August Camino Famous Bed Race Questions >>

[caminomarie-o]

Hey guys!

I'm going to be walking August 2018 - me and one friend. We may be staying in public Alberques, but we may be staying in ALL private ones instead (depending on our decision). Since August is SO busy, I'm worried about not finding a place to sleep. Especially because I am just bringing a liner, but a sleeping bag. Any comments on this would be appreciated but: we will probably be hiking from 6:00/6:30am until 2pm. Any tips of what time to start and when to end?
Do you suggest calling a day ahead everyday to book a private hostel (since you cannot for public)?
How much of a concern is this during August?

*Also what is it like when you arrive at the Alberques? What do you do all day from 2pm until bed at 10pm?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you stop at 2 p.m. before the heat of the day, you will not have a problem. The waiting lines may get all the lower bunks! Stopping at 2 p.m. in the non-end stage places will get you a lower bunk...

The strategy of stopping early and avoiding the guidebooks stops (in general) will allow you to walk without reservations (some sort of pun in that word). Many guidebook stops have so many beds that even stopping later will result only in a top bunk in an albergue that may have not been your first choice. The biggest advantage of a reservation where they take them (and not all private albergues take them) is that you do not have to wander town looking for the open bed.

 

[Ian Afloat]

Never had a problem finding a bed early last August on the first half of the Frances. You might want to book a bunk at Roncesvalles if you think you'll make a late arrival. I always tried to walk so that if the albergues in a small town were full, there was always another town less than an hour's walk further down the trail. Never had to do the extra hour.
2pm is a good time to aim for as due to Spain being in the wrong time zone, it is when midday is. As for starting at 6am...it will still be quite dark so you might want to take terrain into account when deciding when to start.
What do yo do when you get there at 2pm? Find your bunk, wash yourself, wash your clothes, dry your clothes, have a siesta, pack your bag ready for the next day, tend to your feet, have a drink or three, eat, take a stroll around the town if there is one, that sort of thing. Take in your surroundings and enjoy. My top tip: never, ever, ever stay in a big room albergue.

Has anyone noticed how "albergue" gets underlined as a misspelling when composing a message? Alanis Morissette never mentioned that in her song.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

As for starting at 6am...it will still be quite dark

Visible light starts about 5:30 a.m., enough to see to walk. The sun is actually up by about 7 a.m.; time for sunglasses and hats!!

 

[november_moon]

In August, I would start out at 6am too. In May/June, we usually started around 7 or 8, but August is hotter and the sun can be brutal, so I think the early start is warranted - do more of your walking early in the day when it's is more comfortable.

 

[jsalt]

What do you do all day from 2pm until bed at 10pm?

That is one very good reason that I have a long lunch (my main meal of the day) from about 2pm until about 4pm . . . and then I walk for another hour or two or three. I am bored out of my head if I have to sit around all afternoon in a small village. It’s different if you are in an interesting town that you can explore in the afternoon.
Jill

 

[Karl Oz]

That is one very good reason that I have a long lunch (my main meal of the day) from about 2pm until about 4pm . . . and then I walk for another hour or two or three. I am bored out of my head if I have to sit around all afternoon in a small village. It’s different if you are in an interesting town that you can explore in the afternoon.
Jill

You've got a point there. I arrived in Portomarin at about 1:00pm. Not much to do or see thereafter except meditation....

 

[D74]

You've got a point there. I arrived in Portomarin at about 1:00pm. Not much to do or see thereafter except meditation....

In Portomarin in August there's always the open air swimming pool, perfect for a post walk dip.

 

[Karl Oz]

Gosh, I must have missed that, pacing up and down that main street. Unless you're referring to the lake...(!)

 

[D74]

Gosh, I must have missed that, pacing up and down that main street. Unless you're referring to the lake...(!)

No, I wouldn't swim in that lake, it looks a bit uninviting. The pool is up the steps, just after the bridge to the right.