1st Timer - Santo Domingo de la Calzada to S.D.C

[Cath P.]

Hello there!

Any feedback on starting a walk from Santo Domingo de la Calzada to S.D.C?

I'm thinking of catching a train from Barcelona to Logrono - then bus onwards to
Santo Domingo de la Calzada - and Walk to Belorado.
From Belorado bus to Rabe de las Calzades - then Walk to Sahagun.
From Sahagun - Bus to Astorga (Astorga stay & experience)
Astorga - bus to Sarria.
Walk Sarria to S.D.C.

Does anyone have advice walking Logrono to Santo Domingo de la Calzada?
A peaceful walk through scenery ?
Any holes/disadvantages/disillusional parts of my plan.

I am a total beginner & looking at a limited time frame. Also just starting to walk at home for training to walk for 2.5 wks September.
I've been discussing this trip with a local travel agent who advised the walk is Very busy in Sept and I shouldn't walk the Camino without going with an organised group. Is that a fair comment?
Does anyone have any recommendations for 'organised Camino walk' - I'm looking at the budget end of the tour operator scale! Or can I do it myself without any spanish language?!

Thanks for any advice wonderful people !
A very appreciative Cat

 

[CaptBuddy]

Cath, it is not a bad plan. Lots of "meseta/vineyard" in the beginning.
Logrono to SDdlC is nice. Lots of vineyard and rolling hills. The last couple of miles into SDdlC are a slog, you just seem to grind it out (my opinion). An alternative might be start in Burgos, and see the cathedral, then walk to Sahagun. Mucho Meseta, but lots of interesting sights and little villages.
Astorga is great. An extra day to see the sights is good.
Sarria to SdC is my favorite part.

I don't have personal experience with organised walks, maybe someone else can help.

Buen Viaje.

 

[whariwharangi]

Autobuses Jiminez provides service between Logrono and Burgos.
http://www.autobusesjimenez.com/horarios.php

Guerrobus provides service from Burgos to Rabe Friday only - this leg might be a problem.
http://www.guerrerobus.com/

Burgos bus station ... maybe you can find another bus to Rabe
http://www.aytoburgos.es/turismo-en-burgos/como-llegar/estacion-de-autobuses-de-burgos

ALSA from Sahagun to Leon, Leon to Astorga, Astorga to Ponferrada, Ponferrada to Lugo.
http://www.alsa.es/en/

Monbus from Lugo to Sarria
http://www.monbus.es/es

Renfe train works Sahagun to Astorga, Astorga to Sarria.
http://www.renfe.com/

The camino will be busy in September. Most people walk the camino without the services of a guide or organized group. There are lots of other pilgrims who have some English ... you may have to depend on them if anything extraordinary happens.

One point to note is that travel is time consuming. A lot of the places you plan to stop have limited bus or train service ... sometimes once or twice per day for which you use up a day mostly waiting. I note that you only have 2.5 weeks ... May I suggest that you pick a point to start walking and just walk till you are out of time. There is no section that is more awe inspiring or otherwise more interesting than any other ... its the walking in the countryside and sharing with other pilgrims.

 

[MechEngr69]

". . . Or can I do it myself without any spanish language?!"
Cat, I concur with Whariwharangi. Pick a city east of Santiago from where you want to start walking, based on your plan to reach Santiago in 16 days. I’m assuming that 2.5 weeks does not include travel time to the start and return at the end.

Therefore, a safe starting point would be Leòn giving you a distance of 328 km (204 miles) to Santiago. According to John Brierley’s guide, that would be 13 days with an average of 25 km/day (13 miles/day). It would also allow a day of rest and/or more time to climb the hilly paths from 1) Rabanal del Camino to Cruz de Ferro (350 m or 1150 ft elevation gain), 2) Trabedelo to O’Cebreiro (740 m or 2430 ft. gain), 3) Sarria to Alto Momientos (370 m or 1200 ft. gain), and 4) Portomarín to Sierra Ligonde (420 m or 1380 ft. gain). The rest should be a piece of cake.

If you decide to start from Leòn, take city bus 1A from Plaza Guzmán to La Virgin Del Camino to bypass the urban section on the west side. Plaza Guzmán is about 400 m (1300 ft.) west of, and across the river from, the Leòn bus station (Estacìon de autobuses de Leòn).

I just finished, arriving in Santiago on May 5, 2015 from Burgos. I did the St. Jean Pied de Port to Burgos stages last year starting on September 25th. The average daily cost was 30 to 35 euros based on staying in dormitories in municipal or private albergues. Add 6 to 8 euros per day if you have a baggage transport company pickup and deliver your backpack to your destination. If you have problems with the hills, or with muscles/feet/blisters, there are taxis that can take you ahead to your next destination. The manager of the albergue where you are staying can usually call a taxi for you.

I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think you’ll have any problem with finding a bed in September. The key is to reach your destination early in the day before they fill up. When you are traveling alone, you only need to find one opening. You will meet pilgrims along the way who walk at your speed, and they can help since they will also be looking for an albergue. You can do the Camino yourself without knowing Spanish. (I don’t speak any Spanish either.)

Re. Training: Be sure to walk 15 miles a couple of days in a row to verify that your shoes don’t give you blisters.

Best of luck on your training.