Another Spring vs Fall option thread

[JillGat]

There have been many discussions on this board about preferences for walking in the fall or spring. I have done both. Fall was nice, with the colourful foliage, mellow days, ripe grapes. But I preferred the spring because of the longer days (not dark until almost 8am in the morning in May, compared to October), the green meseta and such a profusion of flowers everywhere! I feel kind of sorry for the fall walkers, missing the red poppies.

I found that fall was just as busy, if not more crowded, on the CF than the spring.

But here is the point about spring I keep forgetting to make. THE STORKS NESTING ON THE CHURCHTOPS. I loved seeing the storks. You don't see them in the fall.

 

[Anamiri]

Yes the storks were awesome, I had done an autumn Camino first and seen all the empty nests and was duly impressed with those. I have to say they can be adventurous in their choice of real estate, check out the pylon.
But seeing the birds in them tending to their babies,
Magic

 

[GettingThere]

There have been many discussions on this board about preferences for walking in the fall or spring. I have done both. Fall was nice, with the colourful foliage, mellow days, ripe grapes. But I preferred the spring because of the longer days (not dark until almost 8am in the morning in May, compared to October), the green meseta and such a profusion of flowers everywhere! I feel kind of sorry for the fall walkers, missing the red poppies.

I found that fall was just as busy, if not more crowded, on the CF than the spring.

But here is the point about spring I keep forgetting to make. THE STORKS NESTING ON THE CHURCHTOPS. I loved seeing the storks. You don't see them in the fall.

Yes! Loved those storks! I too have walked in both Spring and fall, and while both seasons have their own beauty, on the Camino Francés I did prefer the Spring. The green, the wildflowers and blossom trees... My personal favourite is the horse chestnut - I'll attempt to upload a photo from Burgos! But the cherry blossom, the almonds and apple trees and all the others, not to mention all the orchids and lavender and and and... And the storks of course!

 

[Levi]

I have walked both seasons too - but my vote is for Fall/Autumn. That slight sadness in the air of something coming to an end. The wonderful colours - the granache vines turning scarlet, the tempranillo yellow. The grazing along the way - figs, walnuts, apples. The grape harvest....

 

[Ungawawa]

I found October a lot less busy than May. We had perfect weather too. May->June got quickly too hot. But you're right about the poppies and the beautiful meseta!

 

[DebR]

There have been many discussions on this board about preferences for walking in the fall or spring. I have done both. Fall was nice, with the colourful foliage, mellow days, ripe grapes. But I preferred the spring because of the longer days (not dark until almost 8am in the morning in May, compared to October), the green meseta and such a profusion of flowers everywhere! I feel kind of sorry for the fall walkers, missing the red poppies.

I found that fall was just as busy, if not more crowded, on the CF than the spring.

But here is the point about spring I keep forgetting to make. THE STORKS NESTING ON THE CHURCHTOPS. I loved seeing the storks. You don't see them in the fall.

Such a good point...I prefer autumn myself, but I do love the poppies and storks of spring...

 

[DebR]

I have walked both seasons too - but my vote is for Fall/Autumn. That slight sadness in the air of something coming to an end. The wonderful colours - the granache vines turning scarlet, the tempranillo yellow. The grazing along the way - figs, walnuts, apples. The grape harvest....

Thst’s It exactly. Me too...

 

[Prentiss Riddle]

The official statistics bear out the claim that the early fall is at least as busy as spring. September is comparable to June, October is almost like May, and the numbers don’t really drop until November. (Bear in mind that this is a lagging indicator as long-haul pilgrims start a month earlier.)

https://www.ultreyatours.com/blog/2017-camino-de-santiago-statistics/

 

[SeñorJacques]

But here is the point about spring I keep forgetting to make. THE STORKS NESTING ON THE CHURCHTOPS. I loved seeing the storks. You don't see them in the fall.

I've been trying to decide whether to move my planned Fall 2020 Camino up to Spring (leaving SJPdP first week in May) and this just may have tipped my scales towards Spring Thank you!

 

[trecile]

The official statistics bear out the claim that the early fall is at least as busy as spring. September is comparable to June, October is almost like May, and the numbers don’t really drop until November. (Bear in mind that this is a lagging indicator as long-haul pilgrims start a month earlier.)

https://www.ultreyatours.com/blog/2017-camino-de-santiago-statistics/

View attachment 40877

This graph doesn't tell the whole story. It looks like information from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago, which records arrivals in Santiago only. But it doesn't give an indication of how busy the route is from SJPDP to Sarria. You will find more Pilgrims between SJPDP and Pamplona or Burgos in May and September than July or August.

 

[Tim Floyd]

Fall was great as @Levi said. I enjoyed all of those experiences. Next time it will be Spring, for all the reasons @JillGat said. I want to see the green Meseta and the storks nesting. It will also be nice having the days getting longer as we go rather than shorter. Now you have me longing to go again.

 

[Anamiri]

Fall was great as @Levi said. I enjoyed all of those experiences. Next time it will be Spring, for all the reasons @JillGat said. I want to see the green Meseta and the storks nesting. It will also be nice having the days getting longer as we go rather than shorter. Now you have me longing to go again.

The storks and the poppies - the poppies are amazing