Am I nuts?

[Trishb]

I am considering walking for just one week the VDP starting on Feb 11th ( seduced by the cheap Easyjet fare from London to Seville). Will I meet anyone? I hope to complete at a later date. Thanks Trish

 

[Anamya]

Nuts for taking the opportunity to go on camino? Surely not!

But what do you want to do? VdlP is quiet, in winter even quieter. if you want to meet people, maybe not the best option. But really, it all depends on your expectations.
Can't be bad to be in Sevilla though.

 

[Trishb]

Thanks - you have made my mind up!

 

[Anamya]

Anytime. And cute doggo!

 

[domigee]

Go for it!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I hope you'll post a day to day for us!
Buen Camino!

 

[Trishb]

Be careful what you wish for! I wrote a blog trishboyington.com for my first Camino Ponferrada to SDC. Maybe read the last page to get the idea of my sense of humour. 2020 I have planned ( after the encouragement) The first stage of the VDLP in February, Porto to SDC in July and Leon to Ponferrada in September

 

[John Sikora]

The VDLP is a lonely walk but beautiful in its own right. I walked from Seville to Salamanca and am going to do the rest next year. I would warn you that the first part of the Seville to one week in is not the greatest. It certainly doesn't have some of the historical or religious points of interest (other than Seville), if that's what you are looking for. That said, it is still a good walk. Just set your expectations at the lower end of the scale. The VDLP, in my view, gets better after Merida but that's just my opinion. If you want to see what your going to walk through take a look at the first few stages of the trail on some GoPro footage that I took of the VDLP. It shows the entire stage walked (not entertaining by intent more to be informative of what you'll see). Enjoy the walk.

Camino Via de la Plata Seville to Salamanca

****Updated 10/19/2020 - Replaced videos Stage 01-11 - others coming in a bit) with new versions. 5x instead of 10x (better viewing) with additional info and...

www.youtube.com

 

[Trishb]

Thank you so much for your encouragement and for your knowledge. Like so many before me I have been drawn to the various Caminos in a way hard to explain. I know it will give more than I could ask for and leave me wanting more

 

[lovingkindness]

Yes, you're nuts @Trishb, we all are. Merry Christmas!

Walking the Via de la Plata in winter has its challenges. Weather conditions can be rather fierce. After arriving in SdC Dec, 2009 I wintered over in a small pueblo near Salamanca. I wrote about it here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/walking-in-winter.7253/ (scroll down a little )

7 April, 2010 Three months later...
... I am still sporting peregrina garb as I sleep beneath a stack of blankets, clinging to the comfort of a below-zero duck-down sleeping bag. It is fiercely cold at nights and in the mornings there is frost and sometimes ice, but finally Spring has come and there is a little heat in the afternoon sun.

How the peregrinos have suffered this Winter. From December ´til late March every peregrino seeking shelter arrived exhausted with tales of trecherous conditions: chest-high rivers outside of Seville; coping in freezing fogs with knee-deep snow and ice; incessant rain and relentless mud; the horrors of dead and dying cattle floating in lakes of water.

One peregrina slipped and broke her finger and others, we heard, turned back and flew home. One peregrino set out from Seville only to end Day One with torn ligaments. Rather than give up he purchased a donkey and weeks later hobbled into Fuenterroble where he stayed a while, regaling us with funny stories. He is probably still out there somewhere prodding and shoving his stubborn mule, making only 10 kms per day....

Happy planning, @Trishb. Don't forget your woolies!
-Lovingkindness

 

[SYates]

I am considering walking for just one week the VDP starting on Feb 11th ( seduced by the cheap Easyjet fare from London to Seville). Will I meet anyone? I hope to complete at a later date. Thanks Trish

From my own experience walking the VdlP in February/March - not bl...dy likely as one of your royals liked to say ;-) But I loved it! So, go for it and Buen Camino, SY

 

[henrythedog]

I am considering walking for just one week the VDP starting on Feb 11th ( seduced by the cheap Easyjet fare from London to Seville). Will I meet anyone? I hope to complete at a later date. Thanks Trish

Trish

Based on nothing more than the probability that the weather will be better In Andalucía than London - and that you have the time and funds to go - then you seem to have rather loaded the question in favour of ‘go’. This is, of course the correct answer to any question starting ‘should I’,with the exceptions of incest and morris dancing.

D

 

[Trishb]

Haha. That’s a definite then - thank you

 

[Via2010]

One week - most likely you will make it from Seville to Zafra (About 150 km). From there you can return to Seville easily with the local bus operator LEDA. So take the opportunity and enjoy.

 

[geraldkelly]

I walked in February a few years ago. It all depends on the weather what kind of experience you have. If it's sunny and dry it can be like paradise. If it's cold and raining... Well, not so nice.

I would say go for it but have a plan B in case the weather lets you down.

Gerald

 

[Trishb]

Thanks for the encouragement. I am definitely setting out on Feb 12th and hope not to need plan B

 

[hel&scott]

Hi Trish, hope your plans are shaping up well as your depature draws closer. I was reminded of the Vdp today while on my daily walk to check the water levels in our stock troughs. It's the height of summer here at the moment and it hasn't rained for weeks so it's hot and dry and browning off, not as expansive as the Vdp but being out I n the heat of the day brought back memories of this fabulous route. I didn't meet any pilgrams but the local farm dogs joined me on my walk just like the vdp. Your Camino will be different as the weather will be different, but different isn't always bad so strike out and enjoy being on the road again. All the best.

 

[Trishb]

Hi Trish, hope your plans are shaping up well as your depature draws closer. I was reminded of the Vdp today while on my daily walk to check the water levels in our stock troughs. It's the height of summer here at the moment and it hasn't rained for weeks so it's hot and dry and browning off, not as expansive as the Vdp but being out I n the heat of the day brought back memories of this fabulous route. I didn't meet any pilgrams but the local farm dogs joined me on my walk just like the vdp. Your Camino will be different as the weather will be different, but different isn't always bad so strike out and enjoy being on the road again. All the best.

Thank you so much. I am literally counting the days and can hardly wait to start.

 

[ManShootsSnaps]

The VDLP is a lonely walk but beautiful in its own right. I walked from Seville to Salamanca and am going to do the rest next year. I would warn you that the first part of the Seville to one week in is not the greatest. It certainly doesn't have some of the historical or religious points of interest (other than Seville), if that's what you are looking for. That said, it is still a good walk. Just set your expectations at the lower end of the scale. The VDLP, in my view, gets better after Merida but that's just my opinion. If you want to see what your going to walk through take a look at the first few stages of the trail on some GoPro footage that I took of the VDLP. It shows the entire stage walked (not entertaining by intent more to be informative of what you'll see). Enjoy the walk.

Camino Via de la Plata Seville to Salamanca

****Updated 10/19/2020 - Replaced videos Stage 01-11 - others coming in a bit) with new versions. 5x instead of 10x (better viewing) with additional info and...

www.youtube.com

Further filming in May 2020? Im starting in Seville on April 28th ...