These "Walking Notes" have been crafted for those who are setting out to walk the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, along the Camino Francs route, from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. They are designed to keep the user from going astray and also are a handy tool for planning each day's walk so one may have the confidence of knowing where they are going at all times. The Notes are easy to read and simple to follow. They concentrate on those sections of the Camino Frances that can be somewhat confusing to walkers - sections that may not be as well-marked, are remote - or, in many cases those sections that may require decisions for the walker to choose alternative routes. "From time to time, we are all lost and maybe just enjoying ourselves too much to be paying that close attention to our surroundings while on Camino. Perhaps we are lost in conversation. Perhaps we are enthralled by a beautiful field of rapeseed, a vineyard of grapes, or the sound of the wind rustling through the wheat and barley of the immense Meseta. Perhaps there are more pressing things on our minds, like the pain of a severe injury, the constant throbbing of bad blisters or the tears of a distressed companion or fellow pilgrim - things that disturb our concentration. Usually, at some point in time, all of us have to stop, re-set the compass, and get our bearings before moving on. There is a spiritual component to this notion as well as a practical one." The author, Donald Bowes, is a veteran of two Caminos in 2013 and 2015 and has written of his travels in his book Senior Camino, also available on Amazon.com and on Kindle.
These "Walking Notes" have been crafted for those who are setting out to walk the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, along the Camino Francs route, from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. They are designed to keep the user from going astray and also are a handy tool for planning each day's walk so one may have the confidence of knowing where they are going at all times. The Notes are easy to read and simple to follow. They concentrate on those sections of the Camino Frances that can be somewhat confusing to walkers - sections that may not be as well-marked, are remote - or, in many cases those sections that may require decisions for the walker to choose alternative routes. "From time to time, we are all lost and maybe just enjoying ourselves too much to be paying that close attention to our surroundings while on Camino. Perhaps we are lost in conversation. Perhaps we are enthralled by a beautiful field of rapeseed, a vineyard of grapes, or the sound of the wind rustling through the wheat and barley of the immense Meseta. Perhaps there are more pressing things on our minds, like the pain of a severe injury, the constant throbbing of bad blisters or the tears of a distressed companion or fellow pilgrim - things that disturb our concentration. Usually, at some point in time, all of us have to stop, re-set the compass, and get our bearings before moving on. There is a spiritual component to this notion as well as a practical one." The author, Donald Bowes, is a veteran of two Caminos in 2013 and 2015 and has written of his travels in his book Senior Camino, also available on Amazon.com and on Kindle.