Pathfinder075
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Various Routes in (2016), (2017) and (2023).
Been musing over whether to do Primitivo in May or just rip out something larger, and I've decided to try the Madrid route.
I am looking at a route that will take in several routes. For starters, Madrid to Sahagun. Then follow Frances to Ponferrada. Then the Invierno route until somewhere around Montfort. Then down to Ourense to relax for a day or two. Then finally up to Santiago. Its going to be a reasonably long walk. Also if I make it to Santiago and still have enough funds for a couple more weeks, I am not ruling out walking the Norte (or part of it) in reverse and heading back to Santander to get the boat back.
Distance wise, I would like to exceed 1000km, just to see if I can do it.
Kit wise, slightly lighter than last time, but still carrying tent, etc.
I learnt a couple of things from the October session. One was I didnt enjoy the last ~120km into Santiago from Sarria. The terrain was annoying and I expect it will be madly busy in May/June. Walking down that narrow, steep path near Portomarin is something I would like to avoid, if in convoy. Also the smell of that fertiliser plant on the way up the hill from Portomarin to Gonzar. I will pass on that also, I think. Another thing i learnt, is that I want to walk further than 260km. If I had walked the whole month, I could have easily averaged 30km days, back to back. My feet cracked, but didnt blister and the cracking was my fault for not paying attention to them after showering. Would like to see if I can do a 30km back to back from Madrid to Sahagun in the 13 days that the Gronze website says its possible in. I also want to walk into Leon fully. In October I missed the sections from El Burgo Raneiro to Leon and Leon to Astorga, due to time constraints. I want to complete those.
Anyway this post is starting to ramble on a bit.
Any specific advice on the Madrid section is welcome. I have experienced the last 15km from Villada to Sahagun, and am expecting hotter weather than I had, and have also been to Madrid in June when the temperature was pretty hot. So the heat is expected, and all that goes with it.
The other routes I will post into their forums as and when I need advice.
I am looking at a route that will take in several routes. For starters, Madrid to Sahagun. Then follow Frances to Ponferrada. Then the Invierno route until somewhere around Montfort. Then down to Ourense to relax for a day or two. Then finally up to Santiago. Its going to be a reasonably long walk. Also if I make it to Santiago and still have enough funds for a couple more weeks, I am not ruling out walking the Norte (or part of it) in reverse and heading back to Santander to get the boat back.
Distance wise, I would like to exceed 1000km, just to see if I can do it.
Kit wise, slightly lighter than last time, but still carrying tent, etc.
I learnt a couple of things from the October session. One was I didnt enjoy the last ~120km into Santiago from Sarria. The terrain was annoying and I expect it will be madly busy in May/June. Walking down that narrow, steep path near Portomarin is something I would like to avoid, if in convoy. Also the smell of that fertiliser plant on the way up the hill from Portomarin to Gonzar. I will pass on that also, I think. Another thing i learnt, is that I want to walk further than 260km. If I had walked the whole month, I could have easily averaged 30km days, back to back. My feet cracked, but didnt blister and the cracking was my fault for not paying attention to them after showering. Would like to see if I can do a 30km back to back from Madrid to Sahagun in the 13 days that the Gronze website says its possible in. I also want to walk into Leon fully. In October I missed the sections from El Burgo Raneiro to Leon and Leon to Astorga, due to time constraints. I want to complete those.
Anyway this post is starting to ramble on a bit.
Any specific advice on the Madrid section is welcome. I have experienced the last 15km from Villada to Sahagun, and am expecting hotter weather than I had, and have also been to Madrid in June when the temperature was pretty hot. So the heat is expected, and all that goes with it.
The other routes I will post into their forums as and when I need advice.