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  1. Mark T17

    Will We reach 'Peak Pilgrim' soon? On the Frances Route.

    I'm currently researching another Camino in 2022 and hopefully the PCT sometime after that. There's no way I would want to be in Spain during 2021 trying to do any Camino. It seems like a large proportion of the pilgrimage/hiking community enjoys camping, so to manage the crowds, perhaps Spain...
  2. Mark T17

    Running the Camino

    I love running and have completed a few half marathons over reasonably flat terrain, but if you start in SJPDP then you need to average more than 60km per day. I did it in 12 days on a bike when I was afforded the luxury of coasting down a few hills, I cant imagine what it would be like to run...
  3. Mark T17

    Norte or Portuguese + new painting

    Hi, I've been crunching the numbers and April/May/June is probably the only time I can get 6 weeks off work anyway. I think if I start in early May and finish in June, starting on the Norte then switching to the Primitivo, the numbers shouldn't be too bad.
  4. Mark T17

    Dual Pilgrim Certificate at Santiago?

    Hi dfox, I started the Kumano on 20 November 2012, doing the stages below. I was 47 years old, 82kg and fit enough to run half marathons in 1 hour 45min. Bradypus is correct above, there are very few gravel or paved sections on the Kumano, it is almost entirely bush walking with 1000 year old...
  5. Mark T17

    Dual Pilgrim Certificate at Santiago?

    Hi Tachi, sounds like you had an amazing trip on the Kumano and the boat trip to Shingu was a great way to finish off. I hiked the last 2 sections from Hongu (Kawayu) to Koguchi, then onto Nachi. The Koguchi leg was a reasonably pleasant 13km hike with fantastic mountain/forest views, however...
  6. Mark T17

    Dual Pilgrim Certificate at Santiago?

    Hi dfox, You have to use the Kumano Kodo website to pre-book and pre-pay accommodation. You can get different packages that include meals, etc but they are not albergues, more like "bed and breakfast" places or you can stay in an onsen or resort type accommodation if you want to pay more. In...
  7. Mark T17

    Dual Pilgrim Certificate at Santiago?

    Hi all, Correct above, the reception in the Santiago Tourist Office is a little poor, but they do give you the pin and a couple of stamps for your passport which I thought was good (see attached).
  8. Mark T17

    Norte or Portuguese + new painting

    Hi, I'm grappling with the same choice and I look like settling on the Norte from Irun, then changing onto the Primitivo through to SDC in May/June. By doing this route, I think I get the best out of the coast and the mountains without the crowds. I've watched a few youtube video's of the...
  9. Mark T17

    What do you do with your bag once you're at your destination?

    Agree with everything above, I think its a different mindset - I dont think people want to steal things because it means they will have to carry it and add to their pack weight. I used free lockers in about half the private albergues I stayed in. Do take a small valuables bag to take everywhere.
  10. Mark T17

    A question from New Zealand :)

    Hi Maz, I'm from Sydney and flew into Madrid, then flew into Biaritz, then train to SJPDP; at the end I flew SDC to Madrid to home last year. All flights worked well and were relatively cheap. The train to SJPDP is full of pilgrims, is a great start to your trip and will get you excited.
  11. Mark T17

    Accommodation in Biarritz

    Hi agree with Jill, it would also mean a late start in SJPDP, so you might like to book Orison.
  12. Mark T17

    Best cycling route from Las Herrerías to O Cebreiro

    I rode the N-V1 on this part of the route last year with a few other bikers and it was almost deserted because the A6 runs parallel. Not sure if you can take a bike on the A6 because it is a motorway. Its a long hard climb, I think it took me about 3 hours to get to O'Ceb.
  13. Mark T17

    Got advice? Share it please!

    Travel light ! Start wearing in your shoes now, start doing practice hikes now with a similar weight backpack. If the Napolean Route is important to you, then consider starting later in May because it might be closed in April. Take photos, keep a short journal and enjoy !
  14. Mark T17

    Mixing walking and biking?

    Hi Richard, you can certainly do it, but might be a little harder to organise with the bike hire companies or if you bring your own bikes arranging transport etc. Changing from back packs to paniers would also annoy me personally.
  15. Mark T17

    Dilemma about when to start-19th or 26th September?

    I left SJPDP on 15 September last year and found some albergues were full through to the end of September, particularly the more popular places to stay on this forum and the end points in the Brierley guide, so leaving later will avoid some crowds. As for the weather, its a gamble, layer up and...
  16. Mark T17

    Leon to Santiago

    In my opinion, by starting in Leon you would miss something physically amazing everyday, eg. crossing the Pyrenees, Pamplona, Alto del Perdon, a beautiful little town at Puente Reina, the Irache wine fountain, Logrono is beautiful, San Anton, Castrojeriz, Alto de Mostelare. Depending on what...
  17. Mark T17

    spending the night in SJPP or Orisson?

    From what I've read on this forum, you'll need to book Orisson and if you haven't already done so, you may not be able to get a bed 6 weeks out, so this issue may make the decision for you. Orisson consists of one albergue, no town or shops, the scenery is great, but there is nothing else to do...
  18. Mark T17

    How tough is SJPdP to Roncesvalles... Need Advice

    I'd suggest dumping the ipad, I took a Surface Pro in September last year because I wanted to do work emails at night. It was a waste of time, I was too tired at night to do any work and it weighed me down during the day. I'd suggest your average day will be getting up early, walking 20km...
  19. Mark T17

    Zubiri

    I agree with K, I stayed there last year and it was fantastic, although a little out of town. They also accept bikes.
  20. Mark T17

    Trouble with finding beds in early September to October 2018

    I completed the CF in late Sept 2017 and I just read somewhere that over 300K people were issued with a compostella last year which I think was the busiest year ever on record. Last year I found towns were full at Zubiri, Arzua and at least 2 other places where I cant remember their names...

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