March, April, or May?

[BenedettoCAN]

Can anyone tell me which month would be better when doing the camino? Is anyone going during any of these months?

[Sil]

March and April would be quieter with less pilgrims. But fewer albergues will be open, you'll need warm clothing, you could have beautiful weather or encounter snow and blizzards. Have a look at the Walking in Winter post and Walking in Spring post on my blog for more info.

www.amawalker.blogspot.com
Amawalker: WALKING THE CAMINO IN SPRING

[JIMR]

Hi BenedetteCAN I have read on a few Camino blogs where there are a number of people thinking of starting from SJPP in March 2010. I am planning to leave SJPP on 11th of March. This will depend on the weather and the local advice i receive. JIMR

[BenedettoCAN]

Thanks Sil for your information. That's helpful. Being Canadian I'm not adverse to winter weather but I would like to avoid it if possible. Maybe I'll leave closer to May. Of course, JIMR it will depend on advice I get as well, and on when my teaching schedule/semester ends and I can start a sabbatical (for 6 weeks).

[Edpete]

Hi,
I did the Camino during late April through May 2006 and except for 2 days in Galicia the weather was perfect for walking. (Dont forget sunscreen) I am doing it again in 2010 and hope to be on the road by mid April. I never had any accommodation problems during this period. Lots of success!

[BenedettoCAN]

Thanks for the encouragement. That sounds good. Some days I'm excited and I really want to do it and think I can but other days I wonder what I'm getting myself into. I guess if you pace yourself it'll be okay. I'm going to plan for mid-April. I heard that there might be more pilgrims than usual next year being a religious year.

[Edpete]

I have heard the same, but that means you meet lots of interesting people. Worrying is normal believe me you will have a fantastic time. Take it one day at a time. I plan on starting on or about the 16th April and I'm allowing (including Finnesterre) 5-6 weeks. I rate the Camino one of the best things I have ever done. Enjoy!

[BenedettoCAN]

I hope to go to Finnesterre too, by bus after I get to StJdeC. That's why I want to do it...I'm sure it'll be one of the highlights of my life and possibly could change my life. I wish you all the best on your own journey. Thanks for the correspondence and maybe I'll see you en route.

[Sil]

If you find you have time, try to walk to Finisterre. It is a beautiful walk - three to four days - and a wonderful finish to your camino. If you have to catch the bus, get off at Corcubion and walk the last 10km. The views of the sea, the walk along the coast - your first paddle in the ocean for 5-6 weeks, makes it all worth it.
You can stay over in Finisterre. Although you won't be able to stay in the municipal albergue there are a couple of cheap albergues - 10 euro - for pilgrims with a credential but who have not necessarily walked there.

[Edpete]

Many thanks. It was always my intention to walk to Finnesterre.

[BenedettoCAN]

SIL, Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to do just that. I think I'll include Finisterre too.

[ainsley b]

Thanks Sil for the information on the weather. Im leaving SJPP April 2 travel, jet lag and weather permitting. I will definitely be carrying more gear then I had hoped to but thats better then not having it if you need it.

Is anyone else both really excited and really nervous? I hope you all have good Caminos

[Edpete]

Hi, Resist the temptation to be a good boy scout and take as little as possible. I didn't and as a result I was giving things away as the journey progressed. Its surprising how little you actually need. Its an adventure being nervous is part of it :-))

[Sil]

I've just reviewed the book "The Way of Stars and Stones" by Wilna Wilkinson. She started from St Jean on 10th February 2006 and arrived in Santiago at Easter. Her backpack weighed just over 7kg. Take the right clothing - not more of the wrong clothing!
Wishing you a beautiful, spring flower filled, sunshine camino!
Sil

[BenedettoCAN]

Yes, nervous and excited...it depends on the day. I wonder if I can do it but I guess you just have to give yourself over to the experience and the adventure as Edpete said. This forum is awesome and has helped a lot with preparing; what to bring, what to expect. I've started a list of essentials. Sil? You mentioned right and wrong clothing. What do you recommend? I want to keep it down to a minimum and don't want to lug around things I won't use. Hope to hear from you.

[mosesmew]

Hi This book looks interesting! Where do you find it? I to am planning the "walk",in September of 2010. Blessings! Nancy

[Sil]

Yes, nervous and excited...it depends on the day. I wonder if I can do it but I guess you just have to give yourself over to the experience and the adventure as Edpete said. This forum is awesome and has helped a lot with preparing; what to bring, what to expect. I've started a list of essentials. Sil? You mentioned right and wrong clothing. What do you recommend? I want to keep it down to a minimum and don't want to lug around things I won't use. Hope to hear from you.

There are many websites that give advice on the correct clothing to take on a winter hike with a good ratio of warmth to weight (base layers, no cotton, wool against the skin, thermal etc.) Have a look at this camino wiki for some info.
Clothes - Camino de Santiago Wiki

Rather invest in the warmest/lightweight clothing you can find rembering that May will be much warmer than March or April. I walked from 15th May to 17th June in 2002 and although we had really cold nights in the high places, we got sunburn in other places!

[Sil]

Hi This book looks interesting! Where do you find it? I to am planning the "walk",in September of 2010. Blessings! Nancy

Nancy, September is a lovely time to walk el camino. The extreme heat of summer is over, it is harvest time - yummy, bramble berries, wild figs, vines that fall across the path, apples that fall on the ground!
Wilna Wiliknson walked from 10th February to early April, a very different time from autumn.
You will find her book here:
http://www.scribd.com/ (All proceeds to go to Cancer Research)
and a link to her website here: http://thewayofstarsandstones.blogspot.com/

[ainsley b]

Sil

Thanks so much for all your help. I really appreciate it.

[mosesmew]

Thank you for your reply.I am so looking forward to whatever comes from this journey! Blessings Nancy

[BenedettoCAN]

I'm going for sure now. I've arranged everything at work. Now I have to make it through the winter. I'm excited. It's something I really need to do. Various emotions have been cropping up. I'm sure that the camino will be a life-altering experience. I wish all the best to those taking on this journey, that being the physical journey and the inner one as well.

[BenedettoCAN]

I don't want to book any pilgrim hostels along the way, first; I don't really know when I'll be in which place, and second I don't want to be that organized. I want to leave that up to trust. I am booking though the first hostel in SJPduP. Can you give me your opinion on this? As well, should I worry about insects in the spring or stray dogs? All these details.

[Covey]

Having walked the Camino a number of times, I never book hostels in advance for the simple reason that I never know where I am going to be, or when.

The nice thing about the Camino is that you walk at your own pace, stop when you want and do not really have any form of plan to stick to, other than follow the yellow arrows!

Some days I will walk 25 - 30kms and the next I might only do 10 - 15kms if there is a nice hostel to stay in and a nice town to wander around.

You will meet pilgrims doing 40kms a day and others just wandering along from one albergue to the next. It is your Camino and you walk it your way.

As for insects, you get flies in places along the way, especially in August, but you get them in any country you visit. The odd bed bug might cross your path, but having a bug treated bag or liner sorts out that problem. Dogs are not a problem.

[toledo]

I began walking in the last week of April. The first week wasn't too busy but then in May it became much busier.
There were quite a few muddy, flooded parts of the footpaths and fields especially after Burgos.
One tip I can pass on. I went into the walk with a very good waterproof jacket, but it did not keep me warm. I left the jacket somewhere only realising my loss during a thunderstorm. I improvised by cutting a hole in a bin bag and pulling it over my head. I would suggest that you take a fleece instead of a waterproof jacket and also a rainproof poncho which fits over you and your pack and cost only a few pounds. This will provide you with warmth and keep you dry with no extra weight.

[BenedettoCAN]

That's what I thought. I just wanted to confirm that. Like you said that's the camino. You do it at your own pace. Thanks. Toledo, I plan on bringing a fleece sweater and a poncho. Thanks for telling me about the mud and flooded areas. I'm sure there will be obstacles so thanks for preparing me for that eventuality. I might have to rethink my footwear. Any suggestions? I think besides your soul, the next important thing on the camino is your feet, or the soles of your feet.

[ainsley b]

Hi
I am planning on walking the Camino during April (leaving SJPdP April 2). I am trying to figure out which gear would be best. Does anyone have any recommendations on what temperature my sleeping bag should be rated to? Do I need a sleeping bag or will a hostel sheet be enough? Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

[toledo]

The albergues have blankets. I took a thin bag liner but if I go again I will take a sleeping bag, no particular type.
One thing to remember is that although Spain is a hot country, most days you will be up and out before six am and a great deal of your walking will take place before it gets hot so you will need some warm clothing.

[renegade_pilgrim]

I will be doing the CF April 2010. Planning to start the week after Easter, so early April, to beat some of the crowds. I know May will be a little crazy, but that's okay.

I plan to pack light, wear trail running shoes with good insoles, and use a layering system to stay warm and dry.

Hope to see some of you on the camino!

[BenedettoCAN]

Hope to see you en route as well. Good Luck! Buen camino I'll be leaving St J P de P on Apr. 16th

[renegade_pilgrim]

My original plan was to leave mid-April, but from what I've been reading, I think I want to leave earlier to avoid some of the crowds. Also, I have not decided if I want to leave from St Jean or Roncesvalles.....we'll see what the weather is doing when I get there, I suppose.