Thank you for all your replies - really helpful.
We're not doing this for religious reasons - but I'm hoping it will be an opportunity to step outside my (over-busy) life and have some time to learn whatever the walk has to teach me.
C Clearly - I completely take your point about not wanting to turn this into a logistical nightmare and I agree - my daughter hiked the Appalachian trail and I joined her for a fortnight which imposed a focus on that section of the walk I know she could have done without - but there she was walking for days in the woods miles from any roads so defining a time/place to meet was essential. But I'm hoping this will be quite different - if friends arrive and we're 30 miles away from where we thought we'd be, they'll have to wait for us to catch up or bus to find us - and time spent with friends is always precious and I'm sure I'll have things to learn from them too! And the friends will be walking too for a few days.
JSalt - love the fact you're giving it another go - must be worth it - good luck! I'm an optimist too so I'm sure it'll be good this time!
Domigee- thanks for suggestions of ‘Palacio de Pujadas’in Viana, ‘Mesón del Cid’ in Burgos - duly noted!
Trecile - thanks for the info re correct names - bit of a newbie to this!
Camino Frances is the route we'll be taking starting in France at St Jean Pied de Port.
Vacajoe and JohnSikora - sounds like big cities Leon, Pamplona, Burgos, Sarria and Astorga are good meeting points - thank you.
Dave C - so great to hear you walked this with your daughter too - am hoping it will be something quite special for us to share
Thank you everyone - any further suggestions welcome!