Let me tell you a little tale about how my walk between SJPP and SdC went. I am slow. Not just a little slow, but very slow. I was always up and out the door fast, but while others would be in town sitting and having a refreshing drink, I was usually 4 or 5 kilometers shy. It just took me longer, and I took very few breaks. That said, I got into the rhythm of walking
Brierley's stages. Often, I would break a long stage into two parts, or two long stages into three. Because it was November, there weren't many people on the road.
At one point, I ran into a young friend--a young pretty woman who typically raced off ahead of me. "How many kilometers are you doing a day?" she asked. I was a little taken aback, because she seemed to be implying that an old lady like me could not possibly be doing as well as a young sporty girl like her. I told her, "Hey, about as many as you--apparently--but I'm really, really slow, which is why I always stumble into the albergues later". So, never, ever assume that someone is using public transportation. If they are working their guts out--like I did--to walk the whole way, it is hurtful. I could not put a finger on why I found that whole interaction so hurtful for awhile, but when I figured out that she was implying that I was taking buses or something, I was really taken aback.
One on day, walking the Meseta, my friends Kay and Ann were ahead of me. I had promised Kay, who turned 74 or something like that on that day, that I was going to pick her up in a taxi for the last 5-6 kilometers of the day. Camino magic: someone pulled over and offered me a ride, so I took it and picked up Kay and Ann too!! That was the only time I used transport--and it was a 24 k day, and my birthday friend was delighted!