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Thank you David. My brain says I can do it, my emotions are doing all the things you state above. I have been training for this and have been walking with a loaded back pack and poles for over a month. During April I will be doing some back to back 15 mile walks so I experience what it is like day after day. It's all part of my mental preparation as well as physical.Hi Katy - "getting concerned about it" is an integral part of the pre-journey .. it becomes nervousness .. one can even start thinking "why am I doing this" "can I really do this" "I don't want to do this" etc - this is all normal! Pre Camino nerves ... the front of the brain, the chattering mind, wants and needs certainty so it throws up all sorts of thoughts - at its heart it is fear - this is ok! Honestly, this is ok, - because there is no certainty .. your pilgrimage is completely unpredictable .. all our pilgrimages are, so all is well.
From the moment you take your first steps you will be a pilgrim - so every single thing that manifests will be dealt with - all is well.
Eating veggie can be rather difficult but it can be done - I don't have that experience but I am sure that veggie forum members will join in and give you the info you need.
So, your questions;
try not to plan exactly how far you will walk, just walk the distance that your body feels comfortable with, especially the first week - overdoing it is a recipe for disaster as you increase the chances of your body failing - so take it easy, be kind to yourself. There is a lot to be said for staying in smaller refugios "in between" the days stages given by the Brierley (though Brierley does list in-between refugios) - they will be more happy to see you, you may meet more independent relaxed pilgrims, you may have more 'special' or intimate experiences .. but in the end it doesn't really matter - you will be tired and just want a place to stay - you will become truly relaxed about this.
There will be places to stay.
They will be there on the Camino, you will see signs for them, lots of them - if any problem step into the nearest bar and ask there.
When you arrive in St Jean go to the medieval cobbled street that leads down to the bridge you go over to start ....all along there are countless refugios and there will be signs saying full (or not full), as well as this you just go into the pilgrim's office (halfway up on the left) and get your first stamp (sello) and ask them - they have all the information. But - if it makes you feel safer then do book into a refugio before you leave home. Re Roncesvalles - loads of room! the main refugio is a revamped 12th century hospital with smart bathrooms downstairs (the refugio you see in The Way) so no need to book - especially in May.
The bathroom facilities vary depending upon the refugio. Some are separated in male female, others are communal (only the sinks! each shower has a door!!!)
Some are excellent, some are ok, a few are poor - but they all provide what you need.
Thinking about staying in refugios, can be a hard one - in the modern world we tend not to be used to cramming into strange places with complete strangers .. and, true, at first one is self-conscious, but after a few nights the refugio becomes a welcoming thought. One knows how it all works, and can look forward to the other pilgrims to be met, the sharing of meals, the offering help such as first aid or receiving help from others ... a travelling community of strangers who become closer than family.
May! Not long now - be not afraid - All is Well!
Buen Camino
Thank you David. My brain says I can do it, my emotions are doing all the things you state above. I have been training for this and have been walking with a loaded back pack and poles for over a months. During April I will be going some back to back 15 mile walks so I expwrience what it is like day after day. It's all part of my mental preparation as well as physical.
Thank you Al. Yes the Outback Cameleer, who turned into a machine cyclist (he cycled the Giro, Vuelta and Le Tour solo in 2013 a total of 11,000 Km) is very hard to live up to. But for this journey he is my support rather than the other way round. I think my jitters are a nervous excitement as much as trepidation.Welcome. Great advice above. All I can add is - don't worry! Just go with the flow and don't let your obviously extremely fit husband encourage you to walk too far or too fast. You will soon find yourself more relaxed than you have ever been in your life. The Camino and the people on it have answers for every problem you may have along the way. I love walking the Frances in May and June and I am sure you will.
Thank you John. I will check it out.Hello KtBoo and welcome to you and your husband,
There is an encyclopaedia worth of advice about foot care in the forum. Simply type in "foot care" in the search field at the top of page, select the titles only button, click search and settle back with a couple days worth of reading.
Buen Camino
I will be walking Camino France's with my husband starting mid May.
Hello there- have attempted the camino twice! Some advice!!! Go with the flow - dont worry about prebooking! Things will naturally unravel! Have funI will be walking Camino France's with my husband starting mid May. We need to finish in Santiago by 20. June 2015. I have not done anything like this before and I am now getting concerned about it. I have been training with my back pack so walking isn't my worry. I am most concerned about where to stay? I have a number of books/ guides and I was intending to take the Brierley one. However I have read a reply to a list today that says staying outside of those stopping points will help the availability of places to stay.
My husband is laid back as he headed camels across Australia for 3 months living outdoors some years ago but says I may struggle as I am not a meat or fish eater.
- Should we plan to go a little further each day than Brierley suggests?
- Will there be places to stay if we do?
- How do we find them ( I've seen lists saying you have to find the mayor and ask?)
- We will reach Roncesvalles on a Saturday. Should I pre book somewhere?
- What are the wash/ shower facilities like in communal Auberges?
I am smiling at your last comment KtBoo! Others have given you good answers, but I thought I would add that you have just described my husband and me. One of the biggest lessons and most wonderful joys of our 2013 Camino was that I was simply forced to let go of my need to plan everything! Poof went the stress and angst. It just wasn't possible to know where we would eat or stop for the night in advance. I love planning. But the freeing effect of not being able to do it was also fabulous. We are walking again this summer -- the Camino Primitivo this time. And I am busy planning away! But I know that once we start to walk, all bets are off! And I can't wait for the moment I walk away from Oviedo ....[QUOTE="
My husband is laid back as he headed camels across Australia for 3 months living outdoors some years ago but says I may struggle as I am not a meat or fish eater.
April will be my third time on the camino and guess what, I am feeling nervous too. Dont worry, once you start walking it all fades away as your mind moves on to better things, especially with all that beauty around you. As to Brierley stages or Brierley days as I called them, if you read all the preamble in his guide you will find that he points out these are only suggestions. On my last trip, I started in Burgos and stopped in Rabe rather than on to the end of the stage, a nice short day one. It meant that in the coming days I was still walking a fair distance but stopping each day in the mid point of a Brierley day. So it does not mean walking any extra, just mid point to next mid point. If you follow the other advice I was given by an old Spanish pilgrim who always walked in high season and always got a bed you will be fine. Get on the road by 7am at latest, walk for 5 to 6 hours or until your shadow disappears then stop at next albergue. He always got a bed, I always got a bed and you will always get a bed. Also think of this, worst thing that could possibly happen is sleeping in a church, a porch or under the stars. If thats the very worst then why worry as the very worst seldom happens. Never had to find a mayor once, May/June every albergue will be open and believe me you will have no problem finding them, they are well signed. Wash/shower facilities are generally communal, some places have designated male/female but generally not but never had any problem with dirty or poor facilities. Thats not to say they dont exist, I fortunately never found them. And finally, as far as I am aware you cant book ahead for the albergue in Roncesvalles but its big and I have never heard of anyone not getting in that early in the year. Boy, thats one long post, hope I did not bore youI will be walking Camino France's with my husband starting mid May. We need to finish in Santiago by 20. June 2015. I have not done anything like this before and I am now getting concerned about it. I have been training with my back pack so walking isn't my worry. I am most concerned about where to stay? I have a number of books/ guides and I was intending to take the Brierley one. However I have read a reply to a list today that says staying outside of those stopping points will help the availability of places to stay.
My husband is laid back as he headed camels across Australia for 3 months living outdoors some years ago but says I may struggle as I am not a meat or fish eater.
- Should we plan to go a little further each day than Brierley suggests?
- Will there be places to stay if we do?
- How do we find them ( I've seen lists saying you have to find the mayor and ask?)
- We will reach Roncesvalles on a Saturday. Should I pre book somewhere?
- What are the wash/ shower facilities like in communal Auberges?
Thank you. You might see us. I have ordered shells and the badge from Ivar to put on my back pack.I am starting on May 16th, perhaps I will see you both out there
Great advice from our fellow pilgrims. However, I would add that+750 km in 35 days is fairly intense. I am sure you have done the math, but walking in the heat, and it can be hot in june, with a backpack is a different story. Likwise, figures indicate that we'll be enjoying significantly more pilgrims on the Camino again this year. I personally would book ahead in some of the larger towns, specially after León. This is possible at the private places. Regarding washing and showers at communal places... I would treat myself to private every once in a whileI will be walking Camino France's with my husband starting mid May. We need to finish in Santiago by 20. June 2015. I have not done anything like this before and I am now getting concerned about it. I have been training with my back pack so walking isn't my worry. I am most concerned about where to stay? I have a number of books/ guides and I was intending to take the Brierley one. However I have read a reply to a list today that says staying outside of those stopping points will help the availability of places to stay.
My husband is laid back as he headed camels across Australia for 3 months living outdoors some years ago but says I may struggle as I am not a meat or fish eater.
- Should we plan to go a little further each day than Brierley suggests?
- Will there be places to stay if we do?
- How do we find them ( I've seen lists saying you have to find the mayor and ask?)
- We will reach Roncesvalles on a Saturday. Should I pre book somewhere?
- What are the wash/ shower facilities like in communal Auberges?
I will be walking Camino France's with my husband starting mid May. We need to finish in Santiago by 20. June 2015. I have not done anything like this before and I am now getting concerned about it. I have been training with my back pack so walking isn't my worry. I am most concerned about where to stay? I have a number of books/ guides and I was intending to take the Brierley one. However I have read a reply to a list today that says staying outside of those stopping points will help the availability of places to stay.
My husband is laid back as he headed camels across Australia for 3 months living outdoors some years ago but says I may struggle as I am not a meat or fish eater.
- Should we plan to go a little further each day than Brierley suggests?
- Will there be places to stay if we do?
- How do we find them ( I've seen lists saying you have to find the mayor and ask?)
- We will reach Roncesvalles on a Saturday. Should I pre book somewhere?
- What are the wash/ shower facilities like in communal Auberges?
David, what a beautiful, comforting reply you gave to Katy. Its comments like these that makes this forum so special. As David said, Katy..."worry not" there are many generous and kind souls along the Camino. I did my first last year by bike, and I start my 2nd camino on foot from SJPdP on May, 15th. David's generosity of spirit is refreshing to say the least, and I'm sure that it will be typical of the way you are received in the albergues and by other travellers on "the way"...Buen CaminoHi Katy - "getting concerned about it" is an integral part of the pre-journey .. it becomes nervousness .. one can even start thinking "why am I doing this" "can I really do this" "I don't want to do this" etc - this is all normal! Pre Camino nerves ... the front of the brain, the chattering mind, wants and needs certainty so it throws up all sorts of thoughts - at its heart it is fear - this is ok! Honestly, this is ok, - because there is no certainty .. your pilgrimage is completely unpredictable .. all our pilgrimages are, so all is well.
From the moment you take your first steps you will be a pilgrim - so every single thing that manifests will be dealt with - all is well.
Eating veggie can be rather difficult but it can be done - I don't have that experience but I am sure that veggie forum members will join in and give you the info you need.
So, your questions;
try not to plan exactly how far you will walk, just walk the distance that your body feels comfortable with, especially the first week - overdoing it is a recipe for disaster as you increase the chances of your body failing - so take it easy, be kind to yourself. There is a lot to be said for staying in smaller refugios "in between" the days stages given by the Brierley (though Brierley does list in-between refugios) - they will be more happy to see you, you may meet more independent relaxed pilgrims, you may have more 'special' or intimate experiences .. but in the end it doesn't really matter - you will be tired and just want a place to stay - you will become truly relaxed about this.
There will be places to stay.
They will be there on the Camino, you will see signs for them, lots of them - if any problem step into the nearest bar and ask there.
When you arrive in St Jean go to the medieval cobbled street that leads down to the bridge you go over to start ....all along there are countless refugios and there will be signs saying full (or not full), as well as this you just go into the pilgrim's office (halfway up on the left) and get your first stamp (sello) and ask them - they have all the information. But - if it makes you feel safer then do book into a refugio before you leave home. Re Roncesvalles - loads of room! the main refugio is a revamped 12th century hospital with smart bathrooms downstairs (the refugio you see in The Way) so no need to book - especially in May.
The bathroom facilities vary depending upon the refugio. Some are separated in male female, others are communal (only the sinks! each shower has a door!!!)
Some are excellent, some are ok, a few are poor - but they all provide what you need.
Thinking about staying in refugios, can be a hard one - in the modern world we tend not to be used to cramming into strange places with complete strangers .. and, true, at first one is self-conscious, but after a few nights the refugio becomes a welcoming thought. One knows how it all works, and can look forward to the other pilgrims to be met, the sharing of meals, the offering help such as first aid or receiving help from others ... a travelling community of strangers who become closer than family.
May! Not long now - be not afraid - All is Well!
Buen Camino
Thank you Peter,David, what a beautiful, comforting reply you gave to Katy. Its comments like these that makes this forum so special. As David said, Katy..."worry not" there are many generous and kind souls along the Camino. I did my first last year by bike, and I start my 2nd camino on foot from SJPdP on May, 15th. David's generosity of spirit is refreshing to say the least, and I'm sure that it will be typical of the way you are received in the albergues and by other travellers on "the way"...Buen Camino
...
We will reach Roncesvalles on a Saturday. Should I pre book somewhere?
The albergue in Roncesvalles is big enough and doesn't accept any reservations, no worries.
...
Buen Camino! SY
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