Over the last thirty years I have been a serving police officer and for several years before that I was eagerly waiting to join. Right from the age of ten I just knew I wanted to be one. It was everything.
I put all my energies into work to the point I lost focus on me. I then put all my energy into my recovery from PTSD. I have felt nothing but freedom since leaving. A bit like Frodo giving back the ring….
So, since finishing my career and moving into my new life I have been asking myself the question, who am I now?
I have been a police officer, a boss. I am a wife and most importantly a mum. A very lucky mum at that.
I wanted to do something significant to mark the end of Chief Inspector Emily Roberts the police officer and becoming Emily Elphick. The Camino de Santiago (French Way) and walking 800km was just what was needed. Me and Greg would be pilgrims for a month.
We prepared and we we planned. Well mostly Greg, as I wanted more of a surprise each day, with each arrival in a new town. We slept in a few 8 euro a night municipal bunk rooms (known as albergues), mostly in cheap and cheerful hostels and occasionally in a decent hotel room. We can’t rate the albergues highly enough. Spotlessly clean, excellent showers and centrally located. A true pilgrim needed to look no further. The essential ‘Camino Ninja’ phone app had the route and all the accommodation options we needed. Booking.com offered the little treats.
So the top benefits are:
1. All we had to focus on was to get up and walk. This brought real focus and mindfulness. And though some days were quite the slog, Wow! The feeling afterwards. The sense of achievement literally makes you cry. The Camino really gives back. Nothing like it since getting into the police all those years ago, without a degree, A levels or even a maths O level.
1. All we had to focus on was to get up and walk. This brought real focus and mindfulness. And though some days were quite the slog, Wow! The feeling afterwards. The sense of achievement literally makes you cry. The Camino really gives back. Nothing like it since getting into the police all those years ago, without a degree, A levels or even a maths O level.
2. The people walking the Camino really were just lovely. Everyone was so supportive and encouraging. So many personal stories. My faith in human nature was restored.
3. The Pyrenees really are stunningly beautiful. The sunrises over the first few days (and in fact every day) were magical. Keen to go back.
4. I’ve always enjoyed walking but with the added confidence from the Camino experience, the prospect of other walking holidays and more adventures is taking shape.
5. Greg and I got on well. We are really good at travelling and taking on an adventure.
6. And it worked. By the time we finished I was no longer a police officer and was comfortably NOT being the one in charge or being responsible for fixing other people’s problems. Still married!
The detail.
3. The Pyrenees really are stunningly beautiful. The sunrises over the first few days (and in fact every day) were magical. Keen to go back.
4. I’ve always enjoyed walking but with the added confidence from the Camino experience, the prospect of other walking holidays and more adventures is taking shape.
5. Greg and I got on well. We are really good at travelling and taking on an adventure.
6. And it worked. By the time we finished I was no longer a police officer and was comfortably NOT being the one in charge or being responsible for fixing other people’s problems. Still married!
The detail.
1.You can (and should) travel lighter than you ever thought possible. A 50litre rucksack WILL suffice and it should weigh no more than 10% of your body weight. We each carried between 9-10 kg, including two water bottles. It was too much. We weren’t disciplined enough.
2. Washing your clothes and making sure they are dry for the next day was a bit of a faff but when you shower, you just washed the day’s grubby stuff at the same time! With sunny weather (when else would you do a Camino?) it dries in a couple of hours. Almost everywhere had clothes lines. In fairness most also had washing machines and dryers but Greg is quite the cheapskate.
3. Bread rolls with cheese or ham is sometimes all you could get in the middle part of Spain. I still can’t face a cheese sandwich.
3. Bread rolls with cheese or ham is sometimes all you could get in the middle part of Spain. I still can’t face a cheese sandwich.
4. Fitness really helped but its determination that counts. We did dozens of 10 and 15 mile practice walks in the months before the Camino, because we’re spaniel owners and that’s what we do. Some of the early hills were quite daunting and seemingly endless but we just kept grinding away. By the third week nothing phased us. Our legs were in superb shape. But there were pilgrims in their 60s and 70s, even older, some walkers with disabilities or serious illness. The bottom line is everyone was doing it at their own pace. Plus you can send your stuff ahead every day if you fancy it. Take days off. Rest. If you can walk 5 miles, you can do it. The infrastructure with buses or taxis is really very good if you find yourself struggling. The Camino doesn’t judge you.
We both agreed during the last 100 km, and when we finished, that we would never EVER do the Camino again. Why would you? We thought all the people we met who were on their second or even a fifth trip, were a bit weird. Two months later both Greg and I started to talk about how great the Camino was and, actually, perhaps we could do it again. This has turned into a definite “Yes!” and we will definitely do the Camino again, with lighter bags!
The next adventure? We are off backpacking around Thailand in February before a significant celebration for Greg’s sixtieth and our 25th wedding anniversary Life is not a bed of roses and we are managing some family illnesses but we are determined to max life.
With love Emily and Greg.
Emily Elphick
The next adventure? We are off backpacking around Thailand in February before a significant celebration for Greg’s sixtieth and our 25th wedding anniversary Life is not a bed of roses and we are managing some family illnesses but we are determined to max life.
With love Emily and Greg.
Emily Elphick
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