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Motivation-wise, I think there are some similarities between a Camino and a thru-hike (in my case the PCT). Both attract adventurous spirits who are drawn to a particular challenge. One that offers you a sense of purpose each day, and a tangible reward in the form of miles made towards a end...
Hi Judy. Just on the last bit, for sure it is possible to walk shorter days. The planning required would be a little more involved than say, the Frances/Norte because of the relative shortage of stage stops, but certainly still achievable on most days. There might be one or two days where you...
Hi there. Yes, the Primitivo was quiet for the most part, at least it was for my experience.
In the places I stayed (albergues), in terms of pilgrim numbers, there were 13, 5, 3, 2, 0, 5, 2 between Oviedo and Lugo. Of course there are other albergues which may been busier? And there were other...
Day 1 Today was supposed to be a gentle introduction to the Primitivo. It wasn't. My lack of training, the sweltering sun and a late start, ensured I was a tired and weary pilgrim when I sought refuge in the Albergue De Peregrinos Villa de Grado. Kristine, a volunteer from Australia, was on hand...
I'd stick to your original plan to be honest, Burgos to Santiago. That stretch of the Frances seems to tick the boxes you mention.
After Burgos, the Meseta will provide all the introspective opportunities and solitude anyone could wish for. The Meseta isn't the easiest introduction to the...
Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Río, near Villalcázar de Sirga on the longer approach trail into Carrión de los Condes.
I walked pretty much alone on the back road after Frómista, which suited my mood at the time. I could see the wave of pilgrims on the other side of the river following the main...
The finality of the Camino's end can hit you like a sledgehammer. Removed from the company of fellow pilgrims and devoid of any shared tangible goal or target (Santiago), it is hard not to feel over-whelmed by bouts of nostalgia and a sense that 'real life' will always somehow struggle by...
There is part of your answer, no? If you loved the walking part of the Frances before Leon, you should love it just as much after Leon. There are some fabulous stages after Leon. The Meseta-feel of the walk before Astorga. The mountainous terrain on the days into Foncebadon and O'Cebeiro. The...
I thought this was going to be a thread about that charming little village a day before Burgos. Nice looking spot but too early in the day for me to stop.
Anyway a sprightly mid-40 something here. Four decades of Camino-longing ahead of me then, with the help of God.
An epiphany moment would be nice, if unlikely. As a minimum though, it is reasonable to expect that you will leave Santiago a calmer, more rounded version of yourself, with a lifetime of memories and a circle of friends you care about deeply. That and a sun tan, a love of Spain and its wonderful...
"It's a dangerous business, going out your front door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to"
Nice post. The 'camino calm' is one of its greatest legacies, at least for me.
Having lived abroad for a number of years, I returned home after my Camino and was faced with the stark reality that I had no job, house, car or significant other to return to. And I was perfectly fine with all of...
Your draft itinerary and daily routine looks both realistic and conducive to allowing you to enjoy the Camino as much as possible.
I enjoyed walking in the summer months, but like yourself, preferred not to stay out walking too late under the baking sun. Your daily routine looks fairly similar...
Karen, for many the first day will indeed be one of the most physically arduous of the Camino Frances. It certainly was for me, as someone who walked the Napolean route to Roncesvalles with limited training.
I found the stretch from St Jean to Orisson particularly demanding, and had to stop...
A certain degree of training as a means of physical preparation is certainly better than none at all.
As someone who rarely walked or exercised previously, I managed five days worth of 15-20km walks in a flat park in London before I left. Going like that from 0 kms to 20 km, my legs began to...
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