Downshift Musings

Well the unthinkable has happened and we are all living the Coronavirus nightmare. The Camino in Spain is shutdown as Spain fights its battle against infection and death. I’ve been monitoring the official pilgrim channels and blogs and it is hard to imagine how exactly the trails will be re-opened to pilgrims. They will need to be eventually, as many small family businesses depend on the pilgrims to keep their families fed and their tiny villages alive.

I personally think that the world will not be able to wait for a vaccine to be developed and we will have to return to normal life as best we can but with added vigilance. Maybe pilgrims will be required to undergo health checks and self-quarantine if they feel ill? I know I got sick (just a cold) in one of the hostels. It is quite easy for illness to spread when bunks are mere feet from one another.

Regardless, it is extremely unclear whether the pilgrimage I intended to lead this September will come to pass, but on a bright note I have found a “virtual” camino to help keep the dream alive and spirits up.

I am “walking” my Camino via https://www.walking4fun.com/. You can choose from 20 some trails and log your daily steps to “walk” virtually. I integrated my account with my Fitbit. Progress can be tracked on topo maps and you can see your virtual trail “neighbors” as well. I’m starting over from the beginning of the Camino Francés and I’ve made it to the second stage just over the Pyrenees past Roncesvalles.

Admittedly, it’s going to take me a lot longer than 33 days to finish this walk, but I am enjoying all of the photos that are at various mile markers along the way. They are pretty cool and bring back fond memories of my experience in 2017. There’s also a register where you can leave messages. There are some annoying ads, so I bit the bullet and paid for the premium membership.

You can follow along my journey below via this badge, which will update with photos of my current trail location: