25 and Ready to Roll...But

[NorthernLite]

Hello everyone!

Since I was 13 years old the Camino has been a pipe dream. Now, I have the time to do it after a recent transition in my life and I am "carpeing the diem". I start on May 10th, 2023.

It's finally here, I leave next week, I'm all ready, gear has been tested with numerous trial and error walks, and I'm feeling that pre-flight flutter.

EXCEPT, today I decide to poke around the forum and see if I can connect with other pilgrims starting around the same time as me, and what I find is a plethora of writers warning me of dread instead. Imagine my concern when others are telling me to abandon the dream, that I'll have no where to sleep, and that EvErYThInG is booked to the max and there is no hope for me.

Not only is this severely killing the buzz, but it's made me entirely insecure in my travel plans and now I'm just feeling anxiety. Should I be putting stock into any of these comments? Is the Camino still going to be enjoyable? Is it really that big of a deal if I have to rough it in a bush 5 or 6 nights in my sleeping bag, or is that frowned upon?

Please help.

 

[C clearly]

Should I be putting stock into any of these comments?

Well, yes, there are lots of valid comments and there are some good lessons on how to cope.

First, however, welcome to the forum!

If you have simply glanced through random threads, you might come away with some impressions that may or may not be accurate for your circumstances. Congratulations on having missed one of the most problematic weekends of the year, for accommodation.

Many generalized statements and worries are not helpful for assessing and dealing with specific circumstances. For one thing, you don't mention where you will start, what time schedule you are working with, and whether you have made any reservations. If you give us that information, we can better answer your questions.

By the way, most people get rather nervous at the last minute. It is quite normal. But once you set foot on the ground, see the first arrow, and take a step, the next steps become obvious.

 

[NorthernLite]

Hi C,

Thanks for your reply! I'm starting in SJPD, and was advised not to make any reservations beforehand. I've kind of decided to try and rely on the municipal albergues offered for the pilgrims as I'm not too keen on staying in pricey accommodations unless I really need to. For a time schedule, I'm looking at 30-35 days from start to finish, God willing
Thanks again!

 

[C clearly]

was advised not to make any reservations beforehand

It is hard to know what to recommend or advise to anyone. Many of the less expensive albergues do take reservations, but the least cost ones - municipal and parroquial ones, may not.

On the other hand, many people on the forum recommend that you make reservations as far as Pamplona, to get past the starting bottleneck. For example, why not try even now to reserve a bed in Roncesvalles? If you start on May 10, you may also arrive in Pamplona on the weekend. As other threads point out, Pamplona is a party town on weekends and accommodation can be scarce. Those first 3 or 4 days will probably be the most difficult ones for finding accommodation.

In any case, if you are 25 years old and ready to roll, carping the diem and all, you will sort it out on the ground.

 

[RJM]

Do not let the reports of throngs of pilgrims overflowing the route concern you. The Camino is very fluid and changes from day to day. Also a lot of the story tellers may be embellishing the numbers as well as good old chicken little syndrome.
I've probably got a total of six months of walking the Camino and out of that I would guess 10-15% of the time I made reservations for accommodations in advance. Less if you don't count Santiago or St Jean, which I almost always try and make reservations for due to their constant popularity.
Just relax and enjoy your Camino, remain flexible while on it and patience can indeed be a virtue while walking it.

 

[trecile]

Thanks for your reply! I'm starting in SJPD, and was advised not to make any reservations beforehand.

Whether or not you should make advance reservations is very dependent on when you are walking. You will be starting at the tail end of the "first two weeks of May" crush. During this time period I do recommend that people book up to or through Pamplona, but if you haven't all is not lost, as there are several albergues in that stretch that don't accept reservations, so if you show up early you should be able to get a bed. Check Gronze.com for information about which places take reservations and which do not. In general the first accommodations listed for each town are the "public" albergues, most of which don't take reservations, but there are exceptions, like Roncesvalles. If you book there I recommend that you book a bed and dinner, but skip the breakfast and picnic lunch.

 

[Bob Howard]

No, you should not let those panicked nervous nellies deter you. That first week of May that caused all the hand-wringing was a unique situation around a Spanish holiday. Have another look at those threads, and you'll see assorted counter responses to the catastrophic wailing that should give you some comfort.

Keep carpeing the diem.

 

[Kirkie]

Hello everyone!

Since I was 13 years old the Camino has been a pipe dream. Now, I have the time to do it after a recent transition in my life and I am "carpeing the diem". I start on May 10th, 2023.

It's finally here, I leave next week, I'm all ready, gear has been tested with numerous trial and error walks, and I'm feeling that pre-flight flutter.

EXCEPT, today I decide to poke around the forum and see if I can connect with other pilgrims starting around the same time as me, and what I find is a plethora of writers warning me of dread instead. Imagine my concern when others are telling me to abandon the dream, that I'll have no where to sleep, and that EvErYThInG is booked to the max and there is no hope for me.

Not only is this severely killing the buzz, but it's made me entirely insecure in my travel plans and now I'm just feeling anxiety. Should I be putting stock into any of these comments? Is the Camino still going to be enjoyable? Is it really that big of a deal if I have to rough it in a bush 5 or 6 nights in my sleeping bag, or is that frowned upon?

Please help.

Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in the eye!
You have had a dream, now let it come true in the way that is meant to be for you.
You have a money card?
Or a little stash of money?
And grit?
And hope?
Go ahead, buen camino.
If you have to hide in a bush, I will be mightily surprised.

 

[SallyandtheFox]

Yes, I'm setting off on the 9th from SJPDP and similarly have been panicked by some of the comments about busy-ness and booking. I've opted to book SJPDP and the following 2 nights and then play it by ear as I hopefully settle into the rhythm and get a better idea of what my body (and wallet) feels able to do every day. Now I'm worrying about the change in the weather - rain forecast.. And I'm realising basically I'm apprehensive and inevitably will find something to worry about until I'm on my way. I do want to lean back into trusting that all will pan out as it needs to and the camino will provide, whilst balancing with some preparedness. Buen camino - we may well meet on the road - or the bush!

 

[NorthernLite]

Yes, I'm setting off on the 9th from SJPDP and similarly have been panicked by some of the comments about busy-ness and booking. I've opted to book SJPDP and the following 2 nights and then play it by ear as I hopefully settle into the rhythm and get a better idea of what my body (and wallet) feels able to do every day. Now I'm worrying about the change in the weather - rain forecast.. And I'm realising basically I'm apprehensive and inevitably will find something to worry about until I'm on my way. I do want to lean back into trusting that all will pan out as it needs to and the camino will provide, whilst balancing with some preparedness. Buen camino - we may well meet on the road - or the bush!

Maybe I'll see you around Sally!! I'll save you a spot on the ground ahaha

 

[J Willhaus]

As @trecile mentions, several places don't take reservations, but you may need to stop earlier in the day to snag a bed. Some off stage stops on in the journey to Pamplona include Zurrain and Zibaldica. Both great locations. Or if you are flexible start on Somport and join the flow of pilgrims in Puente la Reina past Pamplona. Good albergue accommodations on this route and fewer people, but pay attention to water fill up points after Jaca.

 

[KiwiJohn]

Hello everyone!

Since I was 13 years old the Camino has been a pipe dream. Now, I have the time to do it after a recent transition in my life and I am "carpeing the diem". I start on May 10th, 2023.

It's finally here, I leave next week, I'm all ready, gear has been tested with numerous trial and error walks, and I'm feeling that pre-flight flutter.

EXCEPT, today I decide to poke around the forum and see if I can connect with other pilgrims starting around the same time as me, and what I find is a plethora of writers warning me of dread instead. Imagine my concern when others are telling me to abandon the dream, that I'll have no where to sleep, and that EvErYThInG is booked to the max and there is no hope for me.

Not only is this severely killing the buzz, but it's made me entirely insecure in my travel plans and now I'm just feeling anxiety. Should I be putting stock into any of these comments? Is the Camino still going to be enjoyable? Is it really that big of a deal if I have to rough it in a bush 5 or 6 nights in my sleeping bag, or is that frowned upon?

Please help.

Do not listen to all the negativity. Go with your gut feeling, you'll be fine.
Buen Camino

 

[jenwearing]

This exact time in 2018 I remember thinking the same thing. I started May24th. The forum was full of advice on booking ahead and high numbers and I was starting to panic. I ended up only booking my first night and once there, everything was fine. I was never in a bed race, I was just going with the flow. I fell in with a group about two weeks in and when we got close to the last 100km, we sat down, found some albergues that we’re off stage, called ahead and booked but probably didn’t need to.
If you can prepare yourself to be just a tiny bit flexible, you’ll be absolutely fine!