Camino - last 10 days - August / september 2010

[maya]

Dear fellow travellers,
I wish to walk the last 10 days of the camino, either at August (starting around the 14 - 15) or at september (starting after the 14).
I still cannot be sure about the dates due to work constraints.

I would like to stay in privet hostels / refugios / albergues along the way.

My question is, how many days ahead should I book a place in these hostels? is it possible to book (for example) 7 - 10 days before my arrival?

Thanks ahead!
Maya.

[Covey]

I would suggest that you do not bother booking ahead, because at this point in time, you do not really know where you are going to be on any particular day. One of the joys of the Camino is that there is really no plan, other than the date you start and the date you finish.

What you do in between is a matter of what you find when you stick your nose outside the albergue door in the morning!

If it is pouring with rain, you might decide to walk only 15kms before stopping and getting dried out. If it is warm and sunny, then you might feel like walking 25-30kms before stopping for the night.

Most of us start walking at dawn and aim to finish around 2-3pm, but I rarely know when I start walking at dawn where I will end up sleeping that night.

Its called Freedom. Nobody is telling you how far to walk or how fast, or where to stop to eat or sleep. All you have to do is follow the yellow arrows on the signs or painted on the road or the side of a building. The rest is entirely up to you!!

[maya]

Thanks!

But is'nt it too risky at this time of the year? What are the chances I won't find a decent place to stay in by the afternoon?
Maybe there is a way of calling each morning to secure a place for the same day? (It's very common on other treks, like the TMB).

Maya.

[Covey]

You will be OK because today was going to be the worst day as today is St James's Day and everyone will have wanted to be in Santiago for today.

The queues at the Pilgrim Office for those wanting a Compostella issued on the Saints Day will have been very long indeed.

My good friend and fellow moderator, Sandy aka Huskeynerd! was planning to be in the Cathedral in Santiago today, and he is a Methodist Pastor!

If you want to call somewhere in the morning to book for the evenings, then do so. It is your Camino and you should do it your way.

Me,, I would just go with the flow!!