Iain McKie - My Camino Dream

My Camino Dream

Published by ScruffyRed Press

Kilmarnock

www.scruffyred.com

The right of Iain McKie to be identified as the author of this work, has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act, 1988. Iain McKie 2017

ISBN: 978-0-244-05529-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any other form or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publishers. This book may not be lent, hired out, resold or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the publishers.

Designed and typeset by ScruffyRed.com

To contact the author:

caminoiain@gmail.com

Version: April 8, 2018 4:03 PM

Foreword

Inside these pages, you will find a story that you may be able to relate to. Its about a person who, like many people, faced many of lifes questions and did not know the answers until he decided to face his fears and embark on a journey of a lifetime. An adventure that took him through northern Spain and into a world that is steeped in thousands of years of history, deter- mention, heartache and love.

Where are you in your life? What is your purpose? How and when can you find happiness? Or have you already completed this journey and understand the amazing effects the Camino has on you and want to remember the places seen and feelings felt.

I wrote this book as I wanted to share my experience of walk- ing the Camino de Santiago through the challenges of where to start with what equipment to pack and preparation done (or didnt do in some cases) to the daily adventure of walking the Camino with the importance of believing in yourself, facing your fears and embracing this physical, mental and spiritual journey.

Each day gives an insight of how my mind and actions change, learn and adapt to the Camino and life. I talk about the places visited along the way plus the incredible people that not only inspired but also became lifelong friends.

With each chapter you read you will be able to sense how you can face the fears you may have in life and understand that you have within you the ability to take on life and deliver happiness to yourself and others. Maybe you will be inspired to walk your Camino one day. So, turn the page and start the adventure.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank John Grant from Scruffy Red publications who, without his support, knowledge and kindness I would not have known how to even start publishing this book. My sister Angela Nicol who spent many an hour helping me dot the ts and cross the Is. My dad who over my entire life has always been there and was excited and supportive throughout my entire Camino Dream and writing this book. My beautiful Donna who daily reminds me how life is great and an eternal thank you to every person I met on the Camino who I will be forever thankful from the bottom of my heart for the hours of chat, support and love they gave so naturally.

Buen Camino

Chapter 1 Why the Camino

22nd January

Why the Camino

I ask myself the question why do I want to walk the Camino de Santiago daily yet still cannot give myself a clear answer. I just feel it. That feeling of not being able to put your finger on it or its at the tip of your tongue. You know but its hard to describe. A million different thoughts entwine in such a way that to even describe one of them would be a miracle worth its very own pilgrimage.

So how did I get here? here being writing the first entry of a blog to which I know not the end nor where this journey will take me. Where did this calling, as it kind of feels like that, come from or is it just the fact that I turned 44 two days ago and its been at the back of my mind that I have a midlife crisis about to encapsulate me.

My curiosity was sparked from what I remember by the book The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. I had ordered it last summer and this in turn led me to look at the Camino now and then on the internet and day dream of setting of on a five hundred mile walk to, well as I said, who knows. I say that yet have still to read past the first chapter of the book. Another spark to my interest in the Camino was I met a girl, randomly, who worked in a hotel I was staying at and somehow got into a conversation where she had told me that she had completed the Camino Frances, which translates into The French Way, the year before. She talked in a way that only intrigued me more. My mind was racing. Why was the scallop shell Hannah had given me always at the bottom of my bed spreading its shell-like glory every morning as if to say, look at me, Im a sign to say go and do this pilgrimage. Was it a sign? After all the scallop shell is the symbol of the Camino and from what I understand helps pilgrims find their way to Santiago de Compostela. I cant help but think that in some way that only the universe knows why my shell was handed to me many months ago on a beach in the north of Scotland and right there my journey to Santiago started.

So here I am still wondering if Im going to do this but deep down know I am. Why else would a rucksack have arrived and clothing articles ordered, maps on the way and books being read, blog set up and people close to me hinted at that I may do this. May? My minds laughing saying no youll be back by May.

I will put one foot in front of the other and see where this goes. All I know is my brain is racing and I have things to do to make this happen by the end of February.

23 January

Emotions and reality

Last night when I went to sleep I started thinking of the Camino and before I knew it a feeling of do I really want to do this slowly and tightly started to wrap itself around me. I thought of pops and thought Ill miss him, I hope he will be ok! Not a nice feeling then I started thinking that four to five weeks walking is going to be hard. Yes, its going to be tough. Not just the walking but all the things about where to stay and eat and fill your water bottle, what about the weather and then there is the cost and the list seemed endless. I felt quite overwhelmed with fear and self-doubt. Could I could even pack a rucksack? I tossed and turned knowing that a sleep can always help my brain do what it needs to do and that Id wake up a bit clearer.

The day was spent with reading the what to do before you walk the Camino book. A whole book dedicated to what to do before you leave. How can this be? A whole book when all you hear is you need two pairs of boxer shorts, a pair of socks, a smile and the scallop shell to hang on your perfectly fitting rucksack. It is interesting and while reading the book many of my fearful questions from last night were starting to get answered. The places to stay are cheap and plenty, there is fresh water in every village that you can use, the mileage was doable and build in a couple of rest days. Pops will be fine as I was away longer last summer and if you need the toilet while walking you just bury it. Yeh my mind was back on track. I can do this! Nothing will stop me! Next stop Paris on my way to.......... Wait I cant. As I turned the page the headline word sprung out at me like one of those toy Jack in the Box that gave you a fright and you never found in anyway amusing. PASSPORT. Shit! My passport is out of date this year. I thought hard and remembered that come July it was no longer valid. If I was doing this walk or not I still needed to renew my passport. I was online and paying the fee the minute I finished my dinner. Two photos to get Monday and get it sent off. It takes 3 weeks to get my new passport so I should be ok for a March start. Heart racing with both excitement and fear. I think I may go through the yes and no, elation and fear, do and dont many times before I even make the decision to go or not go. Thats it Im going. Im glad I read the book or part of as Id have not thought about the passport. Tomorrow I will read more and get my head around this.