Arriving In Early Sept

[mic]

Hi,
I joined this forum about a week ago and stated that I was looking into the Camino. I had no intentions of walking the Camino until 2 weeks ago. A few personal reasons why changed my mind and now I'm fully engaged in planning this trip. Just booked my travel arrangements to Biarritz. Right now, I'm looking into spending a day or two in Bayonne, then heading to St.Jean. Will arrive in StJean around Sept 9 or 10th. I have plenty of time to complete the Camino, as I've booked my home flight for early November. Planning on touring Spain after completing the Camino.

I've already tried a few walks around my town and without any conditioning, can easily walk 12 Km. Plan to continue walking a few times a week, along with some cross training of cycling and swimming. I'm sort of going with the flow on this and from what I've read, this is the best way to do so. I feel a bit odd not planning for years like other's and waking up one morning, and deciding to go.

[Daisy]

Hi Mic,

I am also walking my first Camino this fall I will be starting in SJPP on September 11th but I have to be in Santiago by October 9th, flying out the 10th. I hope I'm able to finish the Camino but will take it as it comes. Good luck with your preparations and maybe will meet up. I'll be the one with the Canadian flag on my pack.

[milvoon]

Hi all,

I'll also be doing the Camino Frances for the first time in Sept - plan to start in Roncesvalles on the 15th Sept. Am not quite sure what the weather will be like exactly (I've read it ranges between 5-15 deg C in Sept) - still in the midst of researching!

Do you think a decent windbreaker and a good raincoat will do for the road? Not keen on bringing a thick coat (unless it does get cold?). A bit of background.. I'm from Malaysia where its sunny and hot all year round and I've only been to Europe (London and Amsterdam) in winter when the temperatures were freezing!

Hope to get some advice on what clothes would be suitable for a walk in mid Sept-mid Oct!

Cheers
mil

[wupatki]

Hi mic

I too will be walking the Camino Frances, starting in early September. And I too have two months before I return home.

I have long wanted to do this, but I didn't know if my feet would let me until last fall, when I had increased my daily walking to about 20km, in four stages. So I bought a round trip from Halifax to London in February, and gave myself a stress fracture in the 4th metatarsal of my left foot in April. I'm slowly building up the distance again, very slowly and very carefully.

Your training regime sounds great to me, and as for planning, the last three or four generations of peregrinos are the only ones who had much information available. The previous 5,000 just did it. I think we will do just fine.

George

[Lipka149]

Your training regime sounds great to me, and as for planning, the last three or four generations of peregrinos are the only ones who had much information available. The previous 5,000 just did it. I think we will do just fine.

George

Gentlemen !

Yup, you will be just fine.

Many generations of peregrinos have indeed made their pilgrimage without the information that we have available to us today. Understand, however, that many of them did not make it to Santiago. There is a point on the Way that makes this very clear. You will know when you reach it ... if you can make it that far.

To be happy campers, heed the advice of those on this Forum ! We are a COMMUNITY that shares experience and advice. In order to make your Camino the experience you want it to be without avoidable distractions, I would suggest the following:

1) Take a fleece. The temperature might not be too low, but the wind will drive the cold into your bones. Keep your torso warm.
2) Keep your gear dry. You will dry out, but sleeping in a wet sleeping bag is asking for trouble.
3) Train intelligently. Walk with your loaded pack. Walk in the shoes/boots/sandals you intend to use on the trail. Walk uphill. Walk downhill.

There is lots more to consider. Be smart about this, guys. Understand that there is no training for the mental aspect of the Camino. Take care of your feet.

In the end, it's all about the walk. There is no way to make it easy. On the other hand, there is no sense in making any harder than it has to be.

May you be warm, dry, and filled with the joy of friendship along the Way !

Buen Camino !

[wupatki]

Thanks, Alan. I am deeply grateful for your advice (which I intend to follow to the letter) and your wisdom, which you and many more have provided, gratis. I hope to join your community.

The information I was thinking of, and I should have made this clear, is about places and people along the Way. I am using the information about the availability of food, water, and places to sleep to form an itinerary, which may or may not have some utility once I start. I make this itinerary because I have the time and it is fun to do, not because I need to plan the whole trip in detail and stick to the plan. One can obsess.

BTW, I note an error of two orders of magnitude in my original post: there have been about 50, not 5,000, generations of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

Muy amable,

George

[mic]

Hello all,
This forum has been wonderful as a resource. As I prepare and let co-workers, friends and family know what I'm planning this fall, 1/2 of the people I mention this to are inspired and supportive, the other 1/2 think I'm out of my mind. Part of my planning has been reflection on why I'm doing this and what I'm hoping to gain from the experience. This is my first time traveling solo, internationally. I'm learning, if my first few days are 'known': How I'm getting from point a to b; where I'm sleeping, and the train schedules; that my anxiety is gone.

[grayland]

Hi all,

I'll also be doing the Camino Frances for the first time in Sept - plan to start in Roncesvalles on the 15th Sept. Am not quite sure what the weather will be like exactly (I've read it ranges between 5-15 deg C in Sept) - still in the midst of researching!

Do you think a decent windbreaker and a good raincoat will do for the road? Not keen on bringing a thick coat (unless it does get cold?). A bit of background.. I'm from Malaysia where its sunny and hot all year round and I've only been to Europe (London and Amsterdam) in winter when the temperatures were freezing!

Hope to get some advice on what clothes would be suitable for a walk in mid Sept-mid Oct!

Cheers
mil

It can get cold...not freezing but chilly in the mornings or when the wind blows hard. That said, I would not take a heavy coat. You are much better (for weight consideration) to take a waterproof wind breaker (seams sealed) and a fleece shirt. That along with tee shirts will allow you to layer. You may get chilled some morning...but you just walk a little faster. You will also need a good Poncho raincoat that is designed to go over your pack. Be sure to get a lightweight pack cover as well.
The weight of your pack is everything!! Go minimum as everything is available along the way. Don't take anything you think you "might need".
Maybe others can add to this and direct you to other threads with some good info.
Buen Camino

[Lipka149]

I hope to join your community.

The information I was thinking of, and I should have made this clear, is about places and people along the Way. I am using the information about the availability of food, water, and places to sleep to form an itinerary, which may or may not have some utility once I start. I make this itinerary because I have the time and it is fun to do, not because I need to plan the whole trip in detail and stick to the plan. One can obsess.

George

George, be assured you are a part of this community already !

Regarding your itinerary, I could not agree more with your approach. It is fun, isn't it ?

Ours went to hell in a handbasket before we even left the US (as I have related elsewhere). Then we ran into a lovely 70 something young lady (walking her 7th Camino) on the train to SJPP who became our first "Camino Angel". Aaron & I had planned to go from Los Arcos to Santo Domingo in 3 days, but Else stopped us in Viana ... much to my initial distress. Being a day behind already, I was loath to "waste" another one. I reluctantly agreed with Aaron & Else. I was not happy.

Little did I know that the next weekend Viana was having a festival. So while I am in the shower griping to myself about lost time, the festival organizers decided to test their sound system in the outdoor theater across the street. Full blast. So much for my anticipated nap ! Except for one thing ...

The music was from one of my favorite musicals, JC Superstar, and the selection was the Last Supper ! Add to that, it was in Spanish ! Well, not only was I captivated, but ever so grateful for such a magnificent reward for breaking my itinerary ! I still took my nap, but man, I'll tell ya, I sang that music for the next week.

[Covey]

Mic.........Only 1/2 think you are out of your mind??? You have obviously not mentioned the bedbugs, blisters etc at which point the needle will be nudging 95%!!

Seriously though, do your plan to get you to St Jean, and then just look at a blank sheet of paper for the next day, and the next and............!

The yellow arrows will guide your feet, so unclutter the mind, switch off the mobile, look up at the hills and say to yourself "I can do this" and put one foot in front of another. I find that after a couple of miles of blank I start dreaming of Claudia Schiffer (or whoever) and before you know it, you have arrived.

By the way, the albergue is always just over the next hill!!!

[mic]

Covey -- no I haven't mentioned the 'high points' you just mentioned. The idea of leaving my mobile behind, was shocking enough to some.

With the exception of finding a hotel (the hostel is closed in Bayonne) for the First two nights; I'm sorted out my travel plans. I'm flying into Biarritz from the US (Boston); and plan to spend two nights in Bayonne to see the town and rest. Planning on the first train to St. Jean.

Agree, to take each day as it comes; right now I'm reading about the various towns I'll travel through and noting area's I may want to consider as a extra layover day or to take some of the suggested alternative routes.