Bikini or not bikini, right now, Frances route

[seedthesea]

Hi everyone,

I'm deciding last minute whether I should bring my bikini or not to Camino Frances, in SJPP (shipping some of my stuff to Santiago). Did my research but couldn't find too much for the Frances route in April. Could someone advise? TIA!

 

[Simperegrina]

Umm…

It’s a bit late for April Fool’s, but nice try

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@seedthesea , Naked Hiking Day isn’t until June 21st, so in the interests of not offending anyone, it’s probably a good idea to bring the bikini

 

[trecile]

Not likely to be warm enough to swim in April or early May.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Not likely to be warm enough to swim in April or early May.

I suppose it depends what you're used to. There are some who swim all winter.

 

[Simperegrina]

Ok, so I’ll cease the flippancy and answer with a bit more seriousness.

Are you planning on staying in higher cost, private accommodation? A few here and there may have a pool. If you’re planning on staying in municipal albergues, no, no frills like pools (personally I’m just thankful for hot showers). I can think of three private albergues that have pools: the 1 in Boudilla, but its small and perhaps more for cooling down legs and feet; and 2 in Belorado. There may be more but those are the only ones I know. And that’s if they have all opened their pools, because it’s only early April, and those 3 have probably only just reopened for the 2024 season.

Are you planning on walking to Fisterra or Muxia ie the coast?

Are you hoping to do some wild swimming?

Crucially, what’s your tolerance for very cold water?

 

[ptoledo]

April weather can be a bit unpredictable, but if the forecast looks sunny and you're planning to take dips along the way, why not toss it in?

 

[arkron]

I‘m just in Viana, 6th day on the Frances without any rain. Mornings are chilly, afternoons can climb up over 20 degrees.
This is the weather prediction around here. In two Locations were Pools advertised, but I doubt that they are operated.

No need for a bikini, I’d say!

 

[seedthesea]

Ok, so I’ll cease the flippancy and answer with a bit more seriousness.

Are you planning on staying in higher cost, private accommodation? A few here and there may have a pool. If you’re planning on staying in municipal albergues, no, no frills like pools (personally I’m just thankful for hot showers). I can think of three private albergues that have pools: the 1 in Boudilla, but its small and perhaps more for cooling down legs and feet; and 2 in Belorado. There may be more but those are the only ones I know. And that’s if they have all opened their pools, because it’s only early April, and those 3 have probably only just reopened for the 2024 season.

Are you planning on walking to Fisterra or Muxia ie the coast?

Are you hoping to do some wild swimming?

Crucially, what’s your tolerance for very cold water?

Ah, okay. This helped me to put things ij perspective and I decided to ditch them. Thank you (and the other funny jokes lol)

 

[Anniesantiago]

Too cold for me!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Hi everyone,

I'm deciding last minute whether I should bring my bikini or not to Camino Frances, in SJPP (shipping some of my stuff to Santiago). Did my research but couldn't find too much for the Frances route in April. Could someone advise? TIA!

always bikini

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Not likely to be warm enough to swim in April or early May.

Keep those Northern California thoughts to yourself! It is never too cold to swim here in the land of Kiwis

 

[EricJR]

In September and May, I've had 2 weeks on the Frances and always found at least one place with an open pool, outdoors (and always at least one pool closed for no particular reason). Chilly in May, but I would have been sad if I didn't have shorts for swimming. In April, many places may not be open, but it'd be a shame to find one and not be able to enjoy it. Also, if you are doing the whole route from SJPDP, you will, if you want, find some places with an indoor heated pool.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Naked Hiking Day isn’t until June 21st

Ahh! Now I understand, I always thought that people I encountered out hiking that day were somehow all celebrating my birthday with me, of course, in our birthday suits!

 

[OzAnnie]

whether I should bring my bikini

A bikini is i would think very lightweight ?? and takes no space. Leave it in ..

 

[Tincatinker]

Aprapo of nothing I do note that the wuzzes like to wait for warmer weather. As ani gud paygun nose the proper rhyme is “Hooray, hooray, the first of May, outdoor sex begins today”. Often, inappropriately, attributed to Larkin which scholars will know is incorrect because librarians do it in stacks

 

[EricJR]

A bikini is i would think very lightweight ?? and takes no space. Leave it in ..

"We can certainly hope so!" Is the answer with my Benny Hill hat on...

What I actually meant to add, was that this year I'm swapping actual swimming shorts for an extra pair of synthetic hiking shorts, which are compact and lightweight (steady...) and will dry at least as quickly. Dual use tops are also a good idea for the camino, I think.

 

[domigee]

Ah, okay. This helped me to put things ij perspective and I decided to ditch them. Thank you (and the other funny jokes lol)

There are swimming pools in Redecilla, Cizur Menor and Hontanas… also a small one in the albergue in Boadilla and a (very) small one in torres del Rio (albergue la Pata y Oca) but not big enough to swim. Also a nice one in Puente la Reina (albergue Santiago Apostol)….

 

[ivar]

I will close this thread...