Hello Totustuusmaria. I just wanted to say that considering the time of the year you will be walking, I personally would advise you using Goretex (sorry Markss). After all, the hot weather is almost over, or should be by the time you begin and you will probably get more rain + mud. I have walked in Goretex boots each time and only the first 8 day trial run 3 years ago, when we left without any information whatsoever, did I get blisters. On my last two walks (620 kms in 2008 and then Roncevalles/Santiago last year) I had no feet problem whatsoever. As far as mass is concerned, it's often problematic! Some Alberges kindly post the mass times, some churches post their mass times, but not always. We tried as much as possible to attend mass whenever there was a possibility, as for me, it was an essential part of my Pilgrimage, but it can be very frustration sometimes, especially on Sat. evenings or Sundays, to find that the village that you happen to be in at that moment only offers mass, say 6 hours later, or you arrive in a village only to see people just coming out of the church! I remember having a discussion with a group of priests who had gathered for a lunch in one of the restaurants along the way. I asked them why it wasn't possible to co-ordinate between them to post a list of the various masses, PLUS the ones in the next coming villages. One of them simply raised his hands and said that for him it wasn't necessary, because in any case, the Camino doesn't pass through his Parish!
Maybe you reach Rabenal before 30th Sept and if so, please drop in and say hello. Adriaan and I will be hospitaleros there from 15th Sept to 1st Oct. We will then continue walking to Santiago from there, but might jump over to the Camino Sanabrés after Ponferrada. Buen Camino! Anne