First Timer and Solo Gal

[Treedat]

Hello,
Great forum by the way!! Just wondering if anyone can fill me in on a couple of things.. I'm planning my first Camino trip starting from Pamplona at the beginning of April 2011 and am a solo female traveler. I have heard that there aren't as many pilgrims during April and am wondering if it is still relatively safe to do alone?? Also, is April fairly rainy still - I've heard/read mixed reviews and am obviously going to pack accordingly...just curious how others have made out...
Thanks

[BHinSanDiego]

Hi, and congratulations on starting your Camino! Though I can't give any info on the rain during April, I walked my Camino from May 22 to June 23 of last year. However, even though you are traveling alone, you will never be alone, the majority of the pilgrims I encountered and now call friends traveled to the Camino by themselves. Staying in the alburgues will give you the opportunity to make friends to walk with or when you or them desire to walk alone there will usually be someone within sight. But I do have to add something I didn't encountered (being a male), some of the ladies I met did say they encountered men doing things I won't go into, when I was told this on 2 occasions I felt somewhat naive, it was something I never expected but it does happen, they were never personally attacked but were made uncomfortable with what they saw, in our modern society there are some sick people out there so always be aware of your surroundings, make friends and use common sense.

But I will add, be prepared for rain, a good poncho that covers you and your pack, also a lightweight fleece is always good.

Buen Camino,
Barry

[Ange]

Hi
I'm also a 'solo gal' and am setting off (from the UK) a little earlier than yourself - 12th March - so also wondering about weather and numbers of others en route. Can't really tell you much other than from what others have told me and what i've read, yes it's safe and fine to do as a woman on your own, yes, there will always be others around, even though slightly less earlier in the year. I'm just preparing for the worst weather wise and taking waterproofs, would rather be walking through rain than blistering heat any day, and will make me appreciate a long hot bath even more when i get home!
Good luck on your walk, and here's to us solo gals and having the gutsyness to go it alone! :O)

[Leslie]

It always rains at some point along the Camino. I have walked in July, Au, and Sep and have got soaked in every month at some point, even had hail stones that ruined a crop of grapes in July near Bugos 2004 - waterproofs are a must.

[Treedat]

Thanks everyone for the tips and info! Much appreciated
Looking forward to everything the Camino throws my way!!!

[Larry]

Dear Treedat
I can't imagine there would be fewer trekkers in April. I started in March 2008 and the further I went, the more people I saw. I started alone but after the first day I found several people from the UK walking the same pace I was, or there abouts, and we wound up walking the whole Camino nearly side by side. There was a great range of ages and countries represented and, to be honest, if I wanted to be alone I would have had to get off the trail. The last 100 k was very full as were most of the the albergues; I actually had to get a hotel room 3 times because of the albergues being full. The only place I heard of any problems was in the forest between Villafranca Montes de Oca and St Juan de Ortega where illegal immigrants from North Africa have waylaid pilgrims and robbed them. It is regularly patrolled by the Guardia Civil ( I saw three police on bicycles) but people still get robbed. No one I knew of got robbed, though. It is advised not to travel alone in that area. Again, you will meet up with people and I don't think you'll have any problem finding someone to walk with. You'll probably have some trouble keeping the Spanish men at bay. Have fun.

[grayland]

Larry.....this is the first time I have ever heard of the illegal immigrant problem you described. The section before San Juan de Ortega is long and is mostly on a cleared road of some kind (unfinished & muddy in the rain) through a forest.
I walked in March and April of both 2009 and 2010 and heard nothing of this. I wouldn't want others to have any undo concern.
Can you give a link of some type describing the problem? I would be very interested.