13 days - where to start or end?

[monica butler]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

If I were you--and I have not yet done the camino, but will embark late Sept. (when I really should be back in school, a nod to Rod Stewart)--I would want to get the cool certificate of completion at the end. It seems to me that if you plan to walk twenty clicks daily, you could rack up 260 kilometers, so I'd just put that into the map equation and see what looks close.

How fun! I am going to look at the map right now and see where you could start from. The experienced walkers will have some advice too, Monica <3

Buen camino, and thank you for wearing my favorite color--kind of a turquoise-teal.

Deb

 

[Jo Jo]

My suggestion is to find someplace you really want to walk to (Santiago, Finistere), and then figure out where 300kms from that is. 25kms per day were doable even on my badly blistered feet. Having a goal that is meaningful to you was very important when my feet just wanted to go to Bilbao and lay on the beach.

With that amount of time, I would probably start at Las Herrerias below O Cebreiro and walk to Santiago, then on to Finistere and Muxia. That is a nice long stretch. The land is very lush and green (and a bit rainy--they go together). You could start at Leon as you suggested, but that stretch from Ponferrada to the mountains was very problematic (see my posts on other thread for the details, but one stretch of road walking next to a busy road with trucks whizzing by just a few feet away was the most dangerous and foolish thing I have done in a long time. A taxi from Trabadelo to Las Herrerias would have been far more prudent).

The other option would be to cherry pick some sections you want to walk (Pyrenese? Galicia? Meseta?) and cobble together a "best of the Camino" highlight reel. Personally, I preferred the meditative state I got into by just walking day after day, but to each her own.

But in any event, do it.

Buen Camino

 

[pjacobi]

I have a similar restriction due to limited vacation time, yet I still want to walk the complete Camino Frances.

My plan is to walk from St. Jean to Burgos. Next year, from Burgos to Ponferrada. Sometime in the third year I hope to arrive in Santiago. I'm in no hurry. I'm sure that I will learn lots of lessons this year to make next year's trip even better.


-Paul

 

[monica butler]

If I were you--and I have not yet done the camino, but will embark late Sept. (when I really should be back in school, a nod to Rod Stewart)--I would want to get the cool certificate of completion at the end. It seems to me that if you plan to walk twenty clicks daily, you could rack up 260 kilometers, so I'd just put that into the map equation and see what looks close.

How fun! I am going to look at the map right now and see where you could start from. The experienced walkers will have some advice too, Monica <3

Buen camino, and thank you for wearing my favorite color--kind of a turquoise-teal.

Deb

Hey deb...small world...I live in Portland...Hillsboro actually. We love st Josef's winery and are members...so spend time in canby. And we're the same age. How fun!!!

 

[Sue M 23]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

I have 15 days for my Camino in May ,so I'm doing Leon to Santiago and I have 2 nights booked in Santiago before I head home.I think that distance is do able in that amount of time.Buen Camino.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

End in Santiago if it's your first time!
Maybe skip the ugly section after León, start in Astorga and continue to Finisterre...

 

[Anne C]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

On my first camino I only had 10 days and I really wanted to do the start and really wanted to walk into Santiago so we started in SJPDP and got a train from Pamplona to Sarria and walked the rest to Santiago. That train journey all across northern Spain was one of the highlights for me.

 

[christy wharton]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

I did both types. Paper will fade faster thant memories. Much better to start in St Jean/Roncesvalles and 12/13 days will get you to Burgos or beyond via Pamploa etc etc. and its old town Cathedral-EL CID rtc. Great variety and everyone is greeting, helping and getting to know one another much more than if you join along the way. Less touristy and large groups!! You will really want to go back and continue another time. A midday train to Bilboa and airport got me home. I am from Limerick in Ireland and continued my Camino by Flying to Bilboa - A lovely "old town"--Guggenhiem Gallery etc and got morning train to Burgos area. Buen Camino whichever way.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Leon to Santiago would be a tough 13 days. Astorga to Santiago would be a bit easier.

 

[SYates]

Start in Ponferrada and arrive in Santiago would be my suggestion. Buen Camino! SY

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Hey deb...small world...I live in Portland...Hillsboro actually. We love st Josef's winery and are members...so spend time in canby. And we're the same age. How fun!!!

Monica--I live about three miles from St. Josef's!!

It is beautiful out here, isn't it?

We have a 16-acre farm, and a beautiful pond right in front.

 

[WldWil]

I have a total of 13 days of walking time. I'll be starting in early September. Just beginning to map the route, etc. and would love your opinion. Should I start in Roncesvalles and end in Villalcazan de Sirga or I'm thinking I'd like to end up in Santiago, so I would start in Leon. Does one make more sense or is it more scenic? Thx.

How important is it to get to a final location? I was in the same boat. I finally settled on making it into two trips. That way you start where you want and to adjust later for where you want to finish.

 

[Lindsay from Scotland]

Hi Monica
I have walked ‘the camino’ several times whole and in parts. It is almost certain that you will return again after this first taster so I would council starting in Saint Jean de Port and seeing how far you get. “Let the Camino decide”. The departure experience with all the newbies will be really memorable.
You can only walk into Santiago de Compostela for the first time once so keep that experience special for another time.

Bon/Buen Camino and welcome to the club!
Lindsay