sleeping under the stars?

[shox]

HI,
Im doing the camino this june, from st jean, to santago, and we'v got about 35 days set aside.

I was wondering if a ground mat would be a good thing to bring along for nice clear starry nights?

I was origionally thinking a small tent, but figured that'd be pretty heavy.

Thanks in advance,

Shox.

[HuskyNerd]

I'm a believer in ground mats -- if for nothing else than sunbathing. Others believe they're a waste of space. I brought one along in 2008 in case I needed to sleep outside, but I only used it to sit on while resting along the way.

The Camino is such a social thing I wonder if you'll want to sleep outside alone. Since you'll end up in a town and either eat at a restaurant or cook at an albergue it'd be unusual to sleep outside and alone by choice. Even a camping/biker guy who I met on the Camino ended up staying in albergues for the company, the showers, etc.

Buen camino!

[Covey]

Ground mats are in my humble opinion a waste of space, and as HuskyNerd says, are only useful if you have time to sunbathe!!

Camping sounds a smart move, being out in rural northern Spain, but the reality is a lot different.

Many small towns have campsites but these are usually out on the edge of town and often do not have much in the way of facilities. Your friends will all be in the bars in the middle of town which means you have to leave your kit at the campsite when you wander off for a beer and food.

It is difficult to describe in words the level of friendship that bonds pilgrims together, and the centre of this life is the albergue. Being on your own in a tent on the edge of town takes you outside the "family".

[geraldkelly]

I don't think a sleeping mat's a waste of space on the Camino Frances in summer. Ofhen with the heat it's more comfortable to sleep outside. Keep an eye on the weather forecast though. Sudden downpours, etc.

As for the social life. Well, very often there's nobody stopping you hanging around an albergue until bed time. Also, half the time a lot of the pilgrims spend the evening in a bar anyway.

And if you're ever obliged to sleep out you'll be glad of it.

And for post lunch siestas there's nothing like it!

Gerald

[proon4]

Im hoping to start the camino from SJPDP on the 27th April 2010...I'm thinking of bringing a one man lightweight tent..I done the camino last year at the same time ,and 3 times could not get a bed in an alburge. That was ok as I stayed in reasonable priced hotels,but this year been a holy year the prices might be a lot more expensive. As well as that a lot more people walking. I would be hoping to pitch the tent maybe in the grounds of an alburge if there was room. Anybody got ideas on that...Pat

[Covey]

I walked from St Jean starting on the 4th July last year and never had a problem finding a bed in an albergue. I find that if you stop walking at 2pm and find a bed, there is rarely a problem. If you leave it until 5pm, then there can be a problem getting in to where you had planned to stay.

The question is if it is worth carrying a tent and its extra weight on the odd chance you might have difficulty in finding a bed.

I listen to many pilgrims planning their next days walk and they are planning on staying in a small village with one albergue with 25 beds. You only need a Spanish Scout troop walking ahead of you to decide to stay there, and all of a sudden the albergue you are planning on staying in only has 10 beds and not the 25 in the book.

In busy times I think it is best to head for where ever has the most albergue beds and is big enough to have a few bars who let rooms. That way your options are greater.

[Waterfall]

I will be taking a tent similar to the one I used for the Appalachian Trail in the United States in 2007. It weighs 19ozs so is perfect for this type of hike for a comfortable shelter option. It will protect you from both rain and bugs. I purchased them from a website tarptent.com. A backpacker actually makes them in his basement.

Waterfall

[Susan]

I will be taking a tent similar to the one I used for the Appalachian Trail in the United States in 2007. It weighs 19ozs so is perfect for this type of hike for a comfortable shelter option. It will protect you from both rain and bugs. I purchased them from a website tarptent.com. A backpacker actually makes them in his basement.

Waterfall

Can you tell me the brand of the tent - who makes it? I'll check out the website too.

Thank you!

Susan