After almost two years of silence following my last adventure in 2022, I am on the verge of making another attempt at walking a Spanish camino.
After seven years of annual incident-free caminos, my last two attempts were terminated early – the Lana in 2019 which ended with a stress fracture of my hip, and the Norte/Primitivo in 2022 which ended with a knee injury.
I’m hoping it will be third time lucky when I arrive in Barcelona on 14 May to walk the Cami Catalán from Montserrat to where it joins the Camino Aragonés, and onwards until I reach the Camino Frances at Puente la Reina.
I shall have the company of serial walking chums Marilyn from South Africa, with whom I have walked on three previous routes, and Paul from the UK who I met in 2015 when I walked the Mozárabe and with whom I have now walked four times.
I no longer assume my body will do all that I ask of it, after all it has protested a couple of times now, but fingers are crossed, pleas have been sent to St James and cool packs and strapping tape will be tucked away in my backpack.
I have made a couple of 25+km practice walks with my plucky little pooch, and visited the chiropractor for some precautionary treatment. I’ve also had a steroid injection in the knee that gave me so much trouble last time.
The total distance of the Catalán and Aragonés combined is about 450 km and the stages I have planned are generally a bit shorter than I have walked previously. So I aim to be a little kinder to my body than in the past. Also, at the ripe old age of 70 this year, I am the baby of we three camigos and we are all aware of encroaching limitations.
I am just about ready, items on the packing list have been ticked off one by one and stashed in my pack. Lots of old stuff is being recycled yet again – just new trousers and boots. Please wish us luck – I’ve never felt I needed it before, but this year….
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
Oh Maggie!! I am so excited for you! I think of you often and have been wondering what you have been up to. So pleased to be following your adventures again. Wishing you tail winds and a strong body. Melx
LikeLike
What a great post! So good to hear you are on another Camino. I’ll be following.
LikeLike
I was only thinking about you a couple of weeks ago and checked your blog to make sure I hadn’t missed any updates. I am so pleased you feel good enough to try a new Camino and look forward to your updates. Your adventures helped us to try our luck with the Gran Senda de Malaga, one stage at a time whenever we are staying in our 2nd home in Cómpeta. So far we have completed 7 stages and are starting number 8 this week. A very sincere good luck to you and your camigos.
LikeLike
Oh goody! I shall look forward to following your adventures again. Is Marilyn the small blonde lady with the enormous rucksack? Anyway, Bon Voyage to you all. Take care and don’t break anything else.
LikeLike
Good luck, Maggie. It’s so great to see you back in action! Perhaps I will see you in Barcelona on the 14th when you arrive though I’m heading home on the 15th. No Camino for me until September. I fully look forward to following you and wish you good health and good luck
LikeLike
Blimmin fantastic news Maggie. Can’t wait for your daily updates and sending blissings for a fun and healthy journey
I swapped Europe out for Asia this year . . . . .hot hot hot but oodles of adventures were had.
maybe I’ll complete my continuing trifecta (NASCENTE-Torres-Geira) next year. Continuing from trancoso In the meantime, bring on the Camino magic, Maggie.
xG
LikeLike
All best wishes and good luck my friend.
I know you will give it your all!
I am, as always, in awe of your determination.
Will look forward to reading of your journey and look forward to seeing you on your return.
With love
Heather xx
LikeLike
¡Buen Camino! Looking forward to reading all about it.
LikeLike
Looking forward to reading about this route. Good luck and Buen Camino!
LikeLike
Happy to see this! Best wishes and Buen Camino!
LikeLike
I was so excited to see this come across my emails Maggie! I wish you all the luck and good fortune as well as good hiking weather. Can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.
You were my inspo when I started my Camino and it’s very uplifting to hear of your new hiking adventure. Buen Camino!
LikeLike
fabulous that you are back on the trail. Wishing you a very Buen Camino!
LikeLike
so thrilled to hear that you and Marilyn are off again on another Camino. How wonderful. I am volunteering at a Gite in SJPDP for 2 weeks from 1st July then biking the Camino Frances. Enjoy x
LikeLike
I just want to add to the chorus of good wishes. Very excited and happy for you and the other two. And from one over 70 to another, I bet you’ll find that all those nervous apprehensions will fade away, just like they did when you walked years ago, as soon as you take your first step on the Camino. Sending many hugs, Laurie
LikeLike
Hello Magwood! I am so pleased to hear from you again! But somehow I do not manage to send my comment after having typed it several times!
????
Regards,
Ina Sinclair
Sent from my iPad
LikeLike
Buen camino – I look forward, as ever, to following your journey. Please take care.
LikeLike
very best of luck, maggie
LikeLike
Wonderful to receive this post in my email & look forward to living vicariously through your words and walks in the coming weeks! Well done x Holly AU
LikeLike
Hola Maggie. You rock! So happy to hear that you are going to walk yet another Camino – and in good company too! I will follow every step (word) you take – and try not to be envious.
Have a fab walk and take care. Say hi to Marilyn and Paul.
Much love, Nina
LikeLike
wow! So excited and being able to read your blog again. Every blessing on this Camino. As a 72 year old I can well appreciate the way the body can react but it sounds like you are as prepared as you can be. I look forward to each day! X Janice
LikeLike
Hi Maggie, good to see you back! Best of luck with the walk, I’m looking forward to your commentry x
LikeLike
Have a brilliant time, Maggie.
We’ll miss you and lovely Lily xxx
LikeLike
The best of luck, Maggie. Break a leg, as they say 😉
LikeLike
What fantastic news! I am happy for you and I’m looking forward to hearing all about your travels. Buen Camino!
LikeLike
Looking forward to reading your adventures. I’m sure you’ve done as much as possible to ensure you have a painfree, delightful walk. Both my husband and I have been wanting to do the Camino again but now that I’m 76 with a bad knee, and he’s 83 with a few medical problems, we can only read about others walking. Our souls, if not our bodies, are there with you all. We live in the UK and the insurance now would cost as much as the trip unfortunately.
LikeLike
Great news, I’m currently on the Frances showing some friends the ropes. I was only looking at your description of Belorado to Atapuerca last night. Currently in Ages. From another 71 year old, Buen Camino. So happy to hear you are fit and well. Cecilia
LikeLike
Hi Maggie, Good to hear you are back on the trail again. Looking forward to reading your trip reports. Best wishes for a safe Camino to you and your friends.
Buen Camino
LikeLike
Remember me to Marilyn, and best wishes to all three of you!
LikeLike
you,ll be great! Well done!! 👏 very proud of you. More importantly enjoy it! With notice this is something I would love to do with you. By the time im laid off and have the time you,ll be the expert. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.
much love Maxine
LikeLike
You are gonna have a blast. I’m looking forward to reading your reports, and seeing how similar / different they are to yours truly walk. I hope the weather is on your side ….
LikeLike
So pleased you hear you’re back. Love the poetry of your posts and photos, both of which inspire we readers to put the boots back on.
Wishing you smooth sailing on this upcoming Camino and look forward to reading your blog.
Buen Camino
LikeLike
wishing you Buen camino . Am happy too to resume reading your accounts , love them.Went last year and walked Olvidado and thought of you as I struggled more than before! Getting older is not fun , but walking in Spain IS . So let’s keep caminoing . My WordPress is Sambasue21. Blog
LikeLike
so glad that you will soon be back on the road again and I‘m looking forward to reading about your next adventure.
I‘ve followed all your blogs from the beginning and you have a great gift for writing.
LikeLike
P.S. wishing you a blessed and Buen Camino!
LikeLike
Buen Camino 🙏 i would love to do this Catalán route next… Following your adventures now!
LikeLike
Good luck. Have you still got that scruffy little dog? He must be really old now!
LikeLike
Sadly not – he died a year or so ago.
LikeLike