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I live in Sussex but am fortunate to be able to use a friends static caravan in North Cornwall and be able to walk from lots of locations near there. The tourists arrive when the nice photos appear and give them ideas :)
I have completed maybe 500km of the path now but not able to do a...
All these worries will disappear as soon as you start that first day. I'd try and get that pack weight down a fair bit though. Plenty of threads about packing lists about on here
Being alone on the Frances... not likely unless that's what you want. You will meet like minded pilgrims, also...
On odd occasions when I have had too many wet clothes for a day or so I have used a small piece of climbing rope with pegs and safety pins , hung from my backpack to dry as I walked. I'm never bothered about how it looks :)
yes to the spork.
my top tip is always bringing my own pillow case
as David says above yep this would have been my suggestion as it's the one I bought in Arzua. Came in a protective plastic roll to. I did buy one in Santiago that you had, both are nice and if you have no luck online, perhaps a helpful fellow pilgrim and forum dweller might offer assistance. (...
Concur with the rest above. 2018 to 2022 , around a 25% increase. September time (booked St Jean and Roncesvalles only ) busy but never struggled for a bed when I decided to stop
Flights and trains were more expensive when I was watching the early prices, Eurostar was 20% more but SNCF was...
Pick a time of year when there are fewer other pilgrims about or a route where fewer pilgrims go in general ( as nick says ) the VDLP
Be prepared for less infrastructure being available in quieter times
All experiences change people IMO .. hard not to be affected by all the people around you sharing similar goals.
I've chatted to pilgrims who were using their time to decide on momentous life choices, divorce or not , which career , mourning loss of loved ones.
I went searching for some peace...
Lots of books get discarded on Camino (weight ) . I've only ever taken a guidebook and I have learnt more language by conversing with fellow pilgrims and the locals than by other means.
It is rare to find bunk beds with no rail but they are there. It's also quite rare to not be offered a choice but again YMMV.
To others your fear might seem slightly irrational but it's your fears and that's all good. I'd try not to worry about it until you find a rare example of an albergue...
take the spork. Zip lock bags for food. If it rains, as others have pointed out... it's the time it takes stuff to dry that is more of the problem.
Cover for your pack and shoes that you are used to.
https://www.caminoguide.net/assets/images/camino_frances_altitude_profile.png
from this website (copy and paste ) which shows the gradients and a lot of the main towns and villages and distances. The stages in the original post are probably from Brierleys guide ? and is / used to be issued by...
The lense with the best range would be my guess. I know I will walk a camino one day and ship my pack and keep my camera and day bag with me so that's what I would advise somebody to do..
As for looking after valuables in albergues... same advice as I always give.. keep your good stuff on you...
get used to your pack yes, maybe train on a few hills and if you're not normally as active as some, try getting up every day early and going for a walk
book the first 2 to 3 places if you can. St Jean, Roncesvalles and maybe Zubiri or Larosoanna ( depending on distances you can manage)
buen camino
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