Where to start?

[sangfroid]

Hi all,

I am planning my pilgrimage at the moment and have a few questions. I start a new job on the 1st of july and have between now and then to walk. Saying that, where should i start? I walked a little of the route in France last year and fell in love with the idea of starting from Le Puy - but will i have time to get all the way?

My second question is regarding baggage... I am carrying old knee injuries and am worried about a heavy backpack, i heard there is a service that can carry your pack for you - does that exist along all the route? Is it true that you cant stay in the pilgrim hostels if you don't carry your own luggage?

Many thanks for your advice!

[Covey]

Quite a number of people start from Le Puy, so you may have some company, although you may find it easier to start from St JeanPdP because of the flights in to Bairritz.

The bag service operates virtually everywhere on the Camino Frances starting at St JeanPdP, although it can prove pretty costly if you use it all the way along the route.

The average cost is ?5-7 per bag/pack per day. If you stick to the suggested pack weight of 10kgs and start out by not trying to do too many kms per day, the knees might hold up OK.

The bag service is very useful for those who pick up injuries along the way and where you need a couple of days respite to allow a strain to settle down.

In the peak months of July-Sept many albergues give priority for beds to walkers with packs and those without packs and cyclists have to wait to check in until the "pack mules" have arrived. Quite often they will look at your boots to see if you are pack mule or are really an "autobus pilgrim" in which case you go to the back of the queue!!

[sangfroid]

Thanks for that, i was really wondering about the timing tho... if i leave after easter am i going to be rushing it to make it all the way from Le Puy before i have to get back? I hope to take a few rest days and not have to really push for more than 30k each day...

I guess i will try the backpack (i am a notoriously un-ruthless packer tho!) for a few days and if things dont go well i can bail and get it carried for me! Longest i've ever walked continuously is a week so this is going to be interesting

As regards maps/guidebooks what did people use? Is it easy enough to get the pilgrims passport in Le Puy or should i try to get one in Dublin before i go?

[Covey]

The end of the first day for most starting at SJPdP is the start of their ruthless packing routine!!!

At Roncesvalles there is an area in the basement where people pile all their unwanted kit at the end of the first day. Sometimes you could equip a regiment from the surplus kit.

You look at a tube of toothpaste and squeeze half down the sink to save weight. Most of us get a little manic about saving weight!!

25-30kms a day is quite enough and some days it is nice to stop after 15kms, do the dhobi and go for a couple of cold beers. Tomorrow is another day!!