In at the deepend

[carl69]

Hi all, I am heading down to st jean on the overnight train from paris on the 23rd june. I should be getting my camino passport friday morning and starting off. How many Brits tend to do it? I only decided on this yesterday!!!! Im fit , i can walk long distances and carry weight though im going light!!!!!!! What should i expect? I have put aside 30 days! Whats the weather like and how many days will it take to pass pamplona as i dont want to not find digs!!!! many thanks

[Leslie]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

This is the way I did my first walk down the Camino Frances, just got the plane to Paris, got the train and started walking without a long prep time before - and very little knowledge about the Camino - and I loved it.

I don't know the numbers for Brits, but there are a lot less than people from other EU countries, and it is fine. Most people, thankfully, seem to speak some English - except for most of the Spanish. I always felt a bit under educated as I only speak English and I would meet people like my other half who speak 3 and 4 languages. At one point I had a Czech friend translating French to English and back again for me, enough said.

You will find places to stay and it takes about 3 days from St Jean to Pamplona. It will be fine, if you can just take things as you find them it will be good.

[quiet]

Welcome to the Camino Carl, iwalked from St Jean a year ago and took 26 days to reach Santiago your first day is tough if you are walking to roncesvelles but if you take your time and the weather is good take the higher route called "Napoleon " the views are spectacular . You should reach Pamplona at lunch time on the 3rd day. I hardly spent any time with Brits most Peregrinos were Spanish, Italians and Germans but having to communicate in Spanish added to the pleasure for me. The weather for me was lovely 3 hours drizzle on the whole journey but the weather in Norhern Spain is unpredictable so good luck with that.Have no fear you will gain strenght daily and by day 7 you will feel superhuman by day 20 you will feel knackered but more about that when you get there The scenery along most of the journey is spectacular for most people the journey is one of their best experiences ever and life changing. So enjoy the food, wine,beer and the company of people who you will be friends with for many years to come. Bien Camino....Paul

[carl69]

Many thanks, Did you get the train back to paris and fly back home from there? or is there a airport near the finish i can use to fly back to england? cheers

[Lipka149]

Ok Carl ... you asked for it ! To add to Leslie's advice then ...

I take it that such a spur of the moment decision belies the stereotype of a civil servant, and you are ready to JUST DO IT. Bless your heart.

Thirty days means you need to hustle if you are going to finish in Santiago. First rule then ... take care of your feet. Packing light will help. Corn pads and moleskin will help even more. As a mountain climber, you know this. Don't forget it. Blisters will make your journey agonizing and delay you unacceptably.

You might appreciate the value of a map. It will allow you to plan ahead and help you pace yourself. John Brierly's latest guidebook is recommended.

Start slow, finish fast. 40km per day will kill you out of the gate. Get a feel for the Way and put the pedal to the metal on the ground you can make up the km's. It's ok to decide to do this on a lark, but if you want to finish, you gotta think it out.

Other than that, read every post on this Forum and you should be fine. Let us know how things are going along the Way, and by all means, write us an after action report.

Buen Camino, hermano !

~ Alan

PS Weather was fine when we did this 2 years ago at this time. "Bad weather" means rain ... but what's a little wet ? JUST DO IT, man !!! You jumped in the deep end, so if you gotta swim, you gotta swim. Keep your sleeping bag dry and you will be fine.

[Covey]

As long as you are through Pamplon by 1st July you will be OK. St Jean to Pamplona is 3 days.

[carl69]

Many thanks, Have ordered the book! You have said il have to hustle along to complete it in 30 days, whats the usual?

[Leslie]

the usual is about 35 - 37.

And there is an airport in Santiago where you can get flights to the UK.

[carl69]

HI , what size backpack would you recommend and boots or walking shoes? I have salomon shoes merrel shoes and a selection of boots but im thinking salomons!!!! Backpack 100l, 65l, 35+8 ? Does it get cold at night? Small dos bag and silk liner or bigger bag? Camel back or bottles? Is drinking water available along the route? Cheers

[Covey]

Sounds like you run a shop!!

I used Salomon boots for my first four Camino's but they eventually wore out and last year I replaced them with a pair of Merrell Moab shoes which were brilliant. If you are walking the Camino Frances between June and October, then shoes are fine, but I would suggest you use boots for the rest of the year.

A 50L backpack is ideal and keeps the amount of kit you are tempted to carry to the minimum. Your pack and clothing etc should weigh no more than 8kgs and your water and food items another 2kgs so 10kgs MAX all up.

I only carry a silk sleeping bag liner for my Camino's but then I always start in July - Sept. Outside that 3 months then a lightweight sleeping bag is essential.

Some carry a CamelBak but most use the supermarket bottles the water comes in. Water in the towns is fine to drink, but I would advise caution when using water fountains in remote villages. Every shop sells water because the Spanish tend to drink bottled water with their meals.