Update on our Camino Plans

On this, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, it seems opportune to post an update on our Camino plans, or lack thereof. Back in 2018, we started making plans for a 2020 Camino. The basic idea is that I would start in Saint-Jean, and Francine would rent an apartment in Burgos or, more probably, Santiago, where she could do some research and writing on her Camino novel.

We’d meet up and spend a day at various places we specifically wanted to research, including Roncesvalles, Burgos, León, and Astorga. We’d most likely walk some sections together, certainly including the last 100km.

Well, due to some work issues, it appears that we’re not going to bring this plan to fruition this year. To say we’re disappointed is an understatement.

Our brief Camino from O Cebreiro in the autumn of 2018 was supposed to hold us over for two years. So to keep us engaged and to keep us walking, we’ve decided to walk the “long Camino” in Tacoma.

Basically, we’re walking every day, and we’re recording our kilometers on a chart with planned Camino days from Lourdes – there’s the connection to today – and Santiago.

This morning, for instance, we left the town of Arudy and walked 5km, which more or less brings us to the village of Buzy. It’s fun, and it keeps us walking. Mind you, it took us six “Tacoma days” to walk our first “Camino day” from Lourdes to Asson, but that’s what happens when you can’t do it full time.

In addition to this, we’re taking our hospitalero training and attending the annual convention of the American Pilgrims on the Camino in March.

So what does 2021 look like? Well, it’s a Jacobean Holy Year, so the Camino is bound to be more crowded than we’d like. Having said that, Francine has mentioned walking at least from Sarria to obtain the indulgence for her late mother, as she did for her father in 2016. Who knows?

Any attempt at the “long Camino” will probably have to wait until 2022 at this point, which is a thing that depresses me. I’m definitely feeling the need for a Camino right about now.