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I love SJPP and have taken a rest day there after a trans-Atlantic flight before starting my CF. A picturesque town at the foot of the Pyrenees. However, Pamplona is one of my favorite cities on the Camino Francés. My recommendation would be to overnight in SJPP and wait until Pamplona for a...
For what it’s worth, I had originally planned to stay in Villafranca, but because of my early arrival there, I walked on to Trabadelo another 10km. It was a very easy walk and put me closer to the climb up to O Cebreiro the next day. Several albergues there with good places to eat. I easily made...
I have this Camino planned for the near future. I intend to fly from the Eastern US or Montreal to CDG and then on to Pau. From the connections that I have seen, I can get to Pau by mid-day, explore the historical part of the city and hopefully pick up my initial stamp at the cathedral, and then...
A mountain bike will be plenty for your Camino. I rode the VDLP on a mountain bike and didn’t need more! IMHO you’ll have much greater satisfaction riding a traditional mountain bike rather than a pedal assist e-bike. If obtaining compostela is important to you, then the pedal assisted bike will...
The bus ride from SdC to Porto is quite easy and relatively quick. If you have the time and have never visited Porto, overnight there and then catch the train the next day to Lisbon.
My wife and I walked from SJPP to Burgos in the first half of October a couple years ago. We worn shorts walking nearly every day. Actually hit some pretty hot weather in October. So, I’d definitely bring shorts and leave one pair of long pants out. It’s a great time of year to walk. Buen Camino!
I’m going to second @Peterexpatkiwi suggestion of walking the Primativo. The magic that one seeks can be found on any Camino. So, if one is open to discovering it, it is already there.
Two things added to the magic I experienced other than what’s already been mentioned: 1) the human experience...
Although it will be about five weeks after your start that you walk through Galicia, I’d always plan for rain. You’ll find in this Forum, a number of threads on rain gear preferences. My personal preference is a rain jacket over a poncho. I’ve carried rain pants in the past, but rarely have I...
A couple thoughts come to mind from your post: 1) as @trecile suggested, plan extra days into your Camino, and 2) listen to your body. Although I didn’t take any rest days on the CF, I should have. There is a fatigue factor to deal with and it builds across a month of walking. Plan rest into...
I’m going to join the bandwagon above encouraging you to overnight in Pamplona. It’s a great, historical small city. Pamplona is one of my favorite spots along The Way. After going through the old city wall gates, you’re immediately in the historical part of the city. If you’re a bit of a...
Not sure how Gronze rates a stage, but terrain and distance strike me as the two key factors. Regarding the Ingles, the first day is not difficult from a terrain perspective (pretty flat actually), but it is a long hike from Ferrol to Pontedueme. As I remember the second day, the single hardest...
From what I know about Hoka hiking shoes versus running shoes, a new pair of Hokas at the start of your Camino should hold up fine for you to reach Santiago in them. The hiking shoes are designed to last 500-800 miles which is significantly longer than their running shoes (300-500 miles)...
Typically for most of us it’s a nine day walk from Pamplona to Burgos. As mentioned above, Burgos is the logical stopping point. With your two extra days, I’d do one of two things. First, I’d spend an extra day in Burgos and then go to Madrid a day early. Both cities have a lot to offer. Or...
We stayed there a few years ago on our first CP. I contacted them by email for my reservation. Have you tried reaching them at: ninho.albergue@gmail.com
It was a most pleasant albergue. We had a private room in the back part of the complex complete with our own Camino kitty. Just a short...
Luka, what a thoughtful and honest post asking questions that I believe have entered many a pilgrim’s consciousness!
Two immediate issues surface after reading your post and the already wonderful set of comments. How might this experience have been different had you not become ill? I believe...
The Camino Francés isn’t the only possibility for walking your kind of Camino. There are many other great Camino routes available for the pilgrim who doesn’t want the more “crowded” experience. To paraphrase an old Will Ragers saying, I’ve never met a Camino I didn’t like!
In just a few responses, a lot of good advice has been posted.
1. Size and fit are interrelated. The pack needs to be a good fit to your body. Regarding capacity, I’ve never needed anything larger than my 36L pack and always have room to spare. I could easily drop down to 28L, but I like that...
Let me second what @Albertinho recommended. Our stay at Casa da Fernanda was one of the highlights of our CP. Better hospitality won’t be found anywhere else. Do reserve beds and then enjoy wonderful food and company in Fernanda’s home.
Download the app Mapy.cz. You can easily follow the VE in reverse and always see you position as you walk. Just open the app and as you enlarge the map you’ll find the route in blue between Vilanova de Arouza and Pontevedra.
I find this to be a particularly interesting statistic. When you consider that some of the 31K Compostelas were awarded to individuals who did the CF in segments over several visits to the Camino, the percentage of pilgrims both starting in SJPP and finishing in 2023 is even lower. I guess I’m...
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