First Time Walker Advice Please

[Spencer]

What is the best time of year to start the walk, am hoping to go in March, is that sensible?

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Spencer ~
Congrats on your upcoming Camino. March is a little early to walk the Camino, though it's often done by hardier folk. The primary drawbacks are a) some albergues are only just opening for the season, and b) the weather is more likely cold and wet, especially in the high points and into Galicia. It's good to remember that Northern Spain has all four seasons, and snow in March is not uncommon in high places and rain is not common everywhere.

Most people seem to agree that May/June or Sept/Oct are the ideal months. These are a little off the high season which means fewer pilgrims and have the advantage of cooler than summer temps in the hotter regions, like the Meseta. I'll be doing another Camino this year, once again in May/June, because I prefer the lush green colors and brilliant flowers of late spring to the plowed fields and ripening grapes of autumn.

Buen camino!

[grayland]

We have walked two Caminos in March and recommend it. It can be a bit cold and rain and wind....but what the heck it is a Pilgrimage.
Nothing you can't handle. Most albergues are open and there are plenty of other Pilgrims..but not overcrowded except from Sarria to Santiago due to those who are only doing the last stage.
Go for it.
Buen Camino

[Spencer]

Hellp HuskyNerd, thank you so much for your sound advice, to be truthful as this is my first walk I now realise that it is best not to rush such an important event which in my haste and eagerness to do it I now take your advice and will be commencing my walk in the May /June period and if things work out I will buy you a San Miguel somewhere along the path! Thank you for your advice, much appreciated HuskeyNerd

[Ange]

Hi Grayland, I was pleased to read your comment as I'm starting my camino mid March and was beginning to feel a tiny bit worried about weather and places not being open etc - but hey, ho, I have to go then for various reasons, so what's the point in worrying? I did a walk in the Himalayas out of season (with someone else unlike the camino - I'm not that brave!) when everyone told me not to and it was the most incredible experience and wonderfully quiet and uncrowded - I'm hoping this might be similiar,
Thanks, Ange

[Leslie]

I was planning on going in April this year, but the closer it get the less likely that looks. I am sick of the bloody winter, the rain and the cold - I have been out hill walking in cold for the last few months and I have had enough - so I am thinking that I will delay to Sep, I really like the heat and dislike the cold and rain - why do I live in Ireland? Well it is one step better than Glasgow where I grew up.

[grayland]

March and April are just not that bad. In 2009 we had many really hot days, especially on the Meseta. Only used our ponchos a couple of times and that was in Galicia. Some cold (not bitter) early mornings in the higher areas....but easy to overcome when walking.
2010 was wetter and windy in places but never what I would consider "bad". Lots of warm spring like days with tee shirt weather.

[Covey]

I have to say that I am with Leslie in liking the heat of northern Spain in the summer rather than the cold and wet of home.

I am full of admiration for those who walk the Camino in the snow and cold, but I have no wish to join them!! As for the Meseta in August, I love it, but then I was brought up in Africa as a boy and enjoy my weather warm, and my beer and gin cold.

[Ange]

I think, to be honest, we're all in the lap of the God's where the weaher's concerned aren't we?! Too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy - that's one of the advantages of living in the UK - we've seen it all, and generally at a time of year you wouldn't expect it! Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst, that's what i say. I'll be delighted if i have a few sunny days - packing a squishy straw sun hat just in case :O)

[Larry]

Spencer
I started the Camino in March 2009 and I, also was advised that many albergues may not be open but I found that not to be the case. There are some places that will be very cold but hiking the mesetas will not be too bad. In the summer they can be very hot and dusty. I preferred the Spring because the streams are full and the weather cool. In Galicia it can be rainy and damp but a rain poncho suited me well. The start at St Jean can be a little dicey; one trekker broke his leg the last quarter mile (he didn't follow the sound advice of the pilgrim office in St. Jean) and snow storms over the Pyrenees can come on suddenly. Good luck. I'm 60 and I started on my own but in two days I met and made loads of friends. A small note on food; European idea of breakfast is ok if you're in a office but walking 25 k/day, it just don't cut it. Get some granola and some UHT (ultra high temp) pasteurized milk for the morning; otherwise pack light and have a great time.
Larry

[jan]

Hi
We hare planning to walk the Camino, end of May/June, from St. Jean. Is their the facilities to have your main rucksack sent of head of you to Roncesvalles. This part of the walk is my main concern.
Regards
Jan Minnis

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Jan ~
Absolutely you may send your rucksack ahead of you by using Express Bouricot. Buen camino ~
HuskyNerd

[Buffalo Girl]

Hi Jan,
I'll be traveling at the same time, and I hope to see you. This is also my first Camino and may I ask why this leg of the journey concerns you?

[Buffalo Girl]

Help Huskynerd!
I am driving myself crazy trying to find the best place to fly to from Detroit. Paris ? then train/bus to St. Jean? Or Mardrid, train to Pamploma, then a taxi to St. Jean...????
I am really in need of some advice, I've searched the internet and travelocity-ed until I'm dizzy. You have done this and must know the best way!
Thank You so much

[HuskyNerd]

Hi BG --
Congrats on your upcoming camino. The two primary options are a) through Biarritz or b) through Pamplona.

Biarritz is a quick connection to Bayonne from which you can catch a train right into St Jean. Biarritz airport has good access from London, Paris, Amsterdam, etc. I choose Paris only because London requires a transfer of airports.

Pamplona is accessed by train from Madrid and requires a private van (like Express Bouricot) to get to St Jean. because Madrid is an easy train or plane flight from Santiago an r/t ticket through there can save $s.

Feel free to PM me if you need more specific help. Buen camino!

[Covey]

Those flying in from far away often have to try and fit in with the vagaries of the airlines and their fare structures. If you can fly from Detroit to Paris, then you can usually add a leg which is up to 15% of the mileage of Detroit to Paris, which means a good travel agent can often get you the Paris to Bairritz hop in the same fare as Detroit to Paris.

Paris to Bairritz is either the overnight TGV train from Paris to Bayonne, and then the local train from Bayonne to St Jean, OR a flight from Paris to Bairritz, and then about 30 minutes in the bus from the airport to Bayonne station.

You need to get to Bayonne as early as possibly during the day so you can get to St Jean say midday to mid afternoon and get yourself settled in and sorted out in good order ready to start at dawn the following morning.

Frankly, if I was arriving via Madrid, then I would start at Pamplona. as the hassle of getting to St Jean is hardly worth the bother OR cost.

St Jean is not the official start point of the Camino Frances. It is one of many points between northern Europe and Santiago where Pilgrims join the Way. The real start point in the old days was Paris where you prayed at Notre Dame Cathedral and set off for all points south and Santiago. Another route went from Paris to Rome, and another from Paris to Jerusalem. St Jean is just the last town in France before crossing in to Spain.

[jan]

Hi Buffalo Girl
I am a bit concerned about the route from St Jean to Roncesvalles because I know it is 700mt accent, (I can do about 500 OK) But I haven't yet found out how steep it is, I've been told by a very fit walker who did the camino, that that leg was very hard.
But I have started training.Keep in touch.
Jan

[Covey]

Jan, there are two routes from St Jean to Roncesvalles. The "normal" over the top route is called the Route Napoleon and is basically a 18km uphill walk mainly on roads, followed by a steep 8km downhill walk to Roncesvalles. The last bit is the harder because you are pounding down a road again and it is very hard on the knees!

The other route is usually called the "Winter" route and pilgrims have to use this route when the top route is closed through bad weather. This route is far less strenuous and has the advantage of passing through a number of villages on the way to Roncesvalles which means there are frequent places to stop and have something to eat and drink.

The Route Napoleon really only has the stop at Orrison and that is all there is for 27kms!!!

I walked the winter route last September for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. The top route is spectacular if the weather is good, and from the top you can see 75kms in all directions. If the weather is not good however, it is very long and hard and can get very cold even in summer.

[Buffalo Girl]

Hi Jan
I'm going to take Covey's advice and skip the St. Jean thing. My knees are crap anyway so it doesn't make sense to me to risk the rest of the trip. I plan on leaving Detroit on May 25, fly to Madrid, make my way to Pamplona and MAYBE start at Roncesvalles...just because it looks so cool. It would be great to meet you!

[BHinSanDiego]

Hey, BG, looks like things are coming together for you, I hope you saw the private messages I sent, I didn't see yours till I accidently clicked on that area. Buen Camino, Barry

[Buffalo Girl]

Hey Barry
Yes! I am happy to say this is coming together rather nicely. Still deciding on flights, but I'm sure that Paploma is going to be my starting point around May 28-29. I'll have a couple joiners in Sarria for the last leg to Santiago, and I'm figuring logistics for them to meet me. I am so open to this expierience it's not funny. LOL

[Larry]

Dear Buffalogal

You are going to have such a good time. It is just a wonderful experience and I am very very happy for you. It is a little too bad you're not starting from St. Jean. The monastery at Roncevoux is very beautiful but it is nothing compared to the exhilaration of seeing the goal appear through the trees and the magnificent view of the valley behind. And the walk through the woods the next day is something out of a storybook.
But, there will be other tests and magnificent views. I know that to envy is a sin but I soooooo envy you. I'm planning my trip for next year. Buen Camino. Larry

[revrenjen]

When are your friends joining you in Sarria? My husband is also joining me for the last leg. He's flying directly to Santiago on June 21--if your friends are coming that time maybe we can talk about a shared cab ride.

Rene
Omaha

[BHinSanDiego]

Thanks Buffalo Girl, good to hear you're going to walk the entire Spanish link of the Camino. It will be something you'll never forget, not a day goes by that I don't think back to last year. Right now I'm re-reading Hape Kerkelings "I'm Off Then" great book about the Camino. Have you thought about keeping an online blog? I did it last year and what I really found interesting was there were people I didn't know that somehow found it and were following my walk.
Buen Camino

[reddmum]

I'm a first time walker on the Camino Trail. I'm from BC,Canada and plan to start walking May2/2011. Will spend the night at a hotel in Bayonne on May 1/2011. Take the train the next day to SJDP and stay the night there. Will only walk 8K the first day to Orrisson.

Are the shops open in SJDP on Sundays ? Are there collapsable walking poles that can be purchased in SJDP?

Is there anyone from Canada walking from SJDP on May2/2011?

I have read so may posts and advice which has really helped in my preparation for the Camino. Thanks

Have a great Camino