We have just spent the last two and a half days traveling from Sens to Sérignan in the south of France. We had originally planned a few stops along the way, but rain, wind and chilly temps kept us pointed south in a rather zippy manner. We have landed at an aire about 100 meters from the Mediterranean, although I doubt very much we will spend any time at the beach. It is cold in France, even in the south!
We will be in our new place for a couple of weeks. It’s a teeny bit bare, although we have everything we could want. Such is the nature of things in the off-season when grey skies make everything seem a little ratty and dull. We are happy to be there, though, because a lot has been going on.
At the top of my list of things to do is planning and training for my upcoming walk in April on the Camino Portuguese. The idea of this walk has been stewing for a long time, but things have really taken off in an exciting way, so I thought I’d bring you up to date on what’s been happening.
It wasn’t long after Steven and I finished our walk on the Via Francigena last April that I already knew I wanted to walk another Camino. Unfortunately, Steven had no desire at all, because he had really suffered with his plantars fasciitis. The thought of more long-distance walking almost made him want to cry, such is the pain he experienced on the VF. So I knew I’d have to either walk by myself, or find someone else to walk with me.
Part of the difficulty in convincing people to walk a Camino is the sheer distance and the time it takes to complete it. Not everyone is interested in walking day after day for five or six weeks, carrying a pack and staying in hostels. I can’t imagine why, but it just doesn’t appeal to some people! Planning and walking a Camino can be intimidating for those doing it for the first time, and it’s not a cheap endeavor, either.
If I had my way, I would have walked the Camino Norte, one of the more difficult routes that takes at least six weeks to complete. But since I was looking for others to join me, I figured a shorter, somewhat easier route would be more appealing, especially to those who had not done any long-distance walking. That’s when I began to focus on the Camino Portuguese. I put out some feelers and to my surprise, I actually got mostly positive responses (and a couple of “Hell, no!”, you know who you are…)
Once the holidays were behind us, planning began in earnest as our Camino Crew came together to form a fabulous group of five ladies who have committed to taking on this Camino adventure. Before I introduce you to the crew, here’s some fun facts:
- We have all traveled extensively, including having spent a combined 27 years on the road, living and traveling fulltime in an RV.
- Four of us currently live in Europe, the fifth in Arizona.
- We are all American citizens, but three have dual citizenship, including Danish, British and Irish.
- There are at least five languages spoken among us, (though I am the only one who speaks native Texan).
- One in our group is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Fun, right? So without further ado, let me introduce you to our wonderful Camino crew!
Nina Fussing
Nina currently lives in France and is the writer behind the popular blog WheelingIt. She walked the Camino Frances last year and when she finished I let her know that if she was looking to do another one, I was available. The rest is history. Nina and I are the only ones of the group to have walked previously, the others are all Camino newbies!
Kate Gilbert
Nina brought Kate into the group, so I have not met her in person (unless you count the yakky back-to-back Zoom meeting the crew had a few days ago) but I know her through her blog, Tales from the Scenic Route. Kate currently lives in Spain on the Costa del Sol.
Erin Doherty-Ratay
You may remember when I wrote about Erin and her husband, Chris, in our post on Budapest. Erin had said at the time that she would like to do a Camino, so when I was thinking of putting a group together, she immediately came to mind. When I asked if she was interested, she was enthusiastically all in and I was thrilled! I thought even if it turned out to be just Erin and me, we were going to have a blast! It is Erin and her husband, Chris, who are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having circumnavigated the globe traveling the longest distance as a team, on motorcycles!
Cindy Pender Guell
Cindy has been my best friend for more than five decades. We met in middle school in Tripoli, Libya, where both of our fathers worked for the same oil company. Following ninth grade we went to TASIS, the American School in Switzerland. In our early 20s we both returned to Libya to work, only to be evacuated from the country when American hostages were taken in Iran. Our evacuation was not immediate, we had time to decide where to go. We used to sit at Cindy’s kitchen table with a pot of tea and a map and dream up all the places we’d like to go. I can’t say it ever crossed our minds to walk a Camino, but here we are!
I never thought I’d actually be walking without Steven, but I have to say that I am incredibly excited to be a part of this great group of women and I am looking forward to spending a couple of weeks together, sharing the challenge and the joy of walking the Camino Portuguese.
Stay tuned!
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Awesome!
I think so, too, Rita! So excited to have this adventure!
What an exciting adventure! Having you and Nina leading the group with all your experience will make it terrific for all. Looking forward to reading all about it.
I’m actually in the process of reading your blogs from the very beginning, and all I can say is, wow! How you got to where you are now is quite a story! Very impressive. Time for you to write a book. You and Steven both write so well and with Steven’s incredible photos and art, it would be a sure hit.
What a commitment you are taking on to be reading our blog from the beginning! Before we started blogging on this format, we wrote another 115 posts on the site, “My Trip Journal” under the name, “Future Tripping”. That one starts in March of 2009 and goes into detail about how we got started thinking about the full timing life. I’m just throwing that out there in case you think you need more to read, lol.
Super happy to have you along for the Camino journey! I think it is going to be a lot of fun for all of us!
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Lucky you! Looking forward to hearing your tales 🙂
Fortunate, indeed! Glad to have you along for the adventure!
Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!
Nina
Exciting stuff! I am so happy with the crew that came together for this crazy adventure!
Colour me envious …I long to walk again!
I did the Portuguese Caminho a few years ago and it is magical. If I did it again I would opt to go the coastal route where the trail divides. We did the original route but there is a long stretch of it along a very busy highway and in inclement weather it was challenging.
The other thing I did was elect to have my accommodation pre-booked along with luggage transfers. I used this company – https://www.portugalgreenwalks.com/activities/portuguese-camino-last-100km/ – who were absolutely wonderful!! I can’t speak highly enough of their services for not a lot of money…they also tailor make whatever trip you want to do…just saying 😉
Buen caminho y’all xx
I love hearing that others who have walked the CP enjoyed it. We are doing a combination of routes, which we will talk about in a future post. My goal is always to carry my pack as long as I am able. We are hoping to experience community stays and dinners as well as a few luxury stays. Thanks for the link to the company you used, it’s good to have the information!
Are you sure y’all can’t delay this for a year? Just one year. Come on, man!!! Do it for me!!!!!
Fine, fine.
I am super bummed, though, because this looks like a fantastic group of women. You guys are gonna have a terrific time in my adopted country and I can’t wait to read all about it!
Happy walking!!
Well, the good news is you have a little over a year to buy your gear and get yourself into shape for the Camino del Norte!! It’s gonna be epic! 🙂
I’m excited to follow along and may I say I’m also a bit jealous?! Five intrepid women following their hearts! Can’t wait!
Aww, I like the way you put that, Joyce. A Camino certainly is a “follow your heart” endeavor!
What a great group of women you have collected for your next Camino adventure!!!..it’s going to be quite the ‘pilgrimage’..can’t wait to ‘ride’ along !
I know, right? We certainly won’t run out of things to talk about! 🙂 Glad to have you along, Sue!
What a great time you will have! If my circumstances were a bit different I’d have to join you! With my father being Portuguese, it’s a place I want to see!
I did not know your father is Portuguese, I thought your whole family was Italian! I know you are staying close to home for now, but hopefully you have a Camino in your future!
I’ll be with you in spirit – promise! You are going to have such an amazing experience with these fun women.