Caminos Primitivo and Frances and the art of Pilgrimage

What matters most, in fact, is getting from one stage to the next !

That’s by way of an explanation for my next , short Camino, beginning this W/end , from Lugo, on the Primitivo, joining the Frances at Melide. The anticipation is all the greater because I am walking this Camino in the company of my sister,Penny and my brother, Matt. Their first CAMINO ….and I hope they enjoy it. They both have physical factors to take into account and so we are hoping to get our packs transported every day, by the Correos – Spanish Post Office. Therefore , a confession that for the purpose of family solidarity, I have changed from the ensuitepilgrim, to the Turigrino, so I found Cousineau’s quotation , both apt and justifying…as if I was really bothered about self- justification, after all, I carry a bag, 24 hours a day. But, seriously, look away now if it’s too much detail, on my last Camino, the Via de la Plata, I experienced problems with either the rucksack or bum – bag straps pressing on my Stoma, causing abrasion and bleeding. That was quite disconcerting, because blood in the urine is extremely worrying. So, to Lugo we go ; the logistics are as usual complex. Penny and I take a National  Express coach down to Gatwick, leaving Birmingham coach station at midnight , arriving at the airport by 4 am. Our flight to Santiago de Compostela is at 6 am. On arrival,we should make our way to Lugo, by coach.

I say “should “because Spanish bus websites are like Alice in Wonderland and it is very difficult to make your way through them. The good news is that the weather forecast is good and we should be able to enjoy walking the walls , for which the city is famous, not forgetting to collect our two ” sellos” – stamps in our Pilgrim Passports. In Galicia, to obtain a Credencial on completing your Camino, you must have two stamps per day, en route.

Penny and Matt have been training very seriously and I hope I shall be able to keep up with them, especially as I am far more advanced in years than them!🚶🏽 Our first stage is the longest and one of only two days we shall be on the Camino Primitivo, for at Melide we join the Camino Frances, which will be akin to leaving a country lane and changing to a motorway; I anticipate it will be a good deal busier than the Primitivo, but for Penny and Matt, it will still be novel.

We actually walk a little beyond Retorta to Ferreira,  to the Albergue, which has an excellent reputation and had to be booked by E- Mail direct, rather than through Bookings.com., which I used for all our other accommodation along the way. Again Albergues are an essential feature of all the Caminos and though I usually avoid them, on this section of the Primitivo, it was a good opportunity for Penny and Matt to sample . A communal dinner and breakfast is included.

Matt is flying to S de C, from Amsterdam and we shall meet up with him in Lugo.

Now I shall make the final pack, including a ” daypack”, big enough for IPad and all items of value and especially, the confectionery that Hannah has made, for our coffee break sugar rush.
” …the rewards of the Camino are uncertain, but the effort and pain and fatigue are for sure.” So, here’s to our first, refreshing Tinto Verano.