Looking for experienced companions or guide for mid-july from Leon

[littlelight]

Hello all!
I'm walking the Camino for the first time with 2 of my friends, we're planning to walk from Leon As we're all girls, we're thinking it'll be..smarter for us to have experienced companions with us or a guide.
I've been trying to look for a guide but all I can find are 'tour guides'...and they're itineraries are all...very touristy like..and honestly, not the type of journey I'm looking for since I'm searching for inspiration for my photography thesis. and not to mention that the tour guides are all very expensive for poor college students :/

We're planning to go near the end of july, around the 25th or either august, is there anyone out there interested? (:

[Covey]

What you really need is a Camino Grandfather!

We are a legendary breed of individuals who spend our days on the Camino rescuing maidens, repairing broken hearts and listening to tales of woe and unrequited love. We patch up the injured, provide a shoulder to cry on and having soothed all the doubts you are having about why you are there, we go on our way ready to bring a smile back to peoples faces.

Nobody tells us that that is how we are going to be, we just are, and it is the way we give back a little of the fun and enjoyment the Camino has given us over the years. We are in no hurry usually, and can therefore take the time to sort out peoples problems. Three years ago I met a wonderful Canadian lady on the Camino Frances who had an artificial leg. She was finding the going a little hard and could only manage 10kms a day. Nobody would walk with her because she was only doing 10kms a day, so I offered to keep her company for a week and off we went. I thoroughly enjoyed having an excuse to slow down and just amble along chatting and looking at the scenery. In Burgos, another Camino Grandfather offered to get her in to Leon and so on until she completed her Camino. It took her 94 days from St Jean to Santiago and I have never met a braver or more determined person.

One year I sat in the square in Los Arcos and around the table were Camino Grandfathers from Holland, Germany, UK and the USA.

[Covey]

I also should have mentioned that nobody is alone on the Camino unless they want to be. You will not need a guide because there will be at least 100 guides walking the same stretch of the Camino Frances as you each day from almost every nation under the sun.

Forget about plans, just go with the flow, and if you have a problem, everybody will muck in and help out, and if you are really lucky, one of the legendary Camino.....................etc etc.

Try to spend 48hrs in Leon. It is the nicest city along the Camino and has a great night life.

[grayland]

Hi Littlelite...
I think what Covey is trying to tell you is that you do not need (or probably want) a stranger to be involved with your camino. The three of you should just go and enjoy. There is little or no danger and you will meet many others from the first night. If one or more of them are compatible you will no doubt walk along the rest of the way. You don't need a guide for any reason. The other pilgrims around you are more than enough "guides". Just go and enjoy...it will be wonderful.

[Covey]

I was merely promoting the Association of Legendary Self Appointed Gin Drinking Grey Haired Camino Grandfathers (South London Chapter), of whom I have the honor to the the Founding (and only) member!

I am also available for Bar Mitzvahs on alternate Thursdays.

[littlelight]

haha! thank you Covey for your offer! but I'll take garyland's and your advice, on not needing a guide (:

and sorry to dissapoint you covey

"We are a legendary breed of individuals who spend our days on the Camino rescuing maidens, repairing broken hearts and listening to tales of woe and unrequited love. We patch up the injured, provide a shoulder to cry on and having soothed all the doubts you are having about why you are there, we go on our way ready to bring a smile back to peoples faces."

none of the above applies to us (:

[Covey]

Seriously though..............You have done the first smart move and that is to join this Forum. We concentrate on the "how" rather than the "why", so if you need advice, ask away!

There are some very good Guide Books written about the Camino and it's various Ways, but most of the advice here is tendered by those who have walked the various Camino's a number of times.

I will of course have to live with the disappointment of my services not being required between Leon and Santiago, but after 5 trips down the Camino Frances in the last 5 years, I am off to pastures new on the Camino Portuguese on the 1st August.

The first sentence of your quote from my post has a certain poetic license, the second sentence usually starts half way up the 20km hill outside St Jean and continues through to Santiago!

[Covey]

If you are starting at Leon, I would suggest you stay in a small hotel for a couple of nights. You can only stay one night in an albergue and I would suggest you avoid the Nun's Albergue as they lock you in at 2130hrs for the night. At 2100hrs most Spanish are just going out for the evening!

There are lots of cheap hotels scattered around the Cathedral (where all churches are in Spain, at the top of the hill!!). Often people flying in from the States have long and complicated journeys and 48hrs to sleep and relax before starting your Camino is a smart move.

Don't forget to tell your credit card company and bank that you are going to Spain and will want to draw cash from local ATM's.