15th of May – Should this be a Solo Journey

by | May 15, 2015 | Blog, Emotional, Gallery, Reflections | 11 comments

Some Camino Reflections

 

As I’m walking through this beautiful countryside today, I’m just reflecting on whether my decision was right to make this a solo journey.  Again!

I think for me at this particular time, it was the right decision. Of course everyone walks the Camino at different stages of their life, and for many different reasons.

I’m enjoying the solitude, perhaps the rather selfish aspect of just being in the moment and not needing to worry about other people’s needs.

But there are certainly times when I would dearly love my wife Pat to be with me to share this experience.

In this beautiful countryside just to stop a under shady tree for a shared picnic, to share our thoughts as we make this journey together.

Perhaps to make the whole journey with a significant other, would create a very different Camino than the one I’m experiencing now.

But I think at some point we’ll make at least part of this journey together in the future.

 

Solo Journey

Solo Journey

 

Happy Birthday to Me….

 

I’m not really one to celebrate birthdays.  I gave them up when I reached 40 🙂  Some weird notion about not wanting to celebrate getting old!

 

But today I felt like celebrating in this beautiful old town of Castrojeriz.   So I did.  Twice 🙂

 

I had lunch with a delightful Irish couple (you know who you are) whom I had met a few times along the way and we polished off a bottle of red as we ate in a wonderful basement dining room of an old Inn.  I then tottered back to my Hotel to rest a bit.

And them at Dinner I decided to eat in the Hotel, which was a wise decision.  I had the company of three American Pilgrims over dinner.  And as we eased our way through yet another bottle (or two) of fantastic Red Wine, the conversations got deeper and more fascinating.

Again I met up with these lovely people a few times along the way, I think eventually parting finally Portomarin.

 

People often refer to walking the Camino as ‘Speed Dating on Steroids’.

It’s actually quite a good description I think.   Not in a dating sense, but in meeting lots of people in a short space of time and having really intense conversations with relative strangers.

Perhaps it’s because ‘pilgrims’ walking the Camino are relaxed and open to new adventures and people.  And both of these are to be found in abundance.  I suppose there is a shared experience too that brings people together.  And you also find a camaraderie, and mutual support structure develops like no other I have experienced.

I wonder what Psychiatrists and Sociologists make of the whole thing 🙂

 

 

 

2015 Daily Posts

11 Comments

  1. Dave

    Happy Birthday Rob ! Have you tried the chilled fino sherry yet with your tapas ?

    Reply
    • Rob

      Thanks Dave. Not tried the Sherry yet…..but something similar.

      Reply
  2. Dave

    The ‘where is Rob’ function shows you in Fromista already – excellent progress. I’m following you on the Camino de Frances Route map, so I guess next stop is Carrion de Los Condes ?

    Reply
    • Rob

      Correct. Just having Tapas in Fromista. Carrion tomorrow.

      A couple of long days coming up. So may take a rest day in Leon..

      Reply
  3. Rob

    Just found a great massage place ! Foot massage is heaven….

    Reply
  4. Rory

    Happy birthday Dad.
    Looks like you have made some serious kilometers on your progress map, well done and great blog.
    We will be following your run to the finish. proud of you.

    Rory + Jonalyn

    Reply
    • Rob

      Thanks Guys…. serious km, serious food, serious wine….

      Reply
  5. Dan

    Happy Birthday Rob,

    So glad you are enjoying yourself.!!!!

    Reply
    • Rob

      Thanks mate. Hard not to enjoy this journey Dan!

      Reply
  6. Mal

    Hi Rob, Sounds like you have a good time of solitude and restoration. Enjoy the journey. You blog notes are great. cheers
    Mal

    Reply
    • Rob

      Thanks Mal. It’s an interesting journey. But a long one!

      Reply

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