questions for experienced caminoist

[haia]

Hello, hola

I have a few questions regarding the camino de frances and would greatly appreciate any answers or advice you might be able to give:

Firstly, I have 12 days, am in good physical condition and would expect to walk about 20km a day. My question is, realistically, how far back along the route can I start in order to reach Santiago de Compostela in this time frame? I have been thinking Ponferrada, can anyone can confirm if that is realistic or can I start further back along the route or further forward.
Secondly, following this, I plan to continue walking to the coast, does anyone have any ideas how long the quickest route to the coast might take?
thirdly, I will be walking in december/january. Has anyone been on the route at this time of year and if so, do you have any advice for me?

Any comments would be greatly greatly appreciated.

Thank you, take care

Haia

[Catherine]

Hi Haia

If you use John Brierley's book it's 13 stages (days) from Leon to Santiago or 12 days from Mazarife. However, this requires more than 20km per day. It ranges from 20.6km to 31.9km (with only 3 at just over 30km, most are at most mid 20km mark).

If you have reasonable fitness you should be well able for this. I'm saying this speaking from experience. So far I have walked from the start at St.Jean Pied-de-Port to Leon over last 3 years with the intention of finishing in 2010.

As for walking in Dec/Jan I'm sorry I cannot advise on this time of year, I'd say it could be quite cold plus you would have less daylight hours.

Hope the above is of some help.

Buen Camino
Catherine

[haia]

thank you very much, that is very helpful.
take care

haia

[Sil]

Haia, do your 12 days include the walk to Finisterre? You can walk that route in 3 or 4 days which will leave you with 8 days for the camino.
You could start at Villafranca del Bierzo (its fairly easy to get to) to Santiago and then continue to Finisterre. Your itinerary could look like this:

Villafranca del Bierzo - La Faba23.7 kmLa Faba - Triacastela25.6 kmTriacastela - Sarria24.6 kmSarria - Portomar?n22.4 kmPortomar?n - Palas de Rei25 kmPalas de Rei - Ribadiso da Baixo25.7 kmRibadiso da Baixo - Santa Irene19.5 kmSanta Irene - Santiago de Compostela22.1 km

Your walk to Finisterre:

21.3km Santiago to Negreira
19.5km Negreira to Moranas/Santa Mari?a
12.5km Moranas/Santa Mari?a to Olveiroa
28km Olveiroa to Finisterre

Or:

Santiago-Negreira-Olveiroa-Fisterra

Obviously December-January will be cold but you could encounter clear skies and sunshine. You could also encounter blizzards and snow.

Have a look at my blog for Walking in Winter with advice and info from other pilgrims who have walked in winter.

Amawalker: Walking in Winter

Good luck!

Sil

[haia]

thats great, really helpful, thank you.
i think our current plan is to start from ponferrada and then push ourselves to make it to santiago and then onto the coast.

i will definitely have a look at your blog about winter weather. We are obviously taking full weather gear etc. and im sure it will be ok.

thanks again
take care

haia