Vanessa

[Vanessa]

HI,

I am plannning to walk on my own the Camino to Santiago de Compostela next May 2012 and would be very pleased to have any feed back about things I need to know. I guess everything ! but I am doing research and reading. I will travel from Devon, England to, I think, Biarritz and onwards.

Thanks in anticipation of replies!

Vanessa

[Welsh Jon]

Hi Vanessa,

I did the Camino Frances this year, I started mid June. I flew from Stansted to Biarritz and got a bus to St Jean Pied de Port, you can bus and train it but for a few extra euro's I got a bus all the way there. The bus company was called Express Bourricot Express Bourricot
In St Jean I stayed in a hostel called L'Esprit du Chemin http://www.espritduchemin.org

I would recommend booking a hostel for your first night, but there are plenty of hostels if you don't, but they could be a little rougher...

Packing is personal preference it seems but if I were to do it again I would take...

Lightweight sleeping bag (even though I did only use it around 4 times)
Silk sleeping bag liner
Two trousers that can zip off for shorts
Two t shirts
Long sleeve shirt
Micro fleece
Water proof jacket
Gaitors (I didn't use them but just in case)
Good rucksack that fits well
Good boots (lightweight)
flip flops
Water proof stuff sack to keep your kit dry
Head torch
First aid kit
Camel back water carrier (I took a 3 litre and some days needed it)

I'm sure there were other things but I've gone blank...

I carried about 9kgs of equipment plus water, some people had much less, some had much more...

have a good time planning it

Jon

[Vanessa]

HI Jon,
Thanks for your answer. I appreciate the time it took. I am still trying to avoid Stanstead and think I might be able to go from Bristol or Southampton. Yes, I am enjoying the planning and have now to manifest a cat/house sitter. Will 4 weeks be enough walk the whole Camino? As this is in the Religeon and Spirituality section ( not sure how or why I did that) I feel the need to face my fears of being less organised, planned and being stretched physically, and expect to learn a great deal about myself....also hope to meet some great people and have some fun! Where did you get a scallop? Vanessa

[Welsh Jon]

Hi again Vanessa,

I couldn't fly to Biarritz from Bristol when I did it, although it might have changed. I wish I could have because I live in Wales. I did the full Camino in 24 days but that was pretty hard going, I saw it as a physical and mental challenge. Most people look at doing it in around 28 to 30 days so a few days either side of 4 weeks maybe.

[Vanessa]

Hi again Jon,

I think you are right about flying from Bristol but I am still hoping for Southampton. Stanstead is not a good journey from the SW or Wales.
I thought even of a ferry from Plymouth to Santander and then a train but that is as bad as Stanstead. I may have to just like it and lump it from Stanstead! I do appreciate your replies. I will have to look up camel back water carrier and it's a long time since I have heard of gaitors!

[Aryk]

Hi Vanessa
Going in March 2012. I read somewhere that group of volunteers in St. Jean will have a scallop shell for ya. But ya know, I went to a local fishmonger and was able to get a Texas scallop. I was born raised and live in Texas. And if you know anything about Texans it's we have HUGE Texas pride. Something about traveling with a shell from my home.