After missing three years of travel restrictions, changed priorities, and medical issues, Melanie and I decided to get back on the trail. The problem is that we no longer can say “we did it last year, we can do it again”. As we edge close to septuagenarianism, we recognize that our bodies have changed. Our minds have changed. Neither change was for our benefit. Walking long routes will help reverse that but some muscles and confidence is gone. We are either going to reclaim those or admit they are gone forever. We’ll find out soon enough.

We have squeezed this Camino in a time earlier than I would have hoped. It will likely still be hellishly hot and it will be crowded but other commitments have forced our hand. We have plenty of time though to walk shorter mileage or take rest days. If those aren’t needed, we will walk on to Muxia and Finisterre after Santiago de Compostela.

We are flying to Paris on 24 August and should be in SJPdP on the 25th. We will likely take another day to get over jet lag but then we will start walking over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles for day one (or day one and two if we decide to stop at Orisson). That’s the plan, at least.

Out of habit and for family, I’ll still try to do a daily post on the blog if I can’t keep up with it, you will be the first to know!