2 weeks to go to my big solo adventure and starting to lose my nerve!

[Twodogsonthecouch]

My brother died very suddenly in his early 40’s 12 years ago. Before he died he had done a number of long solo walking holidays including the Camino from St Jean Pied de Pont to Santiago, so 500 miles.
Ever since it has been my dream to do the same route.
Now I’m 58. My youngest child is in University. I am a partner in work and have very supportive colleagues who will work up while I’m away so on a whim a few weeks ago I decided to go for it. I have booked a single ticket to fly to Biarritz after Easter and have told work I will be gone for 8 weeks. Im going by myself and planning to carry a backpack and wing it because I don’t want to commit to a particular distance each day. I have various friends and family who are coming to join me wherever I am at different times so it should be fantastic and I am very excited.
I’m also getting a bit terrified though. Mainly about the walking. I’m reasonably fit and have done a few 16-18 km hill walks in the past few weeks to prepare but I’m overweight and have menopausal aches and pains and scared I will not be able for it. I have allowed myself an extra 2 weeks to the usual but that still means an average of 15km daily for 8 weeks. I’m telling myself that I will get fitter as I walk.
Am I mad? Reassurance needed 🤯

It will be amazing!

There will be tough times, but you will get through them and it will be all the more satisfying for it.

I've been on a few solo holidays but haven't dared to just wing it when I get there.

You will be fine. Do plan to take breaks and time off if you need. Be especially careful on the hilly days. Take ibuprofen.

I did the Camino de Finisterre (from Santiago to Finisterre) last year. I personally did find it reassuring to book ahead so I knew I had a bed each night. It took some of the uncertainty out of it and there is still plenty of time to do that, even if just for the first few nights.

8 weeks of walking is a long time. You may find if you aren't used to the daily walking that you start to get sore. Muscle soreness and stiffness is fine. Be mindful of actual injuries. I have an old knee injury that flared up towards the end (I did only a week of walking, but this was a particularly long and hilly day - about 21 miles). I should have broken the day into two and rested, but I had to finish up and get my flight home.

You will be absolutely fine though. Just listen to your body and accept you may need to change plans at various points. It's a wonderful experience though and I would like to go back and do it again on a different camino route.

Crazy as a loon but I’d back you in a horse race

Ah how exciting! Nerves are totally understandable but you will be fine. My dad has done the Camino twice, the second time when he was in his early seventies! He always talks about how wonderful it was and the amazing people he met on the way. One day he fell whilst walking and smashed his face up quite badly and was helped by other pilgrims who he described as angels. Have the best time ❤️

Wow. This sounds absolutely amazing. What an incredible opportunity for you.

You all must have treasured your brother so much to have honoured him like this. ❤️

Do it OP! A good friend of mine did this after we were both made redundant at work. She did it independently but met lots of people on the way. Over the course of the walk she lost about two stone and gained a boyfriend (now husband), many friends and an entire new outlook on life! I did a different trek (Annapurna in Nepal) at the same time and the friends I met there are friends for life. Have an amazing time 😊

My sister did it and had a wonderful time - she was a solo traveller, has dodgy knees too! The only thing she said to keep an eye out for is bed bugs at some of the hostels - she was very bitten. Despite that she absolutely loved it and met lots of people.

Just go at your own pace. If you feel you need to rest - then rest. You will be very proud of yourself when you've done it, and your brother will be in your heart every step of the way, so let that be your strength 💞

I’m absolutely rooting for you, and a little bit in awe!

(And a bit jealous).

Go, OP!

<waves pom-poms>

Buen Camino!

This is a great resource.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/

The walk over the Pyrenees is tough and steep, but once you have plenty of food and water and give yourself many hours (after the overnight in Orisson) you'll make it. You probably know this, but if for some reason that path is closed there is an alternative route to Roncesvalles via Valcarlos.

I'd suggest a mix of albergues and private accommodation. There is nothing like your own room and bath/shower for a night or two now and then.

All the best, and I'll be watching your progress.

Oh I love this OP, what a lovely way to honour your brother's memory. Nerves are completely normal (many people get nervous before a fly-and-flop holiday! It's being away from the familiar) but try to reframe it as excitement. Definitely keep us updated along the way if you are able and want to. I get so inspired by trips like this – the world is big and beautiful and we don't get long to explore it. Enjoy!

I am also a tiny bit jealous OP, I wish I had the courage to do it ! What a great opportunity to honour your brother’s memory. And agree that you need to keep us updated and we can live vicariously through you ! Have an amazing time..

Oh and the best advice I got was if you feel any sort of blister or rubbing on your feet stop and deal with it then

I did the whole thing without a blister !

It'll be amazing. I'm jealous ! Watch out for bed bugs in the auberges. My friend got badly bitten whilst walking.

I am so, so jealous. It's my dream to walk the camino one day. You will be utterly brilliant and I'm sure your brother will be with you every step of the way.

You will have a fantastic time! Good on you for planning it. Loads of people will chat to you on the trail and offer advice, etc. If you get talking to people you can find you've walked miles without even noticing. A bit of a cliché, but they say you only regret the things you don't do. Even if you only do part of it, at least you will have had an adventure!

I found the actual walking on the camino easy, it's mostly surfaced paths and roads, and there are so many people doing it it's pretty impossible to get lost. The first day is a bit steep in places but still not too bad. The thing I found difficult was trying to sleep in a room with loads of other people, on our first night there were about a hundred other people all sleeping in bunk beds! And feeling like you have to rush to get places in order to get a bed. But the scenery is lovely and you will meet lots of nice people. Good luck.

Have a fantastic time. Will definitely be walking it alongside you in my mind. Will you post pictures, please?

Oh, and has anyone suggested wearing two pairs of socks? Helps prevent blisters

Thanks so much everyone. I’m so glad I posted. The enthusiasm is exactly what I needed.
I’m just in from work now so I’m going to go through the messages again and look at all the suggestions.
I’m starting to feel more confident about it all again.
I love the ideas of adapting as I go along to my needs at the time.
I also like the idea of staying in a small hotel every week or so for some privacy and a good sleep.
I’ll definitely keep the thread active if people are interested.
Flying out this day 2 weeks 😮😊

www.thelittlefoxhouse.com I must admit I haven't stayed there but I plan to next time post camino

That sounds absolutely amazing. I’d love to hear about it. We should set up a thread for women travelling solo and we can all live vicariously through each other and inspire each other on.

Ok. I now have a film to watch tonight… have joined 2 facebook groups and bought 2 books for my kindle 😂😂

Have a fantastic time! I'm very jealous and will be cheering you on.

You'll definitely get fitter as you go on. Maybe add a little stretching routine that you can do at the end of each day so you're less stiff.

This has reminded me of why I walked the camino so have booked to do it again in September !
Not the whole thing but a good part of it

Of course you are, that's part of the whole experience.

Come back and tell us how you feel when you have done it - even the things that have gone wrong will feel amazing when you look back on them!