This little book, Miam-Miam Dodo, French for 'Din-din, beddy-bye,' is indispensable. Revised every year, it contains a wealth of information about lodging, restaurants, which places have laundry facilities, covered sheds for horses or donkeys (one does see such critters on the way), internet (usually not an interest but this year, more important), and which towns have stores for food, pharmacies, banks and so forth. The publishers issue one for the Chemin in France and the Camino in Spain. For the past three years (that is, 2005, 2006, 2007), we have used them. Their maps are fairly vague so we add in other maps from other sources.
So while there is THE Bible, there are other bibles which sometimes (for me at least) give clearer directions.
While walking there are always waymarks that show the way to go. The shell, in particular, is common in Spain. It's like walking on a long treasure hunt, looking for the next yellow arrow or shell on a lamp post, side of a house, in the pavement, wherever, that will indicate a turn.
If one goes along for a while without seeing a sign (unless there's nothing else in creation nearby), one begins to wonder if one missed a turn. We've only done that twice in all the kilometres, both in France and Spain, and we usually were able quickly to figure out where we missed the turn.
Following the camino is not like life where turns are not so clearly marked and where it is far easier to wander inadvertantly (never mind the conscious times) from the path. Often, too, there are not companion pilgrims nearby to yell or whistle to let one know that one missed a turn. (Though one day when we intentionally left the Camino to go to our inn, we had someone insist that we had gotten off the path and needed to return.)
By this time next week, we will be asleep, ready to start walking our first day. Wow!
