starting in Burgos

[bazinet]

this july will be my first attempt at the camino. im extremely excited, but am a little worried about time (a popular theme in these forums).
i've pretty much decided to start in Burgos because consensus seems to be that it takes about 18-20 days from there to santiago. any experience with this?

also, im travelling alone, and quite happy to be, but am really looking forward to meeting people along the way. my worry is that because i am not starting at the very beginning, it will be difficult to meet people, or that people will be less inclined to share parts of the walk with someone who hasn't started from square 1. any experience? advice?

thanks so much!

[Covey]

Burgos to Santiago is 480kms (ish) so 20 days will be fine if you can keep up an average of 25kms a day. It might seem a lot to do each day, but if you start walking at 7 - 7.30am you should finish before 3pm. Then it is time to find a bed and a cold beer or two!!

Quite a lot of people start at Pamplona, Burgos and Leon plus of course Sarria. Nobody worries about where you started from cos each day, we all pull on our boots and walk the same route.

Those who started at St Jean will look grubbier and browner than you, but 3 days sorts that out and then you all look the same. Even those who started in St Jean feel a little intimidated by those who started in Amsterdam, Paris Geneva etc.

You will start out as a lone walker from Burgos but I can guarantee you will be walking with friends by lunchtime!! Sometimes it is nice to walk with others and sometimes you will fancy walking alone. Each time I have walked the Camino I have walked with the most wonderful disparate bunch of folks from all over the world. If you walk on your own during the day, it is great fun to meet up in the evening and share a meal and a beer.

It is your Camino, and you walk it your way, and that is how 95% approach the walk. (5% start out on their own, but only 1% finish alone!

Enjoy

[Covey]

That should read "95% start out on their own, but only 1% finish alone!"