Villages and Albergues

[turasoirglic]

Hi all,

Am planning my first trip on the Camino for 2 weeks from St Jean to Burgos in early October.

Should i decide which villages to stay for the night in advance or see how i feel on the day.

Are the albergues far apart?

Do pilgrims stop off in the same villages?

2 weeks seems to be the length of time needed for my trip but im quite fit and used to long hikes so would be tempted to continue walking if there's sufficient time and daylight. That's not meant to say i would rush it as enjoying the experience is what it's about.

thanks for advice/opinons

[Covey]

Regular viewers of this Forum will be getting fed up with reading Covey's Camino Methodology, but when I step out of the albergue door in the morning, I have little idea of where I will be sleeping that night. It's down to the weather, the people I meet along the way, how I am feeling, do I need to stop early and do my laundry etc etc.

The first day from St Jean is a little brutal and is generally thought to be the hardest day of the Camino Frances, but at least we are fresh and full of enthusiasm. If St Jean-Roncesvalles came in the third or fourth weeks, we would all take the bus!! You can break the stage in to two by stopping at Orisson, but that is only 10kms from St Jean and is a little expensive.

After Zubiri (2nd Day) the albergues are roughly every 10kms or so, give or take 5kms!

After a few days on the trail one seems to drop quite easily in to "Camino Families" of like minded souls who all walk at the same pace and speak the same language. The English speaking families are the most interesting and great fun(I am English!!) and the English Language groups are made up of all sorts of different nationalities whereas the German speaking families are usually 100% German etc.

The families often walk singly or in pairs (more than 4 is a pain!) and then meet up for lunch along the way, and by that time a sort of consensus arises of where to aim to stay that evening. In the evenings the families will usually eat out/cook and drink together and pass the time of day until it is time for bed.

Life is hell on the Camino!! which is why most pilgrims are seen wandering around with big smiles on their faces though some say it is to mask the pain of the blisters.!!!!!

Generally most stop walking by 3pm and settle in to the albergue, do their washing, and set off in search of cold beer (or the pharmacy!)

[HuskyNerd]

As always, Covey is right on target. People tend to gather in Camino families with a great deal of loyalty and unless you're a total loner you'll want to keep the same pace as your clan.

That said, I'm wondering if your 2 week timeline for San Jean to Burgos may be just a touch conservative. The distance is roughly 280 kms, which would be 20 kms/day in 2 weeks. If you're athletic and in an energetic crowd you might find yourself doing 25 or even 30 km/day. I'm an unathletic 52 year old who just averaged 26 km/day on the Via de la Plata. On my 2008 Camino Frances I was left in the dust by a fun group of American college girls doing 35 km/day. No big deal -- a faster pace just gives you a chance to either spend extra time in the great city of Burgos, or overshoot Burgos a bit and get a few days in the Meseta.

If you're a little OCD like me and want to sketch out an itinerary, you can go to http://www.godesalco.com/plan/frances and chart out a scheme from Roncesvalles at whatever pace you choose.

Buen camino!

[Gazza]

I have been a regular viewer/user of this Forum since late last year & just finished my Camino.

I took all advice on board. Idid some planning to have an idea where places were before I started (lesser version of Husky & more then Covey), then after day 2 threw it in the bin. Had my Brieley book with me & that was only so I could remember where the alternative routes were.

Too much planning takes the fun away, & the people you mix with may have plans that change yours. Take it day by day, hour by hour & beer by beer