What is the Camino Madrid?

Description

The Camino Madrid starts in Madrid, Spain and goes north to Sahagun, Spain where it meets up with the well-known (and most popular of the Spanish pilgrimage routes) Camino Frances, popularized in the Emilio Estevez & Martin Sheen movie, "The Way".

The Camino Madrid is 320 km long (approx 200 mi). Most pilgrims take between 13 to 16 days to walk it, depending on how far one walks each day.

Although the Camino de Madrid starts in Madrid and passes thru Segovia on the way to Sahagun, only days from León, much of this route is filled with solitary days where the pilgrim has only their own thoughts to keep them company.

The Camino Madrid is almost exclusively flat and easy walking with few hills. The pilgrim has only one day with the climb over the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range. Along this route, the hiker will come across delightful market towns and picturesque villages all the way – even Segovia is a collection of small village centers. 

The Origin

Like many of the Camino routes, this path started as a way for shepherds to move their livestock, based on the season, from one grazing ground to another, typically winter lowlands and summer highlands. Additionally crop harvesters from Galicia came down from the north of Spain to the Castilian lands during harvest time. 

Why the Camino Madrid

Unlike the very popular, busy and crowded Camino Frances, the pilgrim's route from Madrid to Sahagun is very quiet and peaceful. The hiker doing this camino will meet very few other pilgrims. Therefore this path appeals to those looking for solitude amidst open spaces and under the wide horizons of the meseta (Spain's large flat plains). Unlike other caminos, this one offers more path and less road to the wanderer. 

Random Thought of the Day

Been having bad dreams lately. Don't think it is stress or anxiety related to the upcoming Camino trip. Although I certainly do wonder how Covid could affect the trip. I guess my big concern is running into some kind of lockdown, but most governments have by now gone to the "Open for business" model, and are encouraging people to get out and about. 

Sometimes monsters are not big, scary, frightening creatures of horror. Sometimes they are insidious, tiny creatures ... so tiny that you don't even know that the monster is chasing you or right on your tail ... or lying in your path, behind a tree or bush, waiting to pounce.

Covid has been the monster that has haunted my Camino plans for three years now. 

When I finished crossing the Swiss Alps in 2019, and stood on the Italian border, I imagined myself back soon to tackle the Alps again. 

When I left Santiago de Campostela to fly to Geneva, Switzerland, I imagined myself back in 2020 - 2020, to explore more and experience more.

But the monster was right around the corner. By March of 2020, New York had locked down. Every month felt like we should be getting back to normal, but month after month, and then for three more years, the monster kept popping its little head up to make me turn back and dodge and duck. 

Three entire years without a pilgrimage. What a monster!

And Yet So Unprepared

Meaningful Moment

Got my second Covid booster yesterday. Feeling a bit wiped-out which is a well-known possible side effect. What it does mean is that I am taking a day off from training. 

Last Saturday I did a strenuous 2 hour / 5-mile hike in 91F and sun with full backpack. Lots of hills. Kicked my rear end.

Then last Sunday I did a 1.5 hour / 4-mile strenuous hike (due to pace), again in backpack. 

Although they both went well, by Monday I was feeling a bit fatigued.

These things always make me wonder if I am ready for two and one half weeks of 12 - 13 mile days.

Random Thought of the Day

The song "The World Is Not Enough" comes to my mind today. 

First there is the verse from Garbage's song above.

"I feel safe

I feel scared

I feel ready

And yet unprepared."

I've got six years of backpacking / hiking western Europe under my belt (over 1400 miles in five countries) and yet because of Covid and now going on three years since I've hiked, I don't know what I feel. Like the song says, it is a mixture of feelings.

At the same time, I will have company on this camino. My Partner and I have been planning this for quite some time. The most important things that we have discussed allow for each to be on their own camino while we walk together, and  include:

where to sleep (sometimes in community albergue, or private hostel or upscale room)

when to get up and go to bed

when to start and stop hiking, and to leave in the morning

how far to walk 

They seem pretty obvious, but I suspect that many couples approach these decisions on a catch as catch can, or on a basis of fear of disagreement. The latter, it seems to me, is more rooted in lack of communication.

I am fortunate to have a partner with superb communication skills. She often knows so much better than I how to raise a topic, or continue a discussion that has not yet resolved itself. I consider myself lucky to have her in my life. 

Notable memories

Right now I am sitting in Equal Grounds coffee shop with an au lait and biscotti. Two things that always seem to make the world brighter.

Just checked the weather forecasts for Madrid and Segovia Spain in the month of June. If true, it will not be as hot as I feared. I certainly hope it is true. The difference between 95F and 75F is exponentially more challenging than just thinking of it as a mere 20F difference.

Courtesy of WeatherSpark.com

Average High and Low Temperature in Madrid

The daily average high (red line) and low (blue line) temperature, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. The thin dotted lines are the corresponding average perceived temperatures.

Training Hikes

	Whiting Rd Nature Preserve
	Tryon Park
	Highland Crossing Trail  Genesee Riverway Trail Erie Canal Trail
	North Ponds

Three Weeks to Go

Started hiking with the backpack on. Adding weight each time I go out. Pretty close to a full camino pack now.


Covid booster scheduled. Paperwork in order. Medical check-ups complete.


Need some new gear yet: a fleece jacket for cold mornings (altho' the Madrid area is already warmer than usual), some quick-dry underwear and socks and a few hiking related things like "Glide" blister preventer, Compeed, vaseline, etc.

Random Thought of the Day

At home, working on this blog and listening to some music. 

Thinking how great music does not necessarily comply with the spirit of the Camino.

Case in point. I love the James Bond title songs. Many of them are really great songs which capture the angst of living in a world that is not camino-like many times. But the answer that they propose to the listener stands in start contrast to what we learn on the camino.

In a sense, it is both understandable and inevitable. The reality of the world collides head-on with the spirituality of the camino.

So here is one song that is angst-driven and not camino-like and one that is very camino-like ... from the world of 007.

The World is Not Enough (Garbage) (1999): I know how to hurt I know how to heal I know what to show And what to conceal I know when to talk And I know when to touch No one ever died From wanting too much People like us Know how to survive There's no point in living If you can't feel alive We know when to kiss And we know when to kill If we can't have it all Then nobody will I feel safe I feel scared I feel ready And yet unprepared The world is not enough But it is such a perfect place to start, my love And if you're strong enough Together we can take the world apart, my love	I have known people in my time who have been as nihilistic as the lyrics convey.  Emotionally they are very draining as they seem to need to destroy the world around them to prove that life has a significance beyond their own pain. In the video, (no spoilers) the main character is clearly devoid of spirituality, humanity ... that essence that we seek to find within ourselves as follow in the blood, sweat and tears of past pilgrims.  I must really try on the Camino Madrid to look into my past and find those moments where I would have rather taken the world apart instead of extending a hand.  I expect that there will be dark thoughts. I have not been a thru hiker on the Appalachian Trail or other such hikes. What do those thru-hikers wonder about or ponder on? Do they go deep also, or are they more focused on the beautiful forests and woods through which they move, and stand in awe before the mountain ahead?
And then there is the exception!!!
You Only Live Twice (Covered Ren Harvieu) You only live twice Or so it seems One life for yourself And one for your dreams You drift through the years And life seems tame 'Til one dream appears And Love is its name And love is a stranger Who'll beckon you on Don't think of the danger Or the stranger is gone This dream is for you So pay the price Make one dream come true You only live twice	Slightly disappointed because the YouTube video, which was very dreamlike, has had the music substantially altered. I could not find a version with Nancy Sinatra. (I could have picked the movie extract but that bugged me by taking the mood out of reality and into the cinematic universe.) This song seems to me to capture the spirit of the camino and many of the people that I have met on my various caminos. If I have learned anything while hiking thru Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Switzerland on pilgrimage routes, it is that one who lives and goes for the dream, who walks with purpose rather than drift aimlessly, is the one who wakes up with a purpose rather than a task.

Countdown Has Started

Camino Madrid

After an almost three year absence, I am returning to the Camino de Santiago.

Deb and I have booked our tickets for the flight to Madrid, and from there we will walk the Camino Madrid to Sahagun.

Description of the Camino Madrid
Total Length: 322 Km (200 miles)
Number of Stages: 13 -15
Average Length of Stages: 20 - 25 Km

Checklist (redacted):

• Vaccines/Boosters
• 72 hours prior to departure, complete the Covid requirements (if you don't have a EU Digital Covid Certificate:
• Spain Health Control Form
• Passport
• Global Traveler
• Travel Insurance
• Notify Bank of travel outside of USA
• Any Bills to Pay
• Test electronics

Checklist (in full):

• Vaccine and boosters. Spanish Health Control Form if you don't have EU Digital Covid Certificate
• Spain Health Control Form
• Check passport for expiration date.
• Verify any visa requirements. (Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland)
• Currently, US citizens can travel to Europe for up to 90 days without any sort of travel authorization. Starting with 2023, US citizens visiting parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union. 
• The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, will require "pre-travel screening for security and migration risks of travelers benefiting from visa-free access to the Schengen area.
• I plan to hike in Switzerland (requires entry to France and exit in Italy), Spain and Portugal. These countries are in the Schengen Area. Note that Great Britain and Ireland are NOT in the Schengen Area.
• Consider getting a TSA Global Entry Card
• Expedites processing on your return to the U.S. 
• Can also be used for TSA Precheck within the U.S.
• Consider getting the TSA approved Mobile Passport app for your smart phone.
• Health Care: Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the U.S. Purchase travel insurance the provides for, at least, major medical, transportation while injured/sick and return of remains to U.S.
• Check expiration date on credit/debit cards.
• Notify bank of travel outside of USA so that they don't lock card due to suspected fraud.
• Auto-pay any bills or pay early.
• Plane ticket.
• Test out all your electronics, e.g. chargers, tablets, cables/cords, phones. Bring equipment designed for your electronics. 
• Have your power adapters available. Adapters differ among the U.S., Great Britain/Ireland and Spain/Portugal. See pictures below.

Camino Stages:

I used this excellent planner to explore various ways of combining stages. It lets me play easily with various options to compensate for stages that would be too long, especially in June.

• Rutas a Santaigo (Follow the link for a good description of the Camino Madrid.)

Adapters

Be very careful of voltage and/or current surges when connecting your electronics to wall outlets. Best procedure is disconnect your device from the power cord. Insert the adapter into the wall outlet, then the power plug of your device into the adapter and only then, connect your device to its power cord. It is not uncommon for voltage and / or current surges to arc across the wall outlet, into the transformer and then travel to your device, possibly damaging some of its features or even crippling the device. 

Spanish/Portuguese Power adapter

Having the USB ports (type A) is very convenient.

Great Britain / Ireland / Switzerland Power adapter

On the right-side image, you can see where one inserts Spanish / Portuguese plugs.