Hello and Stay Safe in Extreme Heat

[KFD]

Hi All - I'm Kelli. I live on the Camino Frances at km 59. Thank you for the add to the forum. It's a tough couple of days coming up weather-wise. On days like these we hand out free water to Pilgrims. I'll set up a table for pilgrims to refill their water bottles. Come by and say Hi!. It's especially brutal in the afternoons so I'll have a water tank out there, even if I'm not out in the sun myself in this heat. You can fill up and I'll make sure the water is topped up. Stay safe and stay hydrated. Leave early and finish early. Don't push it. The guardia civil are out on horses. Use their help if you need it. And the Red Cross is out on bicycles on our stretch between Palas de Rei and Melide. They are here to help anyone who needs it. Take care this week! Buen Camino

 

[Robo]

Hi @KFD and welcome. Settling down to read your book shortly........

 

[KFD]

Thanks so much!

 

[thepacman]

Thanks Kelli (@KFD) - I'll be setting out on the VDLP in a little over 3 weeks (from Sevilla). The string of 40+ days forecast over the next fortnight look a bit daunting, and I'm hoping that in that time the extremes will have settled somewhat by the time we start. Even though we're Aussies and used to hot weather, it would be plain silly to walk in those temperatures, so I see a few bus/taxi trips coming up ...

 

[dick bird]

Even though we're Aussies and used to hot weather, it would be plain silly to walk in those temperatures,

You have to be an Aussie to know exactly how silly it is. You can always spot an Australian on the camino. They're the ones with big hats, lots of water and a thick coating of sun cream on their faces.

 

[Former member 104756]

I passed a pilgrim walking on the Le Puy Way near Lectoure the other day. I said. You’re Australian. Yes, how did you know? I pointed to the tube of Cancer Council sun screen attached to his pack with a carabiner. Aussies will be familiar. Led to a nice encounter.

 

[Robo]

Thanks Kelli (@KFD) - I'll be setting out on the VDLP in a little over 3 weeks (from Sevilla). The string of 40+ days forecast over the next fortnight look a bit daunting, and I'm hoping that in that time the extremes will have settled somewhat by the time we start. Even though we're Aussies and used to hot weather, it would be plain silly to walk in those temperatures, so I see a few bus/taxi trips coming up ...

You'll love the route, and most of it is easy to walk in the dark with a good head torch!
Pre dawn starts are your friend in avoiding the heat.

 

[thepacman]

You'll love the route, and most of it is easy to walk in the dark with a good head torch!
Pre dawn starts are your friend in avoiding the heat.

Thanks @Robo - others have advised just that. My wife and I aren't really "morning people", so that presents a bit of a challenge. But moreso I do like to look at world around me as I wander along, rather than just focus on that little white dot a few metres ahead of me. We'll leave earlier on forecast horror days (if any), and then just apply common sense. And I'm so looking forward to it ...

 

[jungleboy]

Thanks Kelli (@KFD) - I'll be setting out on the VDLP in a little over 3 weeks (from Sevilla). The string of 40+ days forecast over the next fortnight look a bit daunting, and I'm hoping that in that time the extremes will have settled somewhat by the time we start. Even though we're Aussies and used to hot weather, it would be plain silly to walk in those temperatures, so I see a few bus/taxi trips coming up ...

Hopefully it will be a bit cooler by then. Another thing to remember is that fortunately the hottest part of the day on the Iberian peninsula is the mid-afternoon (around 3-4pm), so if you start early you can still get in a good day's walking before the heat reaches its most extreme.

 

[KFD]

Thanks Kelli (@KFD) - I'll be setting out on the VDLP in a little over 3 weeks (from Sevilla). The string of 40+ days forecast over the next fortnight look a bit daunting, and I'm hoping that in that time the extremes will have settled somewhat by the time we start. Even though we're Aussies and used to hot weather, it would be plain silly to walk in those temperatures, so I see a few bus/taxi trips coming up ...

I wish you safe walking and a cold snap! I'll be on the VdLP in January. I have adapted to the Galician weather. 40+ and I'd be done for. Enjoy your Camino and walk early in the morning. I hear it's doable at that time.

 

[David Tallan]

Hopefully it will be a bit cooler by then. Another thing to remember is that fortunately the hottest part of the day on the Iberian peninsula is the mid-afternoon (around 3-4pm), so if you start early you can still get in a good day's walking before the heat reaches its most extreme.

I think I read in another thread that Ender is walking the Mozarabe now and timing his starts so he can be done his daily walk by 10 am to avoid walking in the heat.

 

[trecile]

My wife and I aren't really "morning people

There's nothing like 30+C afternoons to turn you into a morning person!

 

[jungleboy]

I think I read in another thread that Ender is walking the Mozarabe now and timing his starts so he can be done his daily walk by 10 am to avoid walking in the heat.

I also read that. But if you look at today in Granada as an example, it was 27C at 10am and the peak was 36C at 3:12pm. Then after the peak the curve is flatter than before it (i.e. it was hotter at 4:12pm than at 2:12pm).

 

[David Tallan]

I also read that. But if you look at today in Granada as an example, it was 27C at 10am and the peak was 36C at 3:12pm. Then after the peak the curve is flatter than before it (i.e. it was hotter at 4:12pm than at 2:12pm).

View attachment 154975

View attachment 154976

Oh, I'm not disputing that mid-afternoon is the hottest time. Just indicating that it is possible to walk the hottest of routed in the hottest time of year if one is willing to start early enough.

It seems, by your charts, that Ender thinks 25° is quite hot enough for walking.

 

[Robo]

Thanks @Robo - others have advised just that. My wife and I aren't really "morning people", so that presents a bit of a challenge. But moreso I do like to look at world around me as I wander along, rather than just focus on that little white dot a few metres ahead of me. We'll leave earlier on forecast horror days (if any), and then just apply common sense. And I'm so looking forward to it ...

It's rarely 'that' dark, due to moonlight etc.
The torch is really a safety thing to avoid tripping on a rock!
It actually became my favourite time to walk.
Watching the sunrise each day was magical........

 

[Littleold]

Just checking weather for my first week (starting 31 August from SJPDP) and it looks like it will be raining from tomorrow (here in the Antipodes that's Friday) right through to around next Thursday, with temps in the low to mid 20's. I'm not going to panic about walking Route Napolean in less than ideal weather; yes I am going to take the advice of the Pilgrim Office and leave only when they say it is safe to do so. But maybe the worst of the heat has passed? I have been looking forward to a bit of sunshine though - feels like this winter has gone on forever...