Category: el camino de santiago

Camino Danger

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When I tell people about my hike on the El Camino de Santiago, many people think I’m nuts to walk across a country following arrows, alone, especially being a woman. Yes, nuts is a good way to describe the Camino. But the second reaction is usually one of worry, followed by a, “Isn’t that dangerous?” And again the answer is, yes.

People have died, usually in the mountains after unpredictable weather. It is rare, but it happens. Many get injured after overusing their bodies outside normal activities. Most get epic blisters. On my last Camino, I experienced light degrees of all of the above.

However, this Camino has presented a new set of dangers, most of which involve self destruction and nothing to do with the actual Camino.

Danger #1: Bunk beds. Yup, I very gracefully ate it while descending a top bunk before I even started the Camino. It took a couple days for the bruise to reach its current glory. Then on the first day of walking, my foot hurt a bit from the unsuccessful dismount. Fortunately, that has gone away. I’ve also been lucky enough to get bottom bunks the last few days. However, I have managed to hit my head Every. Single. Day.

Danger #2: Hiking poles. Yesterday, I thought I was being cool with my hiking poles and pretty much tripped over them, almost landing on my face. Thank God, no one was around. Can you imagine the story if I’d hurt or broken something? Bonus danger: be careful when sitting down with extended poles in your hand. You’re libel to bop your head like I have (several times).

Danger #3: Hot Water. I prayed there would be hot water as I stepped in the shower. I turned it on, draped the head over my right shoulder (ugh, European showers) so the water hit my chest. It was warm. Then someone flushed the toilet. It took 1/2 second for it to turn scalding, nearly burning the flesh off my chest. I’m still surprised I don’t have a blister.

And if that wasn’t enough, here are a couple Homer Simpson moments:

Doh #1: For hours I’d been trying to a shower, but there was only one for 30 of us. So, I grabbed my stuff and decided to sit next to the door. I tried the door, knocked, no one answered, but I thought I heard some rustling. After 15 minutes, I knocked and tried the door again. It opened and no one was there. Doh! I told this story to a guy from South Africa who laughed hysterically and promised to remember this story always. :/

Doh #2: I have excellent equipment this time around. Today was the first rainy day, and I simply pulled out my backpack rain cover only to have my Camelbak spring a leak and soak my clean, dry, change of clothes. Doh!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my mishaps.

Sincerely,
The Camino Klutz

The Camino: Hopes and Fears of a Cancer Survivor

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As featured on curetoday.com



“May your choices reflect your hopes and dreams, not your fears.” -Nelson Mandela
I’ve found that I must be very intentional to not let fear paralyze my life. When it does creep in, I quickly switch to my gratitude list, taking one moment at a time and reminding myself of Mandela’s quote.

In 2012, I completed half of the El Camino de Santiago (or simply, “the Camino”), a 500-mile path across the northern part of Spain that people (called pilgrims) have been walking for over a thousand years. Camino means “path” in Spanish, and there are several of them throughout Europe that all end at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, only a few miles shy of the Atlantic coast, which was once thought to be the end of the world. The origins of the walk are religious, but people do it nowadays for all kinds of reasons and purposes. I have been blessed to have done a fair amount of traveling in my life, but the Camino is one of my most treasured chapters. For years, I have been wanting to go back to finish the pilgrimage, but there was always a reason to put it off until next year, when the circumstances would seem right. But when next year isn’t guaranteed, your entire thought process changes.

Last summer, I made some new friends who were getting ready to go to Spain to walk the El Camino de Santiago. Being around them as they contemplated equipment, logistics and the physicality of walking 10 to 20 miles a day was a bittersweet emotion. I could not bare the thought of never finishing the journey I began, and I swore to myself that as soon as I was healthy again, I would complete the Camino. So after finishing chemo and recovering from my second abdominal surgery, I put it on the calendar. I began buying equipment and telling people about my trip, but still part of me was holding back. I knew it was a risk, but I scheduled my departure one week after a check-up and results appointment. I did this because I wanted to go with my doctor’s blessing and to be told I was was good for another three months.

However, like many cancer survivors, I’ve developed a bit of a doomsday syndrome. I bought all my stuff from REI, but left the tags on. Fear. I bought travel insurance so I’d be reimbursed when I was told I shouldn’t go. Fear. I wrote this post and held it back until I got the all clear from my doctor. Fear.

All of those acts of fear were completely useless because my scans were clear. As I complete my final draft of this article, I’m excited to be sitting on a flight to Paris. I’ll be spending three weeks making my way through France and Switzerland visiting family and friends who I haven’t seen in over two years due to not being able to travel while I was sick. Then on May 16th, I’ll head to Spain where I’ll spend the next three weeks literally walking across a country, landing in Santiago de Compostela somewhere around June 2.

Cheers to living out hopes and dreams!

To read all of my articles with Cure, click here.

The Bluebird Cafe Reading: The Ordinary World

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On Sunday, I read at the legendary Bluebird Cafe as part of a show, My 2nd Act: Survivor Stories from the Stage.

I’ve been somewhat speechless over the day which was full of many overwhelming emotions, so rather than try to describe an indescribable experience, I’ll just share the video of my essay, The Ordinary World.

To follow my upcoming journey on the El Camino de Santiago, sign up on the right for email updates or check back here. I leave tomorrow (eek!) and will be making my way to Spain via France and Switzerland for some much needed fun before I begin the Camino in Leon, Spain on May 18th.

To read about my first experience on the El Camino de Santiago, check out my blogs from 2012:
Why I’m Kicking Italy to the Curb
Ready, Set, Vamos
Day 1 on the Camino
4 Days to Pamplona
Getting into the Camino Groove
Camino Highs and Lows
Coming Full Circle in Burgos

To learn more about the El Camino de Santiago, check out American Pilgrims on the Camino website.

For even more inspiration, check out the nine other women who shared their stories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQqrfxhhpofj8XKY0TskQ7T0SoclPtrGl

Thank you!