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  1. Jo Jo

    Advice on "parts to miss" so I can Experience Arrival into Santiago

    A dissenting view. On the CF I skip some of the big cities and one dangerous piece of road walking. I just find no spiritual value in walking big cities (or maybe, I live in a big city and if I want that type of experience, I can get it on any given Saturday). So these are my suggestions (all...
  2. Jo Jo

    SJPP to Pamplona

    Pretty much that is the hardest physical challenge, although personally I find the descents more treacherous. Specifically, the day after Roncevalles going down to Zubiri, especially the sections walking on the slick, wet granite and where someone thought it was a good idea to pore concrete...
  3. Jo Jo

    Weight, and how its discussion is terrifying me.

    I think you are going to mail that sleeping bag ahead (personally, I'd mail it from Pamplona, just after you are out of the mountains--I think you will not really need it after then, and most alburgues have blankets anyway). To make that possible, the one item I might acquire if you don't...
  4. Jo Jo

    Weight, and how its discussion is terrifying me.

    My suspicion is that you are going to wish you were carrying less once you start walking. You probably have a bunch of things you want for your touristing that will become unnecessarily heavy once you start walking. Above all, the Camino taught me flexibility and a willingness to let go...
  5. Jo Jo

    Seeking advice for sleeping bag

    Lindsay, Not that I know of personally. I've stolen the following from a post on Reddit of possible manufacturerers in Europe. Whether any of them would be in stock anywhere I do not know. I know in the U.S. there is often a 6-week order-to-shipment lead time (and shipping from the U.S...
  6. Jo Jo

    Seeking advice for sleeping bag

    Skydog, Yes, I also take a sleeping bag liner (Cocoon Expedition Ripstop Silk). 4oz. You need a liner bag. I used it every night. First, because some places and some nights any quilt is going to stay in your pack because it is too warm. Second, because the mattresses these days are usually...
  7. Jo Jo

    Any alternate routes that is good to know

    My suggestions: Walking into Pamplona, about the point there are some silver disks marking the path, there is another wooden walkway going left. Follow the walkway to a lovely walk into town along the river. (When it ends, just follow the walls around to the right until you find a road going...
  8. Jo Jo

    Which part to walk in two weeks?

    In that time, I would recommend the Camino Portugese, starting in Porto. It takes about 10 days or so, it has plenty of infrastructure, there are plenty of pilgrims to form a camino family, it has a much nicer entrance to SdC than the slog past the SdC airport, and the first day you get to walk...
  9. Jo Jo

    Preguntas from a Newbie

    That helps. I've never walked in the Spring, so others will probably chime in with better information. Below is my observations from walking in the autumn with similarly chilly weather and less sunlight. Generally, people do not leave the alburgue until the sun is up (especially if its cold...
  10. Jo Jo

    Preguntas from a Newbie

    As a general answer to all of your questions: there are as many ways to walk the Camino as there are pilgrims, and the Camino will show you how you need to walk. As a second note, the route and time of year you walk will greatly impact the answers. Please write back with the route you plan to...
  11. Jo Jo

    Advice on where to end my Camino?

    Can I add an option 4? If it were me, I'd walk the CP from Porto. That's about two weeks most people's speed (even if you add the spiritual variant). If you have some extra days, keep walking to Finesterre or (and?) Muxia. I've walked both the CF and CP, and I like the CP just as much as the...
  12. Jo Jo

    12 days mid october... Where should i walk?

    Camino Portuguese from Porto is easily done in that time. We walked it that last two weeks of October 2017. Had a great walk. Enough other pilgrims to for a community. Good alburgues (on central route at least).
  13. Jo Jo

    Questions from a potential first timer

    We also live in NYC. My suggestion is to fly out Friday night late. There are lots of redeye flights from JFK that will get you into Madrid/Barcelona in the morning. That saves you a travel day. Then take Ryan Air (check their baggage policy) or similar to SdC, bus to Sarria or Tui...
  14. Jo Jo

    Seeking advice for sleeping bag

    I've walked the CF Sept. 15-Oct 15 (2016) with no sleeping bag and just a liner (and a down jacket to wear in the evening and could sleep in if I hit a cold night). Did not regret that decision. That said, I've also walked the CP with a silk liner (4oz, Cocoon Expedition Silk) for when it was...
  15. Jo Jo

    I think I’m ready, but I have a couple of questions...

    1. Yes, SJPP to Roncevalles is the hardest stage for us. By the later stages, we have our trail legs and they were not so challenging for us. 2. Sleeping bag definitely too warm that time of year. Take some sort of warm jacket and in the cooler places, sleep in that (I carry a lightweight...
  16. Jo Jo

    May Or September

    May has more rain; September is hotter. Either would probably be quite nice. https://www.holiday-weather.com/galicia/averages/ Slightly more pilgrims last September (42K) than this May (40K) Personally, I like walking in the fall--late September through the end of October. Daylight is a bit...
  17. Jo Jo

    Young solo traveller - Is it safe?

    I think it would be impossible to walk the CF in Summer alone. You will have a "Camino Family" around you by the time you hit Pamplona, if you want one. Buen Camino, Jo Jo
  18. Jo Jo

    No beds

    Only town we've ever had trouble with was Larrasoana (one day out of Roncevalles for us). Municipal alburgue has always beenfull. First CF we got the last bed in town (in a pension); Last time just gave up and walked to the nuns at Zalbaldika (don't do this--too many Kms for me that soon in...
  19. Jo Jo

    Missing shoes

    Having done extensive shoe shopping in Burgos (don't ask), the best store I found was not Decathlon. It was Base Desportes. From the old city, go out the arch with all the dead kings holding swords. Go across the bride and straight up Calle Madrid. Go about 4 blocks and look for it on your...
  20. Jo Jo

    Repeating Caminos ?

    We've walked the CF twice. The second time immediately after my father's death, to begin to deal with the grief. Very healing. Yes, the scenery was familiar (if a bit different in the fall after harvest rather than in the summer with wheat in the fields), but I think I sort of wanted that. I...

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