It’s me! I’m back from the blog-block that has gripped me for the last couple of months.
Returning home from a big adventure sometimes takes a bit of adjustment. After the initial celebration of catching up with loved ones, sleeping in a comfortable bed with no snorers in the room, using an electric toothbrush and straightening my hair, I find myself in a bit of a slump. And that is when I find it really difficult to write. I make lists of things I should write about, but that’s as far as it gets.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.
quote from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr Seuss
This has been a particularly long slump, and I have been physically very inactive throughout the summer – it has been too hot to walk other than taking the dog out for an early morning stroll.
But finally, with this post, I am marking the end of my slump
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.On and on you will hike,
And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
“Oh the Places You’ll Go” was published in 1990, but none of Dr Seuss’ books found their way onto my children’s well-stocked book shelves. In fact I didn’t discover him until a few years ago when my daughter Ella first attended the Burning Man festival. I knew nothing about the event and so, as any good parent would, I googled it and stumbled upon this video.
I love the poem and I love this video. I’ve walked through so many great places on my various caminos, climbed high mountains, walked in the wide open air, come to streets where I don’t choose to go, I’ve waited – not for the rain to stop, but for the albergue to open, and I’ve hiked on and faced whatever problems came my way.
I’ve met such fabulous people, many of whom have become treasured friends.
I haven’t had many brains in my head this last couple of months, nor any feet in my boots, but now my slump has passed and there are some fluffy clouds in the sky for the first time in what seems like forever. The hot summer temperatures are dropping very slightly, and there’s a promise that it won’t be long before my boots will have feet in them again and I shall be climbing high mountains once more. I can’t wait!
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
A great incentive for all of us who have also slumped!! At least the mornings and evenings are a tad cooler, roll on September when life will be more comfortable.
LikeLike
Oh Maggie, I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you’ve been since your odyssy. It was such a long journey. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve just had a wee hibernation 😉
And to stay on the ‘children’s book’ topic, here’s a lovely quote I thought you’d like
“And so for a time it looked as if all the adventures were coming to an end; but that was not to be.”
– The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Perhaps it’s time to get the planning map out again. I’m hoping to have a couple of months wandering and slow-travelling in Spain in 2019. Maybe our paths will cross. Cheers, Grace
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wouldn’t that been good Grace – if our paths could cross at some point? We shall have to share plans. The Narnia books all made it onto my daughters’ book shelves. We all loved them. Thanks for the quote – it would certainly be a sad time if the adventure were ever to end!
LikeLike
Hi Maggie,
Welcome back and don’t worry it takes different people different ways at different times, important thing is to come back when you’re ready and not before.
Hope you’re well.
Richard
LikeLike
Thanks Richard, it’s good to be back.
LikeLike
I loved this, Maggie. Thank you. I’ve forwarded to the Facebook page of our local chapter of American Pilgrims, and to my daughter who is heading to Burning Man next week, while we are going to babysit in San Francisco.
LikeLike
Hi Linnea. Thanks for the share. I hope your daughter has an amazing time. Ella attends spin-off festivals all over the world. It seems to be her (very expensive) hobby. Enjoy the grandchildren – I expect you will need a holiday when you have finished!
LikeLike
I cant wait to read about your next journey… I know I sound like a broken record but my goodness you are such an inspiration ❤
LikeLike
Thanks Colleen, and hopefully we may have met before the next one!
LikeLike
So glad you’re unslumped and Doc Suess helped. Enjoy more of his work.’ Green eggs and ham’ Sam I am.x
LikeLike
Thanks Alan. I shall have to start stocking my grandchildren’s book shelves with these.
LikeLike
I followed you on your Mozarabe/VdlP/Torres camino and found you so inspiring. Have just finished the Coastal Portuguese with my daughters and four of my grandchildren. No post camino slump because I am back to your Mozarabe blog to prepare for my Mozarabe camino planned for next year! Thank you so much for sharing!
LikeLike
Hi Ina. I was very glad of your company and your comments as I walked this year and found your blog on the Torres very useful. I shall have to read it again now that I have walked it, and compare notes.
What a treat to walk with your family in Portugal. I would love to hear how that went. Enjoy your planning for the next one!
LikeLike
Wow! Thanks for posting all of that for a number of reasons.
1 I go through a “slump” after a big hike event such as the Camino also.
2 I love that Dr Seuss book
3 I was at Burning Man in 2011 and had never seen that video.
I miss your blog when you are comfortably home.
LikeLike
That’s amazing Denise. So glad to have been able to introduce you to the video.
LikeLike
LOL. My mum used to read to me and taught me to read using Dr Seuss books like The Cat in the Hat. Happy days. Post Camino is always an odd time. You are with people for so long, sharing meals, laughs, chats and rooms, and suddenly you go home and it goes all quiet again. I like my own company but just when you get used to others all the time, it stops. I never liked that bit of a camino either. September and October are really good months for walking all over Europe and beyond though – blue skies, cooling weather and price drops as the kids go back to school. Maybe use Wizz Air and go to Israel for a week or two for a walk on the Jesus trail for some extra enlightenment?
LikeLike
Not sure abut Israel, but I still have a desire to walk the Lycian way at some point in the future.
LikeLike
So glad to hear your voice Maggie, I’m one of the more silent followers. I have a yearning to return for another camino but only doing 5-6 days in October before going to (an essentially English) folk festival in Albufeira. If the mood takes me I’ll go back to the camino, currently on the Norte, up to Santander so far. I love walking in October especially as the weather had usually ‘turned’ back home in Yorkshire. I’m happy to dip in and out of my Caminos though I do so admire your long long walks. I most certainly owe you a drink if ever I’m in that southern Spain. Take care, Cecilia pS my brother working in Bangladesh so that’s my next really big adventure.
LikeLike
I don’t know Yorkshire well, but my daughter moved to Leeds a few years ago and she has taken me on some beautiful outings into the countryside. I have never actually walked in the UK. I hope it’s cooler for you on the Norte than it is down here in the south of Spain. Enjoy Portugal. Buen camino!
LikeLike
Hi Maggie,
I so know how you feel, I am also in that slump having returned from the Del Norte a few weeks ago. August is never nice in New Zealand but as you say the clouds are beginning to shift and Spring is in the air. Nice to have you back on line
LikeLike
Maggie wherever and whenever those boots will carry you, it will be a pleasure to hitch a ride. Hugs and Ultreia!
LikeLike
I’m glad to see you back!
LikeLike
Welcome back Maggie. I missed you and wondered how you were. Glad it was only a passing slump. I enjoyed that video very much. Looking forward to your next adventure. Much love xx
LikeLike
I´m glad to see you here again Maggie! Have followed all your caminos and are waiting for your next adventures, thank you! Have also walked most of the routes.
LikeLike
Hi Mags, welcome back, it was great to see your email pop up, I have missed you and your wonderful adventures. Thank god you are feeling more like yourself now. It happens to us all after our Camino, I think it is the wonderful feeling of freedom and the unbelievable sense of peace, that is to be found on the road, to realise, we don’t need wardrobes of clothes, shoes, bags, fast cars and big houses filled with furniture, to make us happy. I, for one, found I was more then happy with my very light backpack containing all I needed for 4 weeks. The Camino thought me, that people and the love they share with complete strangers, is what life is all about. At the end of my last Camino, I didn’t want it to end, funny that, the weather, snoring, mountains, rivers and really bad food, that we encountered every day, never put me off, I loved every minute of it. It’s a different world when we return home, I also found it difficult like you Mags, but I look forward to my next Camino, which I will do in my beautiful sisters memory, who I sadly lost to cancer in 2017
God bless you girl, sending you warmest regards from Cork, Ireland xx
LikeLike
Great to have a blog post pop into the inbox – you absolutely deserve a hiatus and with cooler climes on the horizon you will be back out on the trails once again, hooray for us! Can’t wait to be part of your adventures, thank you Maggie. Holly, Australia 🙂
LikeLike
hi namaste. i am from nepal trekking guide i love your post thank you
LikeLike
Hi Umesh. Thank you for your comment. I would love to visit your country one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
always welcome http://www.umeshadventures.com
LikeLike
Hello Maggie, I love to read your blogs and I know what you are talking about when you tell us about your camino blues.This spring my mum died at the age of 95 years.She used to encourage me to do things in her later years.I will be 75 in November,I am still fit but also worried that coming next spring, I might not be able to continue my camino,the via de la Plata which I have walked about halfway this spring.For the first time, my brother joined me for part of the way.He had been out of a job twice and was depressed, because he lost his girlfriend.. He enjoyed the camino and had the chance to exchange himself with other pilgrims having similar problems.He has been so motivated and has organised many things during summer.We were doing different jobs in his,my daugthers and my cousins house and garden,looking after their place while they were away on holiday.He is back in a job he likes and has made new friends.margrit Switzerland.
LikeLike
What a lovely positive story Margrit. I am so pleased you shared it with me. The camino does have the power to enable us to see things differently and appreciate what we have. I sincerely hope you are able to continue your VdlP this year. Buen camino to you and your brother.
LikeLike