Our topic today is dealing with uncertainty, and I have been thinking about this a lot lately. About two weeks ago I noticed that I was feeling really anxious, super worried, and nervous about the outcome of the upcoming election.

But I won’t be talking about politics because that’s not what we are here for. We are here to get you ready for your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, to inspire you to make that dream a reality. But what about the rest of reality? What about the things going on in the world and in our communities that aren’t so inspiring and are definitely not dream-like?

In this episode I am going to draw some parallels between how we deal with uncertainty in our daily lives and how we deal with uncertainty on the Camino.

If you would like make a donation to support the relief efforts for the recent devastating floods in the Valencia region of Spain, please check out the resources shared by Americans-living-on-the Camino Kelli and Jeff Fields. Here is the specific page on the website: https://vivaespanamovingtospain.com/2024/11/02/valencia-flood-relief/

One of the things I will be doing on election day to find some quiet amidst the noise is a meditative walk on a labyrinth in my neighborhood. led by my friend Mary.

If you are in the Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park, California, area and you would like to join us on Tuesday, November 5, we will be at Doratea Park in Rohnert Park at 5 PM. To get directions on Google maps or similar, use "Donna Ct Rohnert Park."

You can find a labyrinth near you using this tool: https://labyrinthlocator.org/

And to find out more about labyrinths in general, check out this website: https://veriditas.org/

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

My guest today, Kurt, from Palm Springs, California, follows a vegan diet, which is sometimes difficult to do in Spain. But it doesn’t have to define your pilgrimage. He has some great tips for finding vegan and vegetarian food amidst the landscape of pork-based meal options.

Kurt is a fairly speedy walker, and his pace did help define his experiences. And he did something I recommend every first-time pilgrim does and does thoroughly – he trained for the physical challenge of the walk. He is going to share with you how that helped define his experience. Spoiler alert: Training makes a difference!

And he is going to share his perspective on Day One walking on the Francés route, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles in one day – what that experience is like for a first-time pilgrim filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead. What does lie ahead? In a word, the unknown.

How to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience? That’s in this episode, too!

Have you claimed your free Camino Planning Roadmap? How about my Top 10 Camino tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists)?

Get both delivered to your inbox when you join my email list. Here's how to do that: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap

Let's get you off to a successful start!

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Coming to you today with another healthy dose of reality on the Camino Francés. This week you will hear from Melissa, who you met in season 4, episode 10. Melissa had a plan to walk the Camino as a way to reclaim what she remembered as her "bad-ass self from her 20s". Who wouldn’t want that, right?

Melissa had a few surprises along the Way, including a vastly different experience of the meseta than she had expected.

She discovered why you don’t want to rush the start of your pilgrimage and why the end – from Sarria to Santiago – isn’t as bad as people say it is.

Melissa lost a few things and ended up finding even more than she lost.

She almost went home due to illness but by sticking with it she discovered something very significant, which you are going to hear about.

And Melissa is going to share her pro tip for getting a bed at Refuge Orisson, which is one of the places you can stay to break the first giant stage out of Saint Jean Pied de Port into two smaller stages.

Would you like to add a different and unique experience to your pilgrimage and take an easier path up the mountain to O'Cebreiro? You can make that climb on horseback! Reservations are essential.

Contact:

Victor Echeverria v.vigaray@gmail.com

My Camino Experience groups start in Saint Jean Pied de Port on May 10 and September 14. Join me? All the details are here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Day two: plot twist. And that's the day that set the tone for the entire pilgrimage for John and his son.

In this episode, you will hear how John describes the impact of that day as well as lyrics from his Lizard Song, how their rain gear worked out, and what's next for this now-Camino family.

What is it really like to walk the Camino Francés? I will show you - through photos and stories from the trail from this year - in a free mini-webinar coming up soon. And I will share my list of top four ingredients for a successful start on the Camino.

But only if you are on my email list! Join the list and get your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap by following this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap

Full disclosure: This is also a promotional event for my two 2025 Camino Experience groups. Learn more about starting your Camino with Nancy: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

Hope to see you on the 24th!

Listening to this episode after that date? For current information on what Nancy has going on, join the email list and go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Fiona walked the Camino Frances in 2023 and now she is hooked on walking pilgrimages!

This year she took on two new routes, and she has a third one - not a Camino - planned for later this year. And then next year she plans to become a "dual pilgrim" by walking the Kumano Kodo in Japan.

Here are the resources we talk about in this episode:

The Kerry Camino in Ireland, https://www.caminosociety.ie/

Kumano Kodo in Japan, https://www.kumano-travel.com/en/kumano-kodo

Walking the Camino Francés is a huge undertaking. But you don't have to dive into this all on your own. Instead, you can start your journey with a group and then venture out on your own!

Find out how here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group, and registration opens soon for my September 2025 group.

Follow this link to let me know you are interested.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Pastor Rich takes his faith out for a long walk as a way to get to know God and his daughter-in-law better. Along the Way he finds a deeper sense of compassion and an understanding of what it means to walk through pain.

I met Rich through my email list, and I am so glad I did! He brings his kind, gentle spirit to this post-Camino conversatation and shares four words that could change your life.

Starting with my Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually show up on the top 10 lists), and then more Camino-themed info in your inbox every week. To get the tips and get on the list, follow this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/tips

Walking the Camino Francés is a huge undertaking. But you don't have to dive into this all on your own. Instead, you can start your journey with a group and then venture out on your own!

Find out how here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group, and registration opens soon for my September 2025 group.

Follow this link to let me know you are interested.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Kate was pretty clear on why she was walking the Camino. As a nurse, she was feeling beyond burned out after the intensity of pandemic and the huge impact it had on people serving in her profession. She wanted to focus on well-being, and actually discover a deeper meaning of what those words meant. That she did.

In her quest for well-being, Kate discovered what she now recognizes as the Aboriginal practice of "Dadirri", which is the practice of deep inner listening and quiet still awareness that connects us and nurtures spiritual well-being resident in the indigenous people of her home country of Australia.

For a visual introduction to Dadirri, check out this video on YouTube.

Let's get started together!

Join Nancy's next DIY-plus Camino planning program, which starts in October. Our first group planning and coaching call is scheduled for November 7. Get all the details and register here:

https://thecaminoexperience.com/diy-camino/

If you prefer to start your Camino with a small group, and then venture off on your own, consider joining one of Nancy's Camino Experience groups. Registration is now open for the May 2025 group, and early registration begins for the September 2025 wait list on October 7. Details and registration here:

https://thecaminoexperience.com/walk-with-me/

Here is one of my favorite tools to make your stage-by-stage plan on the Camino Francés: https://godesalco.com/

Just a heads up: this tool doesn't include all the alternative paths, so you will want to consult a guidebook or app and adjust your plan to be sure you don't miss any of those.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Chad has now walked the Francés and Primitivo routes, plus the Camino Portuguese from both Lisbon and Porto. But it's not about how many routes or how many times he has walked. He's not keeping score.

What matters most about pilgrimage? Chad explores this question as well as the role of his shadow on and off the trail.

On his most recent pilgrimage, Chad walked to honor the life of a beloved family-by-choice second son. He shares this story as well as how he brings the Camino back home into his daily life.

Registration is now open for my May 2025 Camino Experience group - only 2 spots left!

Early registration opens for my September 2025 group on October7, and the first 10 people on that wait list are guaranteed a spot in the group.

Find out all about how we get started together and let me know you are interested here.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast