Guide to The Camino Frances

[geraldkelly]

Hi fellow pilgrims!

I've written a guide to the Camino Franc?s based on my experiences walking it over the last few years. The guide just contains factual information and is designed to be very lightweight while providing all the information you need to walk the Camino. It's FREE and it can be downloaded from: http://www.caminoguide.net/CaminoFrancesGuide.pdf

To go to the website click here: The Camino Guide - Home

There's also a guide to part of the Via de la Plata.

Buen Camino a tod@s!
Gerald

[Covey]

Brilliant!!

All anyone needs to walk the route, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

Look forward to you producing the guide for the Camino Frances!!

Covey

[geraldkelly]

Hi Covey

Thanks for your message. Actually I have a Camino Frances Guide there on the website too.

Gerald

[Covey]

Sorry, missed that but I put it down to old age!!

People should carry your guide to the Camino Frances as it is far more useful than most of the glossy productions.

It's the bits like advising people to use the road coming out of Hontonas instead of the track when wet, which marks your guide as a practical walkers guide rather than a tourist guide.

The first year I stumbled along the path, and the next two trips walked along the road. I know many do not like walking on the roads, but at least you can look up and take in what is around you.

So much of the Camino is spent with your eyes glued to the track and where your next footstep is going, and it is so easy to twist an ankle on these tracks if you are not careful, and then your problems really begin!

[Roseallee]

Hi Gerald,
I want to tell you how reassured I feel having access to your guide. I have subscribed to the "no guidebooks necessary" camp, deferring to the more experienced forum Camino-ists. I am reading the Brierley guide and is it ever heavy! (I notice that I have been hefting everything lately!) It certainly won't be going with me on my first Camino Frances in Sept. even though I have enjoyed it. Way too much non-essential stuff and way too heavy paper. It is somewhat meaningless reading all the details of how far, which hostels, which route, etc. ahead of time because you can't remember it. 11 pages, (6 printed sheets) of essential material is a perfect companion. I will add notes on my copy as I go along and pass back anything of use when I return home. Thank you.

[geraldkelly]

Hi Roseallee!

Lucky you heading for the Camino in September! I think it's the best time. There'll be lots of grapes to eat in La Rioja, good weather and not too many people.

I agree about Brierley, it's a great guidebook but far too much unnecessary stuff.

I would really appreciate any feedback you can give me. I'll look forward to hearing from you!

Buen Camino!
Gerald

[Roseallee]

Hi Gerald,
It is looking like I won't start until the 21st from St. Jean. I have as much as 7 weeks, so plan on taking my time, continuing on to Finisterre. Do the grapes go on through Oct. too? I was the idea of harvest that made me choose the fall.
Do you know what time the day starts in late Sept.?

[Cashel]

Hi Gerald,

I am travelling on my own and felt a little anxious when I was starting the Camino walk in Logrono last Tuesday. (Thankfully I noticed that pdf on Monday night and printed it out) So just to say thanks a mill for that pdf format of the Camino Frances. It has been ideal as I wasn?t the most prepared & now I can plan my little breaks along the way from day-to-day!!! And it`s easy to carry which is the main thing

Best wishes,

Jo.

[geraldkelly]

Hi Jo

Thanks a lot for your message. I'm glad to hear you're finding the guide useful. I think you might actually be the first person to use it on the actual Camino. Hope there aren't too many mistakes!

Gerald

[geraldkelly]

Hi Roseallee

I was there in Sept / Oct last year and there were loads of grapes. Thankfully, that time of year there isn't too much getting up at 5am! I think we were leaving the hostel around 7. By which time it was bright. I've never understood the point of leaving in darkness. I did it once and found it really difficult to follow the waymarkings. No fun at all.

Have fun!
Gerald

[Roseallee]

Hi Gerald,
Not only have you relieved my mind about not getting lost, you made me feel much better about not missing out on the grapes. 7 seems like a civilized start time. And as you say, if it isn't fun why do it?
Was it hot when you were there last fall? I can walk happily for hours in rain and don't mind cold but I wilt when it is too hot.