Sauntering to Santiago: The Camino de Santiago for Slow Walkers

by Kenneth Cline

Have you ever thought of walking the Camino de Santiago? Many people have. Maybe they've seen the Martin Sheen movie, The Way, and said to themselves, Gee, I'd like to try that! But it's also easy to come up with excuses, like, I'm too old, I've got a bad back, I'm not fit enough, I don't have time ... fill in the blanks. In the summer of 2018, the author and his wife walked over 200 miles from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela and arrived with zero blisters or other injuries. And they did this despite some age on them (mid-60s him, late 50s her) and a few health issues (arthritis for him, diabetes and asthma for her). Experienced hikers? Not! Until embarking on this month-long trek, they had never done anything more ambitious than a day walk in a park. So, relax. Sauntering to Santiago: the Camino de Santiago for Slow Walkers will demonstrate that it is indeed possible for people who are not particularly young and fit to walk the Camino and enjoy the time of their lives. Of course, some preparation is required, and the book will take you through those steps. The author shows you how to pick the route that's most appropriate for your level of conditioning, suggest how you can approach your equipment choices and then how to pace yourselves on the trail so that each walking day is a comfortable experience rather than a stressful chore. And then, he will take you through each day of the journey, from Porto to Santiago, and describe all of the wonderful sights along the way. If they could do it, so can you.

162 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

Kenneth Cline is a former journalist who retired in July 2016 with thirty years of experience in newspaper and magazine writing, much of that devoted to financial services, history and travel. Most recently, he was managing editor of BAI Banking Strategies magazine.
He and his wife, Bina, currently live as "senior nomads," which means they do not maintain a fixed abode, as such, but reside in different parts of the world at different times of the year.
To date, Cline has published three travel memoirs. The first, Tracking the Queen of Sheba: A Travel Memoir of Yemen (Amazon, 2016), related his adventures accompanying an archaeological expedition to the wilds of eastern Yemen in 1984. The second, Village on the Nile: A Travel Memoir of Upper Egypt (Amazon, 2017), described his experiences living in an Egyptian village in 1983.
Cline's latest work, Sauntering to Santiago: The Camino de Santiago for Slow Walkers (Amazon 2019), details the 200-mile walk he and his wife took in 2018 from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Reviews

[Amitola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A walk in the park

Good descriptions of hotels and restaurants by two wealthy people who walked the Camino Portuguese. Very American attitudes, in that they were there just to “do” the Camino and didn’t take time to interact with many people. An easy read with some very good hints on packing, though they just walked with big daypacks, using a transport company to move their suitcases from hotel to hotel. A quick read for anyone interested in that route.

[LL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its not

This book is a overload of information. Not like others written about the Caminos. I was looking for a adventure not a how to and get this app or buy these clothes and commentary about food and places stayed etc. For others about to do Camino its helpful, but since there are so many books out there this is tedious and not interesting to a adventure discrption only reader.

[Melanie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This couple walked the Camino Portuguese which is not the Camino I am looking to walk first, nevertheless, this was a helpful, practical guide to attempting any Camino, especially if you are more mature. If you have the time, why not take your Camino slowly? It is certainly what I plan to do as I wish to stop at any historical/architectural/cultural points of interest, rather than race to the finish.

[JoAnna Golden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Older middle age couple tackles the Camino, via Santiago de Compostela route. Fairly detailed travel style book, More on logistics than really personal reflections.

[Leif Harboe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, well written

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A personal account of a husband & wife's 2018 Camino Portuguese. Between the personal experiences were a number of tips regarding the Camino, which is what I was looking for.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable listen about walking The Camino de Santiago, thank you Kenneth Cline :-)

[Ben Twoonezero · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was no sense of adventure with this trip , and very little detail in the people he met. Just OK.