Early the next morning, having decided to have a transport company carry my bag after all, I got online and began to research various companies that could help me. One was a company called Camino Ways, based out of Ireland. This company would not only transport my bag from town to town, but they could also arrange for simple, private accommodations for me in each town along the Camino.
Knowing I would probably make slower progress than many, given my bum knee and my hiking inexperience, I did worry about finding a place to sleep in the shared dormitory-style albergues along the Camino reserved for pilgrims. From what I had read they were open on a first-come, first-served basis, and often filled up quite early in the day, and no doubt much sooner than when I would most likely arrive. Maybe booking both transport and a private hostel, in lieu of staying at pilgrims’ albergues, would be the smartest option for me, and one that would help ease the pressure I was feeling in so many ways.
I spoke to a guy named Roland who immediately assured me that they could reserve a simple place for me to stay in each town along the Camino, as well as transport my bag to the hostel or inn each day, and even include a pilgrim’s breakfast and an occasional dinner.
It wasn’t very expensive considering the investment I had already made. Besides, it was my emotional peace I was talking about here. The entire reason I was going on this pilgrimage was to find some emotional peace.
“Can I have a day to think it over?” I asked. “I’ll probably go with this, as it makes sense for me, but I want to be sure I’m not cheating by doing so. Some people say not carrying your own bag and winging it from albergue to albergue as you walk the Camino makes you less than a ‘true pilgrim,’ and I don’t want to be that.”
“It’s your Camino,” he replied. “Why do you care what other people think or say?”
“True. Okay, I’ll think it over and call you back.”
A cup of coffee later, I’d made up my mind.
The next day, Roland sent me an e-mail with a full itinerary, complete with the names of the simple hostels where I was to stay in every town, along with downloadable transport tags to put on my bag. It looked as if I would be in very simple one-star accommodations most nights, with the promised pilgrim’s breakfast and dinner (whatever that was) included, except for every ten days. Then I was booked into what appeared to be a three-star accommodation with only breakfast included. Sounded good to me. In the e-mail was a message that said, “We will send you a Camino passport book overnight.”
The e-mail went on to explain that the passport was a small book in which to get stamps from every town along the Camino, showing that I had walked to that place, in order to get the Compostela or pilgrim’s certificate once I arrived in Santiago.
I worried that I might miss the place to get the stamp, but then noticed that Roland had attached the directions to each town’s office.
Sighing with relief, I said to myself, Okay, I guess I’ve covered just about every single base, haven’t I? All I have to do now is show up and start walking.
At the end of the e-mail, I read, “Buen Camino.”
That made me smile. I hoped it would be a “Buen Camino.”