My wingwoman stayed away but I won’t let her off with it as today it’s all about Waspish Wendy and my final Camino take-aways.
The self-styled ‘Mrs Always Right’ mooted joining up with us, that’s Big Brother Ed and I, on our Camino Portugues.
But in the end she wished us well from a safe distance.
But not before leaving me with a stinger… ‘watch out for the wasps’!
On account of our first stop-off on our Camino Frances in 2015.
And reminded me of it as she followed my Camino Portugues travails this time.
All of which in a kinda wending Way brings me to my takeaways from my two Caminos over 11 years.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Less is more: And even if your provider Camino Ways do most of the heavy lifting for you, taking your luggage from stop to stop.
You will need a rucksack on your walk for waterproofs, and keep them foldaway into pouches to lighten your load.
And a spare pair of socks if yours get damp in the woods.
Water bottles, sweeties, fruit, a map (even in this digital age, and chargers), a wide-rimmed hat and first-aid kit.
And, of course your Camino passport and border document on your person alongside your mobile, wallet… and bandana.
Timing is, erm… everything
Connections, connections, connections: And this relates more to the Via Francigena in Italy in my experience.
When I discovered the limitations of my interconnecting train to my starting point in Viterbo, 100km from Rome.
With it stopping halfway and me only finding out from a random English-speaker of a bus that leaves in the early hours.
All of which meant I had a four-hour lay-off in a one-horse town where the horse had left and did not get into Viterbo until 1am.
A Buen Camino goes a long way
Hola, ola: OK, we might not all be polyglots but there’s little excuse these days not to converse in people’s own language.
If you prefer to keep it real then take your physical translation books.
While, of course, your phone will likely have a translation facility on it.
Now there’s always the capacity to get it wrong as in when The Scary One got her Yamas (cheers) and Hamas mixed up in Rhodes.
But the locals will invariably just be glad that you’ve tried.
And, of course, a Buen Camino is a welcome hug on the road.
Or a polite way of saying you’re coming through.
Tech it in your stride
Screen if you like: But nobody will hear you in the dark.
Only that’s not quite right as I discovered when Big Brother Ed, in the next room, rumbled me.
For effjng and blinding at my blinds that I couldn’t pull down in Padron on our penultimate day.
Eleven years has brought big digital changes.
And while I had sheets of papers with directions in my Camino package back then now it’s all on the portal.
Only you won’t need your Google Maps (famous last words).
As the yellow arrows and scallop shells posts will guide you on your way.
The world has changed too since Covid and you may have to scan menus on your phone now.
While Ryanair requires you check in on their app and use your phone at their machines for tagging your luggage.
All of which means you should leave more time at the airport.
Particularly if you’re one of those pariahs with a British passport.
We all walk the same Way
No man or woman is left behind: Now despite the bright yellow signs I defy you not to take a wrong turn somewhere.
And that’s when those who live and work along the Way come into their own.
Whether that be a driver or a woman hanging her washing out of the window.
While, of course peregrinos, or pilgrims, will always have your back, and backpack when you’re struggling.
Eleven years on and I’m right back where I was on the Camino Frances with Waspish Wendy and Rikke with a simple Buen Camino.
It will be the same now with Aussies Allan and Peter.
Big Brother Ed I have known 60 years.
And judging by what we’ve still got left in our legs a good many years to come and Caminos to walk.
