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If you're starting on March 25th. you should be fine on the Sarria stretch but if your timing changes just be aware that there will likely be crowds at Easter and for a couple of weeks after. Muy buen camino!
One thing to keep in mind is that it's not always appreciated when people sing in the churches. I'm not Catholic, but I believe that the idea is that church music should be restricted to music that is considered to glorify God. I've talked to several people who sang non-religious music in...
And that is why we form camino groups when we get home. We tell ourselves we want to help others who are interested in the camino. And we do - but also - we really want to be able to talk about the camino to others who are interested and will listen. Ha ha
I'd be careful with this advice if I were you. You might find a whole lineup of us standing around - hoping - cheering - to see if you really would take it off. ROFLOL
Beautiful Michael! I love that part of the camino. Looking forward to seeing more of your paintings. I know other artists have shared paintings too on this forum. They're always wonderful to see.
Hi Laluna,
There are lots of people from Vancouver who have walked the camino and many of us would be happy to sit down and talk with you. There are also camino walking groups who walk together every Saturday and Sunday. This week on Saturday they're walking in the Surrey are and on Sunday in...
I first walked the CF in 2003 and there have been endless small changes since then - including much more pavement. Little of the path was groomed in the same way it is now and there were more paths through farmers fields and up over the hills leaving small towns instead of along the roads. But I...
Everybody loves a problem it seems:) I just googled the altitude of Portomarin and got 387 meters, so that sounds like support for the altitude theory - allowing flexibility for whether one happens to be at the bottom or the top of those stairs!
Hi Michael,
You may or may not know that there have been numerous people who have rolled the camino in wheel chairs. I'm pretty sure they would have had to take the road in some spots - as the bicyclists occasionally do. Much of the camino has been groomed into submission in the last 12 or 13...
...steep (steep, steep) hill, and the first 15 km is paved.
But to be clear, that doesn't mean it's easy. It gets a person right out of puff in spots *smile*. And, unfortunately, the occasional person has had a heart attack. And, of course, anyone who hasn't trained a bit and starts out too...
Hi Elle,
You definitely don't need a tour company, but you might want one. There's no right and wrong about it either way.
I've never used one but I've talked with people who have as I've walked. The upside is that you have your room bookings and sometimes at least one meal a day taken care...
Hi Arch,
Okay - well - I'm a girl and that might make a difference. I first walked from SJPP to Santiago (and beyond) when I was 59. I lost 20 pounds. I've since walked it 3 more times, and each time I do the same (because I keep finding those darn 20 pounds again). And incidentally - no...
Scruffy , peregrina2000 and others,
Thanks very much. This information is really interesting and helpful. I'll be making use of it for sure.
Scrufffy - do you mind sharing roughly how long it took, and how many km. per day you walked? I would use that as a guide for planning planes. Any kind...
Wow SYates - now that is a walk!! Congratulations - I am so impressed.
My first walk over the Route Napoleon was when I was 60, my last (so far) was when I was 70 (with a couple in between). The first one was much harder for me partly because I had no idea what to expect and partly because I...
@Vardi - the only other thing to consider is whether you feel your ankles will stand up to the extra weight of your backpack on rocky, ankle twisting paths. Some people have weak ankles that tend to twist on them at the best of times. Although there are lots of flat and even paved sections...
Hi JabbaPapa,
From what you say it sounds like you have done an amazing job on your caminos, and you've certainly walked some impressive distances. We can all aspire to complete such accomplishments. I certainly admire them.
Even so, I can't help but wonder why you would think that other...
Hi FooteK,
No one can say what your second experience will be like. But as others have said - it is certain to be different from your first. It's hard to do, but try to keep your head out of expecting the same - especially the same wonderful experience with 'a camino family'. We are different on...
Hi Robo, Well - I'll bet the lovely forum gave you way more in the way of opinions than you expected. We're an opinionated lot here it seems - and you fit right in.;). I was really surprised to see you say that you thought it would raise ire to want to walk alone. Good heavens - I think most...
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