Should be starting Primitivo at the start of October

[Pathfinder075]

All my plans this year fell through, took on a bunch of unsuitable jobs, and everything essentially went to hell. But life is now back to normal.

So I am going to do a short session this year. I have a month to play with. Booked a ferry to Santander at the start of October, and will get a bus to Oviedo on the same day it lands (hopefully), putting me on track to start the next day. Have looked at the gronze route plans, but would ideally like to do more on some of the days than they specify. I know I can walk 15-20 miles per day on most terrains, and would expect to hit Santiago by mid october within a couple of weeks of starting. Following that I intend to do Muxia and Fisterra. Then get my certificate of distance and maybe compostella, but its not massively important this year since I got one last year.

If anyone else is starting around that time, then maybe we can meet for a beer or wine somewhere.

I will be spending some time reading through past threads to get an idea of things, then maybe ask some questions.

As for the Madrid Camino, maybe in a couple of years (and might do it via Rome to make it more epic).

 

[Binya]

Well done in making this happen for yourself...after your challenges what better way to receive life's joys and bounty than Camino primitivo!!!
I walked this May and loved all aspects of this Way-the woods, the pastures, even the maze of getting out of Oviedo...the anticipation and planning (keep it simple and no need to microplan, of course) is also one of the delights. May I be the first to say-ok write-buen Camino!!

 

[movinmaggie]

Pathfinder75, will you be keeping a blog? While I don't usually read them, I would be interested in your experience on the Primitivo. Wish you Buen Camino.

 

[alaskadiver]

I just walked it this May and it was beautiful. Next time we're going in April or October, though. May was too hot for us. I blogged and it was hard to keep up after the second day. I'd recommend you take notes and then blog it afterwards if that's what your thinking of doing. That's what I ended up doing. Just too tired after each day and WiFi was too slow to make it worth the effort. But I did post on this forum on Live from The Camino. That was easier to do in real time. Hope you get the chance or have the desire to do that. I would love to follow you as well. Relive the Primitivo through your eyes

 

[movinmaggie]

Thanks Alaskadiver. I know what you mean. It was my intent to make copious notes in the evening after walking each day, both on the Camino and the Great Glen in Scotland, but most evenings, I just didn't have the energy. The audio recorder did come in handy though. I do hope everything goes my way for me to do the Primitivo next year; probably October.....

 

[alaskadiver]

Thanks Alaskadiver. I know what you mean. It was my intent to make copious notes in the evening after walking each day, both on the Camino and the Great Glen in Scotland, but most evenings, I just didn't have the energy. The audio recorder did come in handy though. I do hope everything goes my way for me to do the Primitivo next year; probably October.....

Writing in my E-journal and posting on this website was a lot easier than worrying about formatting and proper grammar on my website
God willing you will make to the Primitivo. It's wonderfully beautiful and quiet.

 

[movinmaggie]

Writing in my E-journal and posting on this website was a lot easier than worrying about formatting and proper grammar on my website
God willing you will make to the Primitivo. It's wonderfully beautiful and quiet.

That's what I like to hear.....beautiful and q u i e t! Thanks again.

 

[Binya]

Not always quiet. Many of the albergues were completo and the trail was busy coming out of Oviedo for several days . Beautiful, oh yes, but growing more popular.
There is quietude in the pastures and woods and many walk for a more peaceful experience rather than a social one...I miss this Way muchos!!

 

[alaskadiver]

Not always quiet. Many of the albergues were completo and the trail was busy coming out of Oviedo for several days . Beautiful, oh yes, but growing more popular.
There is quietude in the pastures and woods and many walk for a more peaceful experience rather than a social one...I miss this Way muchos!!

I started May 14th and it was quiet. Saw maybe 8 people coming out of Oviedo. The albergues were full but the trail-we walked alone and were passed or passed a few people. But nothing like after we hit Melide when the masses of people was unbearable. When where you there? Sounds like there might be a sweet spot for lower numbers.

 

[Binya]

A week before you, Alaska...!
There seems to be waves on the Camino and after the initial swell I was able to find plenty of solo spaces. Albergues did fill up by the end of the day, but this was mo issue for me as I usually stopped around two or three...exhausted!
I did see a number of pilgrims making the choice to walk on rather than pay a hotel for a bed with full albergues...
but there was a sense of good will and Camino adventure as often there was a viable solution; shared taxi or hostel 4 km away....

 

[alaskadiver]

A week before you, Alaska...!
There seems to be waves on the Camino and after the initial swell I was able to find plenty of solo spaces. Albergues did fill up by the end of the day, but this was mo issue for me as I usually stopped around two or three...exhausted!
I did see a number of pilgrims making the choice to walk on rather than pay a hotel for a bed with full albergues...
but there was a sense of good will and Camino adventure as often there was a viable solution; shared taxi or hostel 4 km away....

I stayed in Escamplero and that was full. Weird. By 3pm it was still kinda empty and then all of a sudden a bunch of different people showed up around 6pm. But I never saw them again. We chose to stay in a few private albergues, a couple of pensions , The Palacio de Meras in Tineo at the hotel not the albergue. Everything seemed full but we just never saw the crowds while walking. But I did see enough people at the albergues early on that we made reservations for the rest of the days, just in case. A couple of people would pass us every hour or so but it wasn't Melide when I really saw a lot of people on the trail with me. We'd stop and let them go by just to have the trail to ourselves again. I think it is definitely getting very popular.

 

[Pathfinder075]

Sorry I haven't managed to get on since I last posted. Blogs and me really don't go. I occasionally write up after the fact, but I may keep notes on this one, since its my first real Camino. Last years was a tryout. I cherry-picked my way through the Frances from roughly Sahagun and still racked up 240-250km of actual walking, but it felt like a bit of a cheat. Also missed walking over the bridge at Hospital de Orbigo. Will go back and do that at some point as well as the entire first stage from St Jean.

But yes I will keep notes. I also have a tendency to take photos. They are my blog per se.

My journey will be slightly different to most peoples. I have certain issues that dictate the way I do things, so in many ways I miss out on a lot of the bits that other pilgrims do, especially the socialising. But that's life.

Going to try and streamline my pack a little. Aim for about 12-13kg max this time. Have a few new bits lined up already. The 400g sleeping bag and 2kg tent (would have loved an ultra-lite trekking rig, but cant justify the money, I also want longevity). Also some other bits have been procured in advance.

I hoped to actually be able to speak a bit of Spanish this time, but have so far failed at picking it up. I would blame old age, but someone would shake their head. I don't have skill/luck with new languages. I shall pack a phrase book this time.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The length of a day's walk on the Primitivo is largely dictated by the accommodation available. Even if you have your tent you should be aware that wild camping is illegal in Asturias so you will need to find albergues/places that you can legally camp. (Others have ditched their tents as being just extra un-needed weight.) If you need privacy then many places have private rooms as well as dormitory acommodation - see 'gronze' for guidance.
Buen Camino

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Going to try and streamline my pack a little. Aim for about 12-13kg max this time. Have a few new bits lined up already. The 400g sleeping bag and 2kg tent ...

You have quite a bit of streamlining to do as you should get yourself well bellow 10kg, ideally 8kg max if you want to have any sort of comfort/pleasure on this trail.

 

[Pathfinder075]

Im afraid it isnt actually mainly the clothes and other things that weigh me down. Travelling with serious medical conditions tends to require large amounts of medications. My medication load out runs to about 3kg alone. The tent is actually liable to be dropped in favour of a bivvi bag. I just need something for those times when I cant or dont want to be around people. Albergues are fine for the most part but expose me to high levels of risk, which I might add are manageable and I can easily deal with any life threatening reactions without the need for hospitals now. But in a tent, I dont have people using vegetable oils, or eating nuts or olives in a bunk next to me, my environment is controlled, and I dont spend most days shooting up with adrenaline due to coming into contact with allergens. I have made some enquiries about ways to cope with my pilgrimage and the possibility of camping along the way. I have found if you ask around, their is almost always an enterprising soul who will happily take money for someone to use a patch of grass for the night. I cant see Spain being entirely different to the UK or France in that respect.

As for weight, 15kg is nothing. My job has me walking around a warehouse for 12 hours every day, carrying anything from 15kg to 50kg and consequently I can happily walk miles with a decent expedition rucksack filled to the brim. If you are thin and don't have a body that is used to carrying lots of weight, then 10kg might be heavy, but for me 20kg is something I can walk around carrying on my back all day. Each to their own, of course. My training thus far has included Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Tryfan and numerous hills within Derbyshire, all with a 20kg pack. So running a 12-13kg pack should be fine. Anyway this largely outside my control. I will be walking with probably 13kg, maybe a little more with food and water, but for me its no big deal.

Thanks for your concern Tia/Anemone. Last year was my warmup and try out for doing a full Camino this year. The things I learned last year will help me do things better this year. If that makes any sense. But my overall problems all come from addressing my health issues and risk assessing everything I do with regard them.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Good luck staying away from olives. Evweything else is apparently under control.

 

[Pathfinder075]

I managed last year. Thankfully its mainly the eating of them and their oil that does me in. I can avoid that easily. But that is why I carry a lot. I cant eat in any restaurant, from McDonalds to the locals hangout. Anything I want to eat has to be prepared by me, or come pre-packaged. I tend to carry cous-cous, porridge oats and oatcakes. I eat a lot of cheese and chorizo that I buy. Vegetables I tend to pick up in shops when available. I carry cooking kit obviously. But it works and to anyone else with a serious allergy to something, I would say do it. Anything can be achieved with the right planning and a decent set of meds. I may not be able to eat with others, but I can still drink wine and beer with them.

Can I ask a random question. Officially, where does the Primitivo rejoin the Frances? I've seen answers including Palais de Rei, Melides and Arzua.

 

[alaskadiver]

I managed last year. Thankfully its mainly the eating of them and their oil that does me in. I can avoid that easily. But that is why I carry a lot. I cant eat in any restaurant, from McDonalds to the locals hangout. Anything I want to eat has to be prepared by me, or come pre-packaged. I tend to carry cous-cous, porridge oats and oatcakes. I eat a lot of cheese and chorizo that I buy. Vegetables I tend to pick up in shops when available. I carry cooking kit obviously. But it works and to anyone else with a serious allergy to something, I would say do it. Anything can be achieved with the right planning and a decent set of meds. I may not be able to eat with others, but I can still drink wine and beer with them.

Can I ask a random question. Officially, where does the Primitivo rejoin the Frances? I've seen answers including Palais de Rei, Melides and Arzua.

 

[alaskadiver]

Melide is the cross road for the Primitivo, the Norte. And The Frances.

 

[Pathfinder075]

Does anyone know if it's okay to continue through Santiago and on to Muxia, then return to Santiago to get the Compostella/Distance Cert? This year my intention is to get out to the coast before I consider my journey complete. I am not so bothered by Finisterre, but last year i visited the chapel by the sea and vowed to return to it this year, but on foot.