complete newbee start point question.....

[neilboonham]

Hi All,

I am planning to walk on the Camino Frances in September (possibly starting around the 23rd ish) I have about 2-3 weeks so my initial plan was to start in Leon and take 14 days. So now for the questions:

1) If I had three weeks where would be a good starting point ?
2) Whats a good way of getting to Leon ? (or any starting point you suggest ?)

Sorry for the supplementary questions, but thanks in advance for you answers.

Neil

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Neil,
Sounds like fun! With three weeks you could probably start at Burgos, depending on you pace. Check out http://www.godesalco.com/plan/frances to help you plan. Most people seem to average 25 kms/day so with 21 days theoretically 525 kms is possible, which allows Burgos.

How you get there, or to Leon, depends on where you start. I'm from the US so it's generally easiest for me to fly to Madrid and then take the train to wherever. The Madrid to Leon connection via train is no problem (I recommend the express). I've no doubt Burgos is the same, though I've only been there via train from Bilbao, which would be a fairly easy option if you're starting from London.

Hope this helps. Buen camino!

[neilboonham]

Thanks Husky nerd,

That is certainly food for thought ! Suppose I need to speak to my boss now ?

Another random thought I have not seen posted anywhere - I don't have a word of Spanish (well beyond the hello, thank you and ordering coffee) will this be a problem ?

Thanks again

Neil

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Neil,

The Burgos to Leon stretch is magical -- with the right attitude, given the terrain.

Spanish is definitely a plus since it's uncommon to find an English speaker among the locals in the countryside. I'd suggest at least learning some travel Spanish, even just a half dozen sentences.

[neilboonham]

Thanks HuskyNerd, Looks like I will need to dust off a Spanish phrase book ASAP, never have been very good at languages. Will certainly think about the extra week, see if my boss will allow me the time. Thanks again ! Neil

[Maya2]

Thanks for the link. It's quite helpful.

[neilboonham]

Just checked out that link, awesome !
Thanks again!
Neil

[Ranall]

Hi Neil

I'm heading off on my first camino on 2 Sept. I've only got 2.5 weeks to spare so I decided to start in Leon. Sil suggested to me on another thread (Advice please - Where to start? and other questions) that I visit Leon as it's a beautiful city but then to take the bus to Astorga and start my route from there, as the two days walk in between is alongside the highway. By doing this I hope to have time to walk to Finisterre from SdC but if not I will certainly have time to take the bus there to watch the sun set. Have a look at the post as Sil was kind enough to provide me with a suggested route plan!

If you are flying out from the UK, it is easy to get budget flights through RyanAir. I am flying into Valladolid from Stansted - it only cost me £39 inc taxes and the bus from valladolid airport to Leon takes only 1hr45 and costs 15.24euros. Search on ALSA - Hacemos tu viaje m for timetable. My return flights is from SdC.

I guess I'm lucky in that I studied spanish/lived there for a year so although my language skills are a bit rusty! I have a friend who did the last part of the route a few years ago and he didn't speak any spanish...he managed to pick up a few basic phrases pretty quickly and he got by. I would say that my experience of spanish people is that they always appreciate any effort made to speak the language and in any case you always find a way to communicate with someone - we're all humans after all!

I've only got 35 days to go now until I set off...I really can't wait although the training isn't coming along too well. I've been walking the 7 miles home from work every day but I think I need to step it up a gear!

Best of luck,
Ranall

[neilboonham]

Thanks ranall, that's really helpful, just looked at the thread you suggested, taking the bus sounds like a good plan, I was planning my route last night for 14 days and it didn't leave much slack for rest days or sightseeing days. Thanks Again! This is certainly one of the friendliest forums on the net!
Cheers
Neil

[Covey]

At one point we were all newbies on the Camino, wondering where to go and what a Pilgrim Passport was, and what kit to take. Those of us who have been before have great fun in helping those contemplating the adventure of a lifetime. It is rather like an extension of the Camino Spirit you find along the way where complete strangers will stop and help those who need help.

Enjoy yourself.

[Tanya Yaksich]

Hi All,
I've just finished theCamino from Leon to Santiago and then took a day trip to Finisterre.

Don't worry too much about training, as nothing can prepare you for the terrain in Spain unless it is similar where you live.

I turned 63 on the Camino at Rabanal Del Camino. I had been doing some walking at home, but i forgot how mountainous Spain can be!! I am slightly overweight with a dodgy knee, but managed. I think the Spanish need to re-define the word "undulating" in their dictionary! Climbing up and down mountains is not my definition of undulating!

Take note that churches CLOSE sunday afternoons in Spain. I arrived in Astorga mid sunday arvo and the group i was with left early next morning so i missed the church and other interesting things to see that were closed.

Unless you're superman/woman do not walk from Cacabelos to O'cebreiro like we did. That was a killer! Nearly 36kms, half up a steep mountain.

Enoy your Camino
Cheers Tanya

[Tanya Yaksich]

Oh, i forgot,
Walking to the bus stop to go to Finisterre, a man approached us and offered to take us to Finisterre for the same price as the bus fare but in one hour instead of three. Well worth it. Returned the same way too.

[Ranall]

Thanks for the tips Tania and congratulations on completing your camino. Happy belated birthday too!

How long did it take you to complete Leon to Santiago de Compostela? I'm hoping to get Astorga to Sdc completed in 11 days although I appreciate this is probably a bit ambitious and have some days to spare (at the cost of walking to Finisterre) if necessary.

Also, was the route particularly busy given that it is a holy year and did you have many problems finding accommodation?

Thanks,
Ranall

[Tanya Yaksich]

Hi,
Thanks for the birthday wishes.
We left Leon saturday 3rd july and arrived saturday 17th july about lunchtime in Santiago. We mostly took it easy. The younger ones in the group took off and arrived a day and a half earlier.The only problem with accomodation was in O'cebreiro but we arrived at 7 in the evening having walked 36 kms. ( Stupid ). I expected it to be super busy but i often found myself happily walking alone. Even from Sarria, you would get a rush of chattering groups speeding past you in nice clothes and tiny little day packs with a bottle of water, then they were gone and the rest of the day was lovely, apart from rain, heatwave, mist.
Read my other posts regards Accomodation and also Finisterre.
Cheers
Tanya

[Leslie]

If I had three weeks I would start in Pamplona, it would not get you to Santiago - but it would give you a reason to come back again, to finish at some point in the future.

[Pavel]

With three weeks, I would start in Leon or somewhere before the city (depending on condition). From Leon, you will easily walk 14 days to Santiago, take 3 or 4 days journey to Finisterre to see the sunset, go to Muxia if you have enough time and energy and then return to Santiago and rest there. Definitely don't miss sunset at Finisterre (wonderful experience!) and going there on foot is better than by bus. Nice countryside and nice opprotunity to go alone, which is very rare before Santiago. Tanya must have been lucky.