Adverse weather? Q to pilgrims walking now

[Former member 97924]

I'm starting my Camino in 2 weeks' time. I am an extremely laid-back and spontaneous person and tend to dismiss worries and warnings. If I want to do something and I think it's worthwhile, I tend to just go for it, just like with my previous Camino.

However. My mother has started to send me videos and articles of massive extreme weather events from all over Europe, including Spain. She wants me to not travel to Spain and walk through the countryside at the moment. She's getting very worried. Now obviously I will just go anyway, barring some monumental catastrophe, but I'd really like to reassure her. Can anyone (perhaps someone currently walking the Frances - my route) help me out? Is this area of Spain susceptible to extreme flooding, severe storms, etc.?

 

[Lirsy]

Here in Spain we have not had any extreme weather event in recent times ... and even counting the unpredictability of the weather ... I have not heard any extreme weather forecast.

 

[Tincatinker]

Hah, middle of a global pandemic and she's worried about the rain? Don't you just love your mum

 

[Former member 97924]

Mothers are the best, yes
She sent me videos of huge floods and storms taking off the tops of rooves in Spain. That's what I'm talking about, not just a bit of rain. Again, as I said, this doesn't bother me, but mothers are mothers.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

last week was stormy on the plains. Summer thunderstorms are perfectly normal. This week it's perfect walking weather. Just do it!

 

[trecile]

Just remind your mother that you are walking village to village through a civilized country. You will always be able to find shelter.

 

[JabbaPapa]

It was a very large storm covering much of Spain, not an extreme weather event as such. I mean, it wasn't a hurricane. These are very rare in Europe ; so when we do have them, by definition that's extreme weather.

 

[Barbara]

The rain, in Spain, falls mainly on the plain.
How is that for an earworm?

 

[mikebet]

Just tell her that if the weather gets bad you'll hunker down in a hotel or albergue until it passes. There's no requirement for a pilgrim to venture out in a raging tempest, though I suppose there's extra spiritual merit in that.

 

[J.Patrick]

I loved walking in the rain. If you have the right gear, it's part of the pleasure of doing something a little different. I live in a place (central coast California) where it doesn't rain for 9 to 10 contiguous months at a time. To walk in rain was heavenly. So long as I kept my core warm and dryish, I was always fine...and if you can keep your gear dry (thick trash bag containing your gear on the inside of your bag, poncho on the outside) you should be just fine. ¡Buen camino!

 

[Chris Gi]

I loved walking in the rain. If you have the right gear, it's part of the pleasure of doing something a little different. I live in a place (central coast California) where it doesn't rain for 9 to 10 contiguous months at a time. To walk in rain was heavenly. So long as I kept my core warm and dryish, I was always fine...and if you can keep your gear dry (thick trash bag containing your gear on the inside of your bag, poncho on the outside) you should be just fine. ¡Buen camino!

I agree - coming from San Diego - place of seemingly eternal sun - walking across the Meseta in the pouring rain and ankle deep mud was such a joy!

 

[LesBrass]

To be fair to your mum the weather (in France at least) has been horrible for the last few weeks. Lots of heavy rain and a big thunderstorm. I wouldn’t say extreme but pretty miserable... I wish I was walking in Spain as the weather sounds better

 

[El Cascayal]

The rain, in Spain, falls mainly on the plain.
How is that for an earworm?

Me thinks the rain in Spain falls mainly in Galicia and Asturias.

 

[MinaKamina]

Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain!~~

This picture was taken yesterday on a Northern Camino (Via Brabantica) in Belgium.

 

[Marbe2]

There were days one September when it was so hot… I would have welcomed a heavy, sustained, downpour. If you check the weather the night before you walk, and then the early morning before you depart each day, then a large weather front will not be a surprise and you can plan accordingly. We walked 27 days in mostly heavy rain one March. Go with”flow”!

 

[Former member 97924]

Thank you for your comments - so many of them!

Many of you didn't seem to get it that the point here was to find something reassuring to say to the worried mother of a pilgrim and not to persuade someone to be more adventurous. Dancing with the rain, going with the flow (nice puns, btw) and a photo of a pilgrim sitting in a flooded square (which I loved, also btw) may be good for the latter (which I don't need, as I stated), but they certainly won't help with the former. If anything, they would make her more worried.

I did get a few helpful suggestions though. Thank you very much for those. I know what to say to her now. It's no big deal; I just needed a little input.

 

[Renascer]

I loved walking in the rain. If you have the right gear, it's part of the pleasure of doing something a little different. I live in a place (central coast California) where it doesn't rain for 9 to 10 contiguous months at a time. To walk in rain was heavenly. So long as I kept my core warm and dryish, I was always fine...and if you can keep your gear dry (thick trash bag containing your gear on the inside of your bag, poncho on the outside) you should be just fine. ¡Buen camino!

When one usually stop when in bad weather? Lighting? Thunder? Well alone, women in middle of the rain i find it more difficult to use a phone and find help if one needs it no? Curious how many solo women venture under the bad weather and just keep going??? I am all for an adventure but safety is also important and more older more seems like safety levels changes.

 

[MinaKamina]

Thank you for your comments - so many of them!

Many of you didn't seem to get it that the point here was to find something reassuring to say to the worried mother of a pilgrim and not to persuade someone to be more adventurous. Dancing with the rain, going with the flow (nice puns, btw) and a photo of a pilgrim sitting in a flooded square (which I loved, also btw) may be good for the latter (which I don't need, as I stated), but they certainly won't help with the former. If anything, they would make her more worried.

I did get a few helpful suggestions though. Thank you very much for those. I know what to say to her now. It's no big deal; I just needed a little input.

Aaah... forgot to tell you. I got the picture from someone who wrote: this is where my mother lives

 

[RJM]

Tell your mother to go on any of the several weather sites on the internet. So many of them. She can see exactly what is going on. Actual science. Radar. Monitoring stations etc.
Besides, you are walking the Camino, not climbing Everest and you are doing it during the summer. Every time I walked it during the summer I never wore anything but shorts and a t-shirt. No worries. Enjoy. Buen Camino.

 

[André Walker]

And some additional advice: you can tell your mother that extreme weather conditions in Spain only occur at nighttime and never during walking hours.