Camino de Santiago

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

[KungFooBob]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Potentially 8 weeks... which could be spent trying to 'complete' X Hamster.

[Count Steer]

Sod walking home by the way, Santiago has its own airport for a reason ffs.

So you can fly in, and walk out.

[Count Steer]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Because you can.

[mangocrazy]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Because you can.

My knees couldn't imagine anything more soul (and cartilage) destroying.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Because you can.

I'd rather spend 6 weeks riding a motorcycle every day - that's what I'd do with 6 weeks off work.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Potentially 8 weeks... which could be spent trying to 'complete' X Hamster.

I once saw...and this is going back more than 25 years I reckon, so the same point is exponentially larger now...a study showing its impossible to read the whole Internet because data is added massively faster than anyone could keep up with it.

I reckon a similar thing applies to Xhamster.

Watch out for them friction burns.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Because you can.

My knees couldn't imagine anything more soul destroying.

You could follow Nigel Farage around on his next spoken word tour for 6 weeks

[Count Steer]

Can I ask why you want to spend 6 weeks of your life walking?

Because you can.

I'd rather spend 6 weeks riding a motorcycle every day - that's what I'd do with 6 weeks off work.

Yes. But we aren't all you.

[KungFooBob]

Because you can.

I'd rather spend 6 weeks riding a motorcycle every day - that's what I'd do with 6 weeks off work.

Yes. But we aren't all you.

Until he completes his Human Instrumentality Project.

[mangocrazy]

Because you can.

My knees couldn't imagine anything more soul destroying.

You could follow Nigel Farage around on his next spoken word tour for 6 weeks

My knees are pretty resistant to Nigel Farage. And he won't be yomping off over scrubby countryside, probably just down the pub. My knees can handle that.

[Mr Moofo]

I've been at the same company for 20 years next month and as a reward I can take a six week, paid sabbatical which I can add two weeks annual leave to. One thing on my bucket list is the Camino de Santiago. Has anyone given it a go? Where did you start? How did you plan it? Why did you do it and would you do it again?

I know someone who has walked it several times, goes out each year to repay bits of it and is about as much a SDC fanboi as you can get. What do you need to know ( other than don't do it January or August).
I once drove the entire length in a car on one day - going from San Sebastian to Vigo ...

[the_priest]

a friend of mine did it in bite size chunks due to being a priest and not being able to take huge amounts of leave (his sabbatical was used for something else). He recommended it, but said, get your shoes right and be used to walking, also ensure you only take what you need. Travel as light as possible, your biggest weight is what you drink.

If you do get to go, take good books on an app, you can rest and read. Some do use a devotional based on the stories from the Bible, but that is your choice. It is a pilgrimage, one that makes a mark on you and perhaps brings you closer to living life to the full in the fulness of Him who gives life to all.

It is something I contemplate doing, but know full well I'd have to toughen up a great deal more or I would be footsore and miserable.

[Trinity765]

Thanks @the_priest That's helpful.

I want to do it because it's a challenge and it's not easy. I think you think differently when you're walking. You notice things you wouldn't normally notice. I'd like to do it in a nomadic way without lots of planned stops but rather walk until I can't anymore and then stop for as long as I need and then carry on. To do that you need lots of time so 8 weeks off work while I'm still fit is the best opportunity I'm going to get. I'm worried about shoes and taking too much but that is part of the challenge.

[Count Steer]

We actually have our own Pilgrims Way too. The main current version goes from Farnham to Canterbury but in older versions Winchester and Folkestone were involved. Again, lots of the original routes are roads so the modern routes are simply 'in the spirit of' and keep to footpaths/bridle paths/byway. I've walked big chunks of the Farnham one but it's tricky doing it as circular walks a day at a time.

I've got some nice routes nearer the south coast like a 'two castles' walk - Arundel/Amberley if you'd like some practice walk ideas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrims%27_Way

[Trinity765]

We actually have our own Pilgrims Way too. The main current version goes from Farnham to Canterbury but in older versions Winchester and Folkestone were involved. Again, lots of the original routes are roads so the modern routes are simply 'in the spirit of' and keep to footpaths/bridle paths/byway. I've walked big chunks of the Farnham one but it's tricky doing it as circular walks a day at a time.

I've got some nice routes nearer the south coast like a 'two castles' walk - Arundel/Amberley if you'd like some practice walk ideas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrims%27_Way

I will really need some practice. The only downside to walking is it's the slowest form of transport so you need a lot of time to do it, time that I haven't had this year. I'll have more time next year so would like to get out more. I've never joined a ramblers club but there are plenty around here and I have a couple of friends at work who roam the downs a lot and they always start and finish at pubs . FWIW I do not see myself buying Nordic walking poles so I hope they're not compulsory.

[Cousin Jack]

If you want a long walk consider the SW Coast path. Long and enough ups and downs to be a challenge, gorgeous scenery, yet always close enough to bail out for a day and sit in a pub if your feet hurt.

[Count Steer]

FWIW I do not see myself buying Nordic walking poles so I hope they're not compulsory.

Definitely not compulsory. (Nor is dressing like you're going up Annapurna for a hike around south-east England, as we often see groups).

I'll admit to using a single pole at times - but not in England unless it's muddy/slippy - and I have got knackered knees. I have used 2 on mountains too but not recently....'cos I haven't climbed any.

[Rockburner]

When I was vanning in 2019 I met up with a friend who was doing the "French" Camino de Santiago (there's several routes into Santiago de Compostella as you might expect). I walked about 2 miles of it to go meet up with her, the path was a well gravelled track but you'd need solid walking boots for it - trainers were NOT strong enough.

The countryside around there was bloody georgeous.
(this was just down the road from where I met up with my friend)

[David]

If you want a long walk consider the SW Coast path. Long and enough ups and downs to be a challenge, gorgeous scenery, yet always close enough to bail out for a day and sit in a pub if your feet hurt.

Read "The Salt Path" by Raynor Wynn.