Planning Your Camino: Preparing "The Way"

By Beverley A. Robson

After completing 1400 kilometres of walking two different Caminos in Spain and in Portugal, I knew I had to share my love of these journeys through a book. I have never written a book before this one. I have attempted many, but the inspiration was never as intense as now.
There are so many books about the Camino that one would wonder why another one is necessary. All the books I could get my hands on regarding this subject were written about the authors personal journey or were written strictly as travel guides.
I was inspired to write something different, so I wrote a preparation guide.
I want to whet your appetite for your Camino journey. In addition, I want to help you cover all the details, large and small, in your planning so that your Camino will be safe and successful.
Everything that is written here, in this guide for planning your trip, comes from lessons I have learned in preparing for and completing my Caminos. I have supplied you with information you need before you go and information that is good to have when you are there.
Much of the information in this book is similar to what you will find on various web sites that are dedicated to El Camino. The advantage of using this book to plan is that all the information you need is within these pages. In addition to the general information, I have gone one step further and supplied you with essential tips for packing, travelling, eating, finding your bed and much more that the web sites do not provide.
Enjoy your preparations, and...
Buen Camino!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456733193

Beverley A. Robson

Beverley Robson is a member of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims. Beverley has been what she likes to call, “Active by Nature” for over 30 years. She is 63 years young as of February 2011. In 2009 she walked her first Camino across the Camino Frances from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. In 2010 she participated in a fund raising event to raise money for women and children in the third world by walking 100 kilometres in just over 25 hours. She was the first woman over 60 to cross the finish line and she and her team raised almost $6,000.00 for the event. Also in 2010 Beverley walked her second Camino from Porto in Portugal to Santiago and back. The return journey she did alone. She is planning another Camino in the summer of 2011. “Preparing Your Camino” is her first book. Beverley lives in Cavan, Ontario, Canada.

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© 2011 Beverley A. Robson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 2/7/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3319-3 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3320-9 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011901711

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This guide is dedicated to all those who take on The Way

And to my dear husband John for his willingness to help me grow.

I took on a Camino pilgrimage and my life will never be the same.

Told to me by many Pilgrims along The Way

Preface

After completing 1400 kilometres of walking two different Caminos in Spain and in Portugal, I knew I had to share my love of these journeys through a book. I have never written a book before this one. I have attempted many, but the inspiration was never as intense as now.

There are so many books about the Camino that one would wonder why another one is necessary. All the books I could get my hands on regarding this subject were written about the author’s personal journey or were written strictly as travel guides.

I was inspired to write something different, so I wrote a preparation guide. I want to whet your appetite for your Camino journey. In addition, I want to help you cover all the details, large and small, in your planning so that your Camino will be safe and successful.

Everything that is written here in this book comes from lessons I have learned in preparing for and completing my Caminos. I have supplied you with information you need before you go and once you are there, based on my own experiences and those of others I met on the trails.

Much of the information in this book is similar to what you will find on various web sites that are dedicated to El Camino. The advantage of using this book to plan is that all the information you need is in these pages. In addition to the general information, I have gone one step further and supplied you with essential tips for packing, travelling, eating, finding your bed and much more that the web sites do not provide.

Enjoy your preparations, and…

Buen Camino!

Walking

I am walking with my Mother

I am walking with my Dad

I am walking with the Angels and the friends I’ve always had.

I am walking with my Spirit

I am walking with my Soul

I am walking the Camino

Santiago is my goal.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction:

Experiencing the Camino de Santiago

Your Purpose

Your Attitude

A note for cyclists

A note for campers

A note regarding an off season journey (November to March)

The People of the Camino

Safety on The Camino:

Considering Your Start Point

Getting There

Money For and On Your Trip:

Your Main Gear

Your Backpack

Your Footwear

Your Sleeping Bag

Planning Your Packing List:

Clothing:

Raingear:

Gaiters:

Walking Sticks:

Pocket Knife:

Flashlight or Head Lamp

Your Trip Journal:

Camera:

Voltage Adapter:

Personal care articles:

First Aid Items:

Cell Phones:

Miscellaneous Items:

Papers, Documents and Important Cards:

The Pilgrim Passport

Maps and Travel Guide Books

Travelling Alone Or With A Group?

The Community of Pilgrims

Your Best Bet for Accurate Information Along The Way

Pilgrims Hostels/Albergues/Refugios:

Signing in:

The Beds:

The Kitchens:

Bathrooms and Showers:

Laundry Facilities:

Reading rooms:

Accessing the Internet:

The Pilgrim Etiquette:

Private Hostels and Other Accommodation:

Food on the Camino Frances and the Camino Portuguese:

Making your meals:

Drinking the water:

My treatment of blisters:

Dogs on the Camino:

Santiago

Getting Home

Final Comments

About the Author

Glossary

Introduction:

According to the Google translator, Camino is the Spanish word for trail, path, lane, road, way and journey. The Camino de Santiago, which is the name for all the Caminos that end in Santiago, is all of those things. There are Caminos throughout Europe starting in France, England, Germany, Italy, Holland, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal and as far away as Norway to name a few. All end in Santiago following routes taken by mediaeval pilgrims.

Walking a Camino is like no other walk. As a walker

Reviews for Planning Your Camino

[crosbyc_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A helpful quick-reading little planning guide for the trip. It answered a few of my questions still outstanding after months of planning. Also it confirmed some of my choices for items to pack.