I'm thinking.....

[canyonhiker]

of starting the Frances in late August (24-26 depending on flights from US). My thought is that it might be a slack time between people finishing up summer Camino and people starting a September Camino. Am I overthinking this?

 

[J Willhaus]

Pretty hot in August. Also August is the time when most Spaniards are on vacation so you may find some restaurants/albergues closed temporarily. September is a busy month so you would have lots of company in September.

 

[trecile]

of starting the Frances in late August (24-26 depending on flights from US). My thought is that it might be a slack time between people finishing up summer Camino and people starting a September Camino. Am I overthinking this?

I started my first Camino on August 21, 2016 - just before the crush of September pilgrims starting in SJPdP. I never had an issue with finding a bed. And you arrive in Santiago after the crush of 100 km pilgrims (I'm not disparaging those that walk just 100 km) that walk in the summer. The last week couple of weeks of August were no hotter than the weeks in September.
Of course, every year is different.

Here's a couple of graphs that show the numbers of pilgrims starting from SJPdP

This is the monthly graph from 2019



And this is the weekly graph from 2017 - that highest bar is the first week of September.

 

[BombayBill]

As an eager overthinker I like your reasoning. My typical arrival date in Europe is the last week of August with a start date of the last Tuesday or Wednesday in August. My overthinking reasoning is that I avoid the last weekend of locals returning to the city as well as the hump of walkers who start on the weekend.

Eventually overeager members of the September wave will catch up to me and I’ll be carried along effortlessly on its rising crest, several days wiser then the newly arrived Septembertistes. They will be tired in spirit and body having walked too quickly and I’ll be fit and smug. I’ll be able to say vexing things like “isn’t this a lark?”.

But of course such behavior is not the Camino way so I’ll have to buy them a round of drinks in contrition.

This is based on absolutely no facts, charts, bar graphs or statistics, nor tide tables or moon phases.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

of starting the Frances in late August (24-26 depending on flights from US). My thought is that it might be a slack time between people finishing up summer Camino and people starting a September Camino. Am I overthinking this?

Yes, I believe it is a Holy Year. I doubt there will be a down time. Of course it my opinion.We've never walked in the summer months.

 

[Kathy F.]

As an eager overthinker I like your reasoning. My typical arrival date in Europe is the last week of August with a start date of the last Tuesday or Wednesday in August. My overthinking reasoning is that I avoid the last weekend of locals returning to the city as well as the hump of walkers who start on the weekend.

Eventually overeager members of the September wave will catch up to me and I’ll be carried along effortlessly on its rising crest, several days wiser then the newly arrived Septembertistes. They will be tired in spirit and body having walked too quickly and I’ll be fit and smug. I’ll be able to say vexing things like “isn’t this a lark?”.

But of course such behavior is not the Camino way so I’ll have to buy them a round of drinks in contrition.

This is based on absolutely no facts, charts, bar graphs or statistics, nor tide tables or moon phases.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Richard of York]

My take would be that no time is oversubscribed here. Obviously it's busier after Sarria at 115km but don't worry too much, look at the temperature charts, if you don't want to be over 100 or less than 40, well that's great, Spain isn't generally so extreme. If it is then buy a sun hat or another jacket.