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/

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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/

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