Hi,
I will walk my first Camino this year! I have about 26-28 days, starting in late August. I know I can't do the entire Camino Frances this time, and that's ok. I do plan on having a few rest days, too, like I think it would be nice to spend a day in Leon, and maybe two in Santiago. I am also interested in seeing Finisterre (either by walking there, or taking the bus from Santiago.) I do want to really get a feeling for the way though, and for me that means allowing enough time/space to really sink in.
From what I've been reading, it sounds like 20km/day average might be a good place to start from. I guess that means I'd have 400 to 440km at the minimum for 20 to 22 days of walking. With all that said, where should I start??
So maybe assuming that I will take the bus to Finisterre, and thus spend the 4 days it would take to walk there earlier on the path, what are good options? Looking at the map, it sounds like starting in Burgos might be one possibility, that's 477km.
Or, how about starting in St. Jean, then walking to say Los Arcos (157km), then actually taking a bus to Leon, and then continuing to walk to Santiago from there (another 300km), so the total would be 457km? Has anybody ever done this before? I would miss the Meseta (which may actually be a good choice weather-wise in late August/early September?) Instead I would be able to enjoy the Pyrenees and parts of Rioja.
I don't know why, but for some reason this option feels a bit like "cheating", although it really isn't different from taking a bus to Burgos to start there, I suppose.) And yes, I know that it's my Camino (I actually feel like the journey has already started!) Again, my main objective here is not to see it all, or do it all, but to really sink into my experience. And so I am wondering if a walk-bus-walk approach would be too disruptive?
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
I will walk my first Camino this year! I have about 26-28 days, starting in late August. I know I can't do the entire Camino Frances this time, and that's ok. I do plan on having a few rest days, too, like I think it would be nice to spend a day in Leon, and maybe two in Santiago. I am also interested in seeing Finisterre (either by walking there, or taking the bus from Santiago.) I do want to really get a feeling for the way though, and for me that means allowing enough time/space to really sink in.
From what I've been reading, it sounds like 20km/day average might be a good place to start from. I guess that means I'd have 400 to 440km at the minimum for 20 to 22 days of walking. With all that said, where should I start??
So maybe assuming that I will take the bus to Finisterre, and thus spend the 4 days it would take to walk there earlier on the path, what are good options? Looking at the map, it sounds like starting in Burgos might be one possibility, that's 477km.
Or, how about starting in St. Jean, then walking to say Los Arcos (157km), then actually taking a bus to Leon, and then continuing to walk to Santiago from there (another 300km), so the total would be 457km? Has anybody ever done this before? I would miss the Meseta (which may actually be a good choice weather-wise in late August/early September?) Instead I would be able to enjoy the Pyrenees and parts of Rioja.
I don't know why, but for some reason this option feels a bit like "cheating", although it really isn't different from taking a bus to Burgos to start there, I suppose.) And yes, I know that it's my Camino (I actually feel like the journey has already started!) Again, my main objective here is not to see it all, or do it all, but to really sink into my experience. And so I am wondering if a walk-bus-walk approach would be too disruptive?
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!