there until the doubts disappear

On a serious note - absolutely give yourself some time "off" to gather your thoughts and check for the overall well-being.
Someone mentioned Villafranca Montes de Oca. I wholeheartedly recommend Albergue La Apalgateria. Christina is just wonderful as a person and hostess plus she is a certified masseuse, and Good Lord only Knows how that 30 minutes helped me to rejuvenate. Oh and Private rooms as well

So, dont despair, you can do it!

Ultreia e suseia...upwards and onwards!
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Give yourself a break. A short day will help. But if you can, have an extra rest day. I think we all know what you are going through. Breathe, meditate, clear the negative thoughts. You have come so far. you can do this. And when you stand in front of the Cathedral you will realize how strong you are. I am still four days away from the finish line and each day is a new challenge but millions have done this and I am determined to be one of them.
 
@Sssnek , you've received many excellent pieces of advice and I see from your answer that you're clearly taking note of them. Good on you.

Physical health is one thing - your body is the only one you have - please look after it!

Mental health challenges are a different story all together, and there is no one answer that is right for everybody. What ever decision you come to will be the right one for you, and you alone, and I for one will respect that. If you have to quit you have to - but somehow I suspect you won't. I'll explain:

You are very far from alone in feeling like this. For any number of reasons there doesn't seem to be a month go by that somebody doesn't post along similar lines here on the forum. And those are the handful that, like you, reach out for help to your fellow forum members. Which to me means that consciously or unconsciously, you don't want to quit.
And you know what?
ALL of the pilgrims that I've followed with these issues in the last few months have completed their Camino.

Every. Single. One.

YOU can too .

I look forward to your post from Santiago de Compostela in a few weeks time.......
 
Best lightweight Camino guides
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
Oh Sssnek;
it’s very obvious we all feel your pain. It’s also patently obvious to me, at least, YOU can get through this. Six days in puts an amazing into an accomplishment you should be proud of. You have looked the worst in the eye and conquered the challenge. At this point as so many have said your mantra should be “just one more step”.
My advice based on my experience is do not take a day off. If you are only able to do 5km, do that. In my case a day off was so incredibly difficult to muster the inspiration to get off my butt.Your journey is an accumulation of small step. Nothing more.
Just keep making small steps.
Buen Camino.
 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
So much wonderful encouragement above! I would just like to add that the walk between Estella and Villamayor de Monjardin is beautiful. Walk slowly.
 
I postpone defeatist thoughts till the next morning. Somehow, that seems to work because things always seem better in the morning. The restorative powers of sleep are amazing, even in a dorm environment.
 
Sitting in Leon tonight on my first rest day and reading your post really resonates with me.
At the risk of sounding a bit downhearted myself, I think you have plenty to worry about, and for good reason.
It's not an easy undertaking this Camino walk, not just the physical, but the mental as well.
The physical is obvious, there's the blisters and muscle soreness, tiredness, lack of sleep and strained body to contend with.
The mental part is even harder.
What may surprise many a first-time walker is how mentally taxing it can be, for me it's been the question I keep asking myself.
Why?
Why am I doing this?
The walk itself is surprisingly dull once you get over the first few days.
There's nothing much to look at, there's no big spectacular views, the road surface can be brutal underfoot, the food varies from inedible to awful, it's busy, the accommodation is poor, outside of the bigger cities there's almost no historical way markers to admire, if you're after a quiet contemplative walk you'll realize what a mistake you've made, the villages are mostly run down and depressing, the questions will start to seep in as you contemplate another 5 hours of dull and monotonous walking.
Sometimes you'll strike the big double, it will be dull and difficult at the same time.
But, despite all that, the chances that you'll keep on walking are high.
You may keep going just to see if it gets better somewhere down the road, perhaps the drive to finish will do it, perhaps you'll meet a group that will motivate you, perhaps a stubborn streak will kick in.
Walk each day on it's merits and you may find the strength, mental and physical to continue along the way.
 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Yeah....tell the voice to f off. Rest. Ship. Take a low day. Plan a zero day somewhere cool. I felt my worst physically around days 8-9.

You got this. And it's worth it.
 
It's not just you. There has been times where I wondered, usually in brutal hot weather or while walking in rain: why am I doing this? If I see a taxi I'm going take it, no one will notice it if I take a bus tomorrow, if I hear one more person snoring I'm going home, why all this going up when I know I'll be going down again etc etc.

Ignore it - when you get to santiago you'll be glad you walked the whole way.
 
2007 - Memoirs of first Camino Francés just before Pamplona - sobbing in a bar with my new ‘Camino family’. “I can’t do this …. It’s too hard”.
“Have a coffee” they said - “but I don’t even drink coffee”. I replied.
Had a coffee, used their support (and coffee) to pull myself together and continued.
Then we all used a cab to transport luggage for the next three days.
I never imagined I could/ would finish till the last two weeks.
Days of thinking- well! I will never have to do this again - and then later planning my next Camino.

Forward to last year in the Via - older and wiser - had a tiny fall and the next day my knee became very painful. For the next couple of days I walked 5-10 Km - walking for 20 mins and resting for 10 mins. A difficult discipline but the knee recovered in a few days. (Also used ibuprofen, knee support and Voltarin Forte)

We have all been there. But don’t ‘push through’ physically. Slow down- rest - treat your Achilles - get professional advice.
Mentally take one day, one hour, one minute at a time, step by step, one step at a time.
Buen Camino
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I would say take a day of caring for yourself. Buy a good foot cream and give your feet a pamper. Spoil yourself with a nice meal.. you’ve got this. Every one gets doubts
 
Relax, breathe, wherever you go there you are, feel like stopping, stop and rest. Lose the schedule and do what you can. Make yourself happy, enjoy the view. Take a nap when you find a good spot. My biggest struggle is between my ears.
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
I wonder how often this defeatist little voice sneaks in in our daily lives & we are so distracted that we don't even identify it, & we possibly often act on it. One of the many treasures of the Camino is that we get a chance to actually hear the tapes that almost subconsciously play in our head. It can be a great revelation to hear them, & consciously decide which ones we want to keep & which ones we should erase. Embrace the revelation & be encouraged that the Camino is working.
 
Sssnek said:
What do you do when doubt creeps in?
Click to expand...
Don't overthink it - that's what got you to your current self-doubting state. You walk a camino by simply putting one foot in front of the other, and barring any physical limitations you keep doing that, over and over, until you reach your destination. Your doubts, internal conflicts, and all the noises in your head will begin to quiet down all on their own, bit by bit, without you needing to do anything more than just keep putting one foot in front of the other. As the latins used to say, salvitur ambulando - it is solved by walking. Buen Camino
 
On one of my CFs I met a very downhearted man from Japan who was certain his Camino was over, he could not walk another step, and would have to lose facd with his family, friends and colleagues. Next morning - I woke up - his bed was empty ( beautifully made!) and I imagined he had slipped out early to get a taxi. But no! Later that day I saw him laughing & joking with pilgrims on route - he had woken and felt stronger than he could have imagined possible the night before. Whilst I have doubted my ability - my legs seem to know better and will keep on carrying me - regardless of what my head ‘believes’.
 
More 2024 Camino Guides available
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
My martial arts instructor used to say, with no apologies to Shakespeare, that the flesh is frequently willing, but the mind is weak. He used to prove it by running physical challenges in odd numbers, and our tests were legendary for how long they took. The secret was this: if you were invited to test, the only way you failed was if you hurt someone else carelessly ( we were well trained in control), or if you quit.

Don't quit when you're tired. Quit if you're refreshed and ready.
 
Wish I had seen this post before temporarily quitting.
 
WalkingInGers said:
Wish I had seen this post before temporarily quitting.
Click to expand...
Well, you do say temporarily. And if you do live in France, then it's a whole lot easier to return. But then, perhaps if you'd travelled from the other side of the world then you might have not quit?
Generally though I like to think that most of us do the right thing for us at the time.
It's very easy to have second thoughts once you're home.

It's been said a thousand times on this forum:
The camino has been there for over a thousand years, it'll still be waiting for you in another year or two....
 
Best lightweight Camino guides
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
Agree! You mention two issues. Doubts and possible injury Re: achilles! If your achilles is bothering you, take a day off! Don’t try and push through it the next day. And get a good nights sleep or two. Then do a short day. Send your pack ahead. See how the achilles feels then and how you are feeling mentally at that point. A pause can do wonders. You made it through the Pyrenees. The terrain should not be so challenging again until after Astorga. If your achilles continues to bother you, see a physician.
 
Doubt happens, bad days happen. Everyone gets it.

My first week was a train wreck. I almost got a boat home on day 4. I'm at day 28 currently, but getting about 1-2 bad days per week. Mentally, Camino is very challenging. Call your family and friends. Talk to others if you can, just hold on to sanity as much as possible. But accept some days are just really bad. Take a break from time to time.

Mine got really bad after I got tendinitis after pushing over O Cebreiro. Solution in the end was to go to Ourense for 5 days to try and rest it a bit, eat well and stop being a pilgrim until it was fixed. But then i aggravated it again on the Oseira monastery detour. Gave up and moved on. Currently sat outside Santiago and will finish my first stage tomorrow.
 
Take rest days when you need it or shorten your walking intervals. Also, sit and rest during your walks. My Achilles was aching too even though it ruptured back in 2015 and was repaired. That concerned me! I also had a total knee replacement 14 months ago. Oh, and asthma! . I’m 4 days from arriving in Santiago. You got this! We both do!
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Thyme_Is_Running_Out said:
Oh, and asthma!
Click to expand...
This one is the bane of my Camino. Doesn't matter how much walking I do it gets no better and I seem to get no fitter. A guy today started freaking out in Spanish when I pulled my inhaler and spacer out and started hitting it. Probably because it's pink (the inhaler). I tried to reassure him with my rubbish Spanish, but he kept asking me if I was ok. I tried to tell him it's was fine.
 
If I had a dime for every time somebody asked me, “You ok?”, or offer me a cough drop at which I had to explain that it won’t help. “The problem is my lungs not my throat.” LOL
 
I had similar feelings on my pilgrimage in 2016 -and stayed in the same spot, Villamayor de Monjardin. I got there at a little after 9am and loved just hanging around the place. I stayed at an albergue hosted that day by a couple from Germany and enjoyed a great dinner with the other guests followed by a brief, optional meditative time in the albergue. That night moved my spirit past my body’s messages and the rest of the days on the Camino were great.
So great that I moved to Spain and now live near Astorga. Buen Camino
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
I had some challenging sections last year May. History of bad knees, feet playing up after the first week and not the fittest I’ve been. Shortened the days every once in a while and planned rest days - 1 extra day in Burgos, 1 extra day in Leon. In Leon I was champing at the bit to go but forced myself to take the rest day.
 
I finished my first camino Frances in June and during my first week I also had doubts about whether this was a wise choice, I thought holy man I still have a long ways to go. I even had heel spurs bothering me and I was getting a little depressed. But I kept going and stared to feel a little better each day and to my surprise I felt great at the end of the 800 km. Hope things work out for you.
 
Hi, I read all the very good suggestions, so I have only 1 bit of advice. "Don't make a major decision on a bad day, because you never know what's around the corner". I wish you fast deliverance of your physical pain. Ultreia!
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Wherever we are in life we have doubts…. Use intuition, ironically your route is symbolic of many keeping faith throughout history, use this, remind yourself daily you’re more than capable of achieving anything…. Buen Camino
 
As others have said, of course there will be questions and doubts. Can you remember why you wanted to do the Camino in the first place? What is it inside you that you wish to grow and strengthen on the Camino? Now may be the time for you to strengthen that. Imagine ahead, to when you’ve returned back home after having accomplished just what you set out to accomplish. maybe also in the process have come to know yourself better, and be more friendly with yourself, and perhaps also have become more flexible and adaptive with your plans and demands of yourself, you can now look back in those first few days, how hard they were, maybe even laugh at it all ……..
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Totally normal for doubt to creep in.
Try to have positive thoughts. As you walk, try to find the positive. Focus on the beauty of it all.
As for the Achilles : STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH!

Stretch in bed before going to sleep
Stretch in bed when you wake up
Stretch after your first couple of kilometers
Stretch at your first break
Stretch at lunch
Stretch at you afternoon break
Stretch after your day's walk

For the inflammation: I used Votaren and applied as indicated and as necessary and I also used Ibuprofen and ICE - VI-RICES = Voltaren, Ibuprofen-Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Stretch. It is important to keep the inflammation to as much at a minimum to none as possible. When you walk and you feel it that is your body talking to you. Listen to it. Take a Rest and use the occasion to apply Voltaren and Stretch. ANd if you are trying to walk with someone at their rhythm, STOP. Walk at the pace that your body wants.

In the end, the fact that you doubts mean that you are as human as the rest of us. One, Listen to your body. Do the above and keep the inflammation down. And when doubt creeps in - doubt the doubt - try to reason it out. Why I am doubting? What am I doubting? Is is justified? What are potential solutions? You will realise that the doubt may come from something entirely different and that it can usually be reasoned out of your mind.
 
Last edited:
Don’t stop. Get help or therapy there and rest. Walk less or do whatever it is necessary to recover. It is a Camino lesson. Keep listening to the voice whispering YES! You can do it !
 
Pray! Ask God what he is wanting to reveal to you. Think about it. The times when you learned the most, the most valuable lessons came when it was hard. Great questions for preparing for a spiritual journey. Where have you been? Where are you now? Where do you want to go? How will you get there? And, hard to answer but important to think about, how will you know when you get there? God bless you & I pray for a very fruitful Camino for you.
 
Camino Cleanup Program & Retreat
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
Tell your little voice to go to hell!
 
Hang in there and take it slow for a bit you will get through this and be amazed at how strong and resilient you have become. Just getting this far is an awesome effort.
 
On my first camino when I got to Najera, I walked into a telephone booth (this was the days before mobile phones) and telephoned my brother in Australia, crying my eyes out. "I can't do this" I sobbed. "Yes you can", said he, the athlete who had climbed impossible mountains in the Himalayas, "take it one step at a time". "It's too hard" I said. "Pull out and you will regret it the rest of your life", was his very unsympathetic response.

Something about that tough love kept me going. Weeks later, as I walked into Santiago de Compostela I was in tears again, this time in jubilation and with an extraordinary sense of triumph. It was epic. The self confidence gained from that first walk has never really left me and has helped in all kinds of situations. One day at a time, one step at a time.

Years later, after I had walked the Francés many more times, the Le Puy twice, the Norte, the Arles, I started walking the Via de La Plata. I was supremely confidence that nothing could stop me making it to the end, and a little bit arrogant about those who did not "finish" their camino or took the occasional bus or had their pack carried. Day two and the nagging pain in my foot suddenly became unbearable. It felt like daggers were being thrust up through my heel with every step. I dragged myself into the next town and caught a bus to a larger one. Saw physiotherapists and podiatrists and tried every treatment suggested. Nothing worked. It was a complete emotional face plant for me, a very Camino "lesson". I could not continue. I was not in control. When I returned to Australia I had an MRI and it showed a 10cm tear in the fascia. It was months before it healed.

Yes, do bring courage and endurance to the Camino - follow the good advice of members above and if you are determined, you will do everything you can to make it to the end. Being on the Camino is your choice, don't let yourself down.

But sometimes we are not in control. Sometimes we have to accept and be gracious. The Camino is not always the walking one.

Besides, there is nothing nicer than sitting in the plaza, with drink in hand, and talking to other pilgrims. I find enormous joy in that.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Again : be so very careful with randomly applying Voltaren gel and taking Ibuprofen pills! Or for that matter taking them separately either!
The dosage of Ibuprofen ( over the counter ) in Spanish pharmacies is higher than what is normally given in other countries.
Be aware! You need your kidneys.

Pain = signal. Act accordingly. When on a Camino : go to a pharmacy for correct advice. If more specialised help : centro de salud.
 
Last edited:
Love this advice esp sending the pack ahead.
If u don’t have time to rest for a day or two you could also consider taking a bus or taxi for a few kilometres.
Nothing is wrong, your body is being pushed this is your opportunity to go with the flow.
Enjoy yourself.
A credit card or piece of plastic down the back of the shoe can also relieve pressure on the archillies.
 
Ricardo Moretti said:
For the inflammation: I used Votaren and applied as indicated and as necessary and I also used Ibuprofen and ICE - VI-RICES = Voltaren, Ibuprofen-Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Stretch
Click to expand...


I agree! Ask a pharmacist about using Voltaren AND Ibuprofen. High doses of NSAIDs can lead to kidney damage and other issues.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Kanga said:
But sometimes we are not in control. Sometimes we have to accept and be gracious. The Camino is not always the walking one.
Click to expand...
Well said!

I admire perseverance and stoicism as much as the next person, but let's not be foolish! Follow the wise and practical advice about getting rest, nutrition and medical care, but the camino is not a heroic deed that you should risk your welfare for! Better to learn humility than to feed your ego.
 
Hello, That little voice is your sub conscious mind over riding your conscious mind.
It happens to lots of people in lots of circumstances.
Think positive , be positive .
I walked the Camino Frances back in 2019 left sjpp April 2nd first day I struggled after twenty k over Pyrenees.
It was snowing and cold windy other pilgrims were walking past me as I sat in the cold sleet it was getting late too, I told myself if I stop I'm going to die out here tonight in the cold.
So I just got up and walked but by bit.
And made it to the monastery .
Every day after that got better, but I suffered the worst blisters on the Camino in April 2019 and a egg shaped lump popped out my right knee.
Had to find myself a walking stick that I used.

The Camino is a marathon and it's mental more than physical.
I walked into Santiago three weeks later and sat in the square by the cathedral had a private cry of emotion.
But once your there and you haven't cheated yourself by using public transport like so many do.
You can collect your Compostela with pride and achievement and honesty.
It's a real good feeling.
I walked on to muxia and world's end after Santiago.
I walked the central Portuguese route from Lisbon a month later and the English way from ferrel.
I've just walked the greater Ridgeway across southern England.
It gets better believe me.
It's a lonely walk sometimes but it's your walk no one else's.
Your mind your thoughts your struggles.
Your achievement.
 
Well said. Its a pilgrimage:
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. From Wikipedia

sounds exactly like my experience on the camino.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I found that setting smaller goals throughout the day helped me to include enough rest time and walk farther.

I was finding that my feet were maxing out at the 20kms mark and I was struggling to carry on.

I started walking in 10 kilometre stages followed by a 30-45 minute break. I tried to time the breaks with a nice place to sit for a coffee or lunch but I stuck to the 10kms distance.

By keeping the distances short and the breaks consistent, I found my body enjoyed the journey more and my feet were able to keep up.

I wasn't allowing my body enough breaks during the day.
 
Peterexpatkiwi said:
Ok, @Sssnek, your first post was on Monday, you posted that you loved some of the early suggestions and we're going to act on them but I don't recall having seen anything from you since?
How are you doing?
Click to expand...
Here’s the view walking out of Grañón (Today is day 13)


Thank you all. Some of this made me tear up. The Camino is HARD! But it is already the most moving thing I’ve ever done.

The Achilles is a bit better, I got a compression sleeve and something made of unicorn tears called diclokern from the farmacia. Stretching early and often!! I’m limiting the length of my days a bit for now unless I get to the end and want to do another last little push.

I’m still not sure why I’m doing this. My reasons originally don’t seem to fit, and new reasons have popped up. For now I’m just feeling happy to be here.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Great picture, fantastic to hear that you still on the trail. Suspected as much but still... . Happy to hear that the leg has responded well enough for you to continue, take it easy and you will get there.
Sssnek said:
I’m still not sure why I’m doing this. My reasons originally don’t seem to fit, and new reasons have popped up. For now I’m just feeling happy to be here.
Click to expand...
The last sentence says it all really, doesn't it! You may not know the WHY for months yet. If ever. Do you really need a reason -isn't it enough just simply to be for once? Continue as you are, enjoy and "Live in the moment" as others are so fond of saying.
 
I wrote down this thought I had last year:
“Perhaps the Camino is not about finding the answer to a question, but is just about better understanding or defining the question you need to answer.”
DBC, Sahagun, May 2022.
 
DBC said:
I wrote down this thought I had last year:
“Perhaps the Camino is not about finding the answer to a question, but is just about better understanding or defining the question you need to answer.”
DBC, Sahagun, May 2022.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the premise of Douglas Adams when he revealed that the answer to the ultimate question about Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42.

Adams also mentions: "There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened."

I find this line of thinking surprisingly comforting.
 
Download free today.
Holoholo automatically captures your footpaths, places, photos, and journals.
I know this is after the fact.
I usually found that Estrella was the place I took my first rest day (I usually took 2,3 between SJPdP and SdC). The town is lovely, I could use a hot bath and a private room at that point, and taking a rest allowed me to remember why I was walking in the first place instead of just thinking about my physical condition. Estrella provides a good mental break for me.
 
Camino Cleanup Program & Retreat
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
Peterexpatkiwi said:
I was just in the process of typing exactly the same thing! It [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series] was quite a movie.....
Click to expand...
And before it was a movie it was a TV series, and before that a series of novels, and before that a BBC Radio comedy, and several other formats in between including a computer game that Douglas Adams helped write.
 
You are here to enjoy the journey
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Hi, @Sssnek , pretty much a week done since you last posted, how's it going? Have you taken a rest day yet, or are you still just plodding along?
 
2024 edition: The Brierley Camino Frances Guide
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
Hello!! I took another rest day in Burgos. I was on the fence because I felt I mostly needed it for mental reasons, so of course right before Burgos my left Achilles began to ache like the right one had. Easy decision after that.

I’m now settling in at Carrión de Los Condes at Day 20, on track for a ~45 day Camino. It’s longer than I thought I’d take, but only doing 20-25km per day has been such a relief on my muscles and mind.

In a frustrating twist of fate though, I am going to have to visit the farmacia this afternoon to see what I should do about a potentially infected blister
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Sssnek said:
I’m now settling in at Carrión de Los Condes at Day 20, on track for a ~45 day Camino. It’s longer than I thought I’d take, but only doing 20-25km per day has been such a relief on my muscles and mind.
Click to expand...
This is why I always advise people, especially for a first Camino, to budget significantly more time than they think they might need. You never know until you are walking what the right daily distance will be for you. When I was walking with my teenage son we realized that a number of consecutive 25+ km days resulted in terrible blisters but walking under 25 km/day kept them at bay. Or you never know if you might be laid up for a few days with tendinitis or some such. The last thing you want to do when recovering from a medical condition brought on by pushing your body too hard is to find yourself forced to take long days racing to Santiago to catch a plane.

If you find yourself not needing the extra time, with plenty of time left over, there is plenty to see and do in Spain.
 
Sssnek said:
Also I finished the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy a couple days ago, A+ camino audiobook.
Click to expand...
Now that could make an interesting new thread - Camino audiobook suggestions . Not something that I've ever indulged in, but I know many that do.
You'll have to start making a list!

On another note I hope that you can get your blister easily sorted.

So long as you have the time it really doesn't matter how many days the Camino takes you - as is oft repeated, it is not a race. It's far better to do it at your own pace and benefit from it than try and complete it in somebody else's time frame - or even what you thought you could do - and struggle the whole way. Regardless as to whether that is for your body, your mind or both.
It is one of the problems with the sheer amount of information available on the Camino, we all end up setting expectations for ourselves. And unless you have already walked one or two long distance walks - by that I mean over a week- you really have no idea how your body or your mind is going to cope.

Unless you are one of the lucky ones you may never have this chance again. You are already clearly learning from it and and apparently enjoying at least some parts of it, it's great to see you making the most of it.

We really appreciate your updates, it helps us armchair guides to feel like we're still in contact with the Way...
 
Best lightweight Camino guides
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
Peterexpatkiwi said:
We really appreciate your updates, it helps us armchair guides to feel like we're still in contact with the Way...
Click to expand...
This is a lovely point. I’m 23 and pretty often get the feeling that people older than me think my generation talks about ourselves too much. I happen to think I have one or two worthwhile things to say! Regardless, I appreciate this perspective and am more than happy to share that I woke up a total grump this morning, cried before the sun even came up, and then walked for five hours with a couple who absolutely turned my day around. The magic of the Camino is alive and well.

The infected blister feels a little bit of a malevolent move by the universe, but as we see in Hitchhiker’s Guide, everything has an impact on everything else. Perhaps next I will be abducted by aliens specifically to study whatever grossness is happening on my toe. Maybe I’ll get to the end of the Camino and write a bestselling novel that features blisters prominently. Hard to say
 
Sssnek said:
whatever grossness is happening on my toe.
Click to expand...
Maybe it's an alien colony??

Sssnek said:
I’m 23 and pretty often get the feeling that people older than me think my generation talks about ourselves too much.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I get that a lot too. Hah, but in my case they're probably right,!
You be you.

You're doing pretty damn good for a 23 year old, all too many people - regardless of age- just up and quit at the first hint of real adversity.
Glad you had such a wonderful day.
 
Last edited:
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Peterexpatkiwi said:
You've forgotten TV series, text game, comic books , stage show and film ! Not sure if I've missed anything,; let's just say it was extremely successful!
Click to expand...
I haven't forgotten those. But I don't think they were in this particular chain. The print book was based on the radio play. The TV series etc. came later. The audiobook is clearly directly derived from the print book.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

L
  • Tags mental challenge
    • Neurodiversity on the Camino
    2
    Replies
    110
    Views
    7K
    Robo
  • Tags mental challenge
    • PTSD on the Camino
    Replies
    38
    Views
    4K
    60LifeChange
    SJPDP to Logroño, skipping Pamplona advice needed
    Replies
    17
    Views
    2K
    Apalter
    4th Camino Experience (with some photos)
    Replies
    10
    Views
    2K
    aussie62
    A
    LIVE from the Camino Back on the Camino: Sarria > Finisterre > Muxia
    Replies
    3
    Views
    1K
    Lhollo
    Menu
    Log in
    Register