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My main concern is whether or not the buses run daily between the villages along the main route.
This sounds like a marvelous - even legendary - journey for you both! Kudos for persisting, and enjoying the journey that actually materialized, rather than the one that was planned. (Would make a great movie, doncha think?)...On my first camino I was 39 extremely fit and my couch potato mom was 70. ...
This sounds like a marvelous - even legendary - journey for you both! Kudos for persisting, and enjoying the journey that actually materialized, rather than the one that was planned. (Would make a great movie, doncha think?)
It is not of a lot of use in Spain. You can find large city to large city rides, but it has never had a ride nearby the Camino to another spot further down the Camino. It mostly is for a weekend ride or a daily commute.Was just on FB. Someone said there is an app called: bla bla car. App hooks up people who have an empty seat in their vehicle. Possible alternative to taxis, buses, and trains.
Love this story... your mom sounds like one heck of an adventurous spirit.It is doable and can be a lot of fun. On my first camino I was 39 extremely fit and my couch potato mom was 70. She insisted upon walking with me, for my protection, (sigh), Roncesvalles to Santiago with her rolling backpack and all. The backpack was ditched first day near small brook. Her things parceled out amongst myself, and other pilgrims to be reunited with her in Larrasoana.
In Burgete store owner called taxi for her. We met at albergue in Larrasoana where she was also reunited with her possessions. Next day, this was blazing hot August on a Sunday, we headed out to Pamplona. On other side of highway, an elderly Spanish man picnicking with his family spotted my mom struggling in the fierce heat. He followed us, knocked on nearest door, commissioned owner to drive my mom to Trinidad de Arre. Upon my arrival in Trinidad, we ate, she took taxi to Pamplona and I walked there meeting at pre-arranged hotel. From then on she took bus from point-to-point daily until Castrojeriz. In Castrojeriz the bus that dropped her off at 6pm, on following day, she'd catch at 6pm to get to next town.
We then decided she would bus to larger towns and cities and await me there. Everytime we would seperate she would find lodging, call albergue in our Lozano guidebook, tell hospitaleros where she was staying they'd relay message and I'd walk to hotel. Because, she did possess a pilgrim's passport, she would sleep in albergues from time to time. One time in Santo Domingo de Calzada she found me on main street. I had booked two beds in an albergue she booked two in another.
We had a spectacular wholly unplanned and unprepared for pilgrimage. And, upon reflection a miraculous camino. That was in August-to-September 2001. Spain was still on the peseta, costs were very low. This was before everyone had cell phones. Now, with cell phones and present-day CF infrastructure you two can easily work out logistics. Buen camino.
I agree, in spite of my cautionary comments in my post above. The OP just needs to decide if they are a suitable match for such an adventure, and realize that this will define her Camino.The plan of the OP is doable and actually adds to the adventure if approached that way.
Love this story... your mom sounds like one heck of an adventurous spirit.
Great idea! LOLAnother business opportunity for Jacotrans and Correos perhaps? - hang an address label and a few euros around the neck of a companion and have them collected and transported with the rest of the baggage each day
Thank you - good point re my friend staying in Albergues - I haven't thought about the fact that she might not be able to.The Camino is very unpredictable. Despite all your careful planning of where to meet the next day etc. it will not always happen, blisters etc. etc. Also bus services in some of the towns run very early in the day or at really odd times. My advice is to link up at major towns - at least your friend will not get bored waiting for you in a small hamlet where there is no hope of getting proper food etc. Also have you thought about accommodation. Your friend may not ( read that as will not) be able to join you in the same abode if she doesn't have a proper 'pilgrims' passport. I understand she will walk 10 kilometers a day etc. But I do know some 'abodes' scrutinize passports. I'm not sure why and I'm not sure if this is an issue but I thought it should be mentioned.
Thanks, I hadn't thought of car rental ... for her! (I'm totally committed to walking every stepIf possible...renting a car could be a good option. Also, would be a great deal for both of you if you shared a private room on your stays. Good luck and Buen Camino.
Thank you - good point re my friend staying in Albergues - I haven't thought about the fact that she might not be able to.
Thank you, I will check out the Google Maps mobile edition, and ALSA.Buses run on, or parallel to, the Camino for most of the way. There are a few stretches without bus service to smaller villages, but it is easy to plan around them.
In Google Maps mobile edition you will see bus stop icons along the roads. If you click on them, you get the bus route and time information. Do not rely on them completely; they are computer generated and do not show the actual progress of a particular bus. It is wise to be at the stop fifteen minutes before the scheduled time. There is an axiom in the bus business "Never leave early." The Spanish ignore it.
For transportation between major cities, use the ALSA website or the transportation information found linked to ayuntamiento sites.
I have walked every inch of the Camino, but I also have covered most of it by bus or taxi!! There are a few places like the Cruz de Ferro that you can reach only by taxi. When a taxi is necessary, I suggest you start the day with the taxi (or take it the night before). Taxis can be hard to find in the middle of a stage. Virtually any albergue or bar can summon a taxi, however.
If you seek advice on which sections to skip, I would say "none of them." However, when you have to, it is not difficult!
Sounds like a great adventure. Thanks for your inputIt is doable and can be a lot of fun. On my first camino I was 39 extremely fit and my couch potato mom was 70. She insisted upon walking with me, for my protection, (sigh), Roncesvalles to Santiago with her rolling backpack and all. The backpack was ditched first day near small brook. Her things parceled out amongst myself, and other pilgrims to be reunited with her in Larrasoana.
In Burgete store owner called taxi for her. We met at albergue in Larrasoana where she was also reunited with her possessions. Next day, this was blazing hot August on a Sunday, we headed out to Pamplona. On other side of highway, an elderly Spanish man picnicking with his family spotted my mom struggling in the fierce heat. He followed us, knocked on nearest door, commissioned owner to drive my mom to Trinidad de Arre. Upon my arrival in Trinidad, we ate, she took taxi to Pamplona and I walked there meeting at pre-arranged hotel. From then on she took bus from point-to-point daily until Castrojeriz. In Castrojeriz the bus that dropped her off at 6pm, on following day, she'd catch at 6pm to get to next town.
We then decided she would bus to larger towns and cities and await me there. Everytime we would seperate she would find lodging, call albergue in our Lozano guidebook, tell hospitaleros where she was staying they'd relay message and I'd walk to hotel. Because, she did possess a pilgrim's passport, she would sleep in albergues from time to time. One time in Santo Domingo de Calzada she found me on main street. I had booked two beds in an albergue she booked two in another.
We had a spectacular wholly unplanned and unprepared for pilgrimage. And, upon reflection a miraculous camino. That was in August-to-September 2001. Spain was still on the peseta, costs were very low. This was before everyone had cell phones. Now, with cell phones and present-day CF infrastructure you two can easily work out logistics. Buen camino.
Yes, the OP is a match ... and up for any sort of adventureI agree, in spite of my cautionary comments in my post above. The OP just needs to decide if they are a suitable match for such an adventure, and realize that this will define her Camino.
I love that she wanted to do the Camino to protect youShe most certainly does have spirit. She has been on Camel in Egypt, China's Great Wall, Israel, and on, and on. Love her.
They need a special permit to carry people and not just luggage but ....Actually, I think I have heard that Jacotrans offerscthis service in some areas.
Good point ... but I'm a stubborn ole gal .... I wont be getting in the rental carThe problem with the car rental is that it cuts off the spontaneity of opting to walk on those days she is up to it. She will be tied to the car....and the temptation on the really hot..wet...or just horrible days will be great if it is just waiting there in the morning.
I was joking of course but there is a germ of sense and history in the idea. The baggage transport companies run vehicles every day between albergues along the Camino Frances. Extending that service to also carrying a small number of passengers is a logical step. I had in mind the Postbus service which used to operate in Scotland in rural areas where mail was delivered in minibuses or large cars which also carried a few paying passengers. Sadly the service is now reduced to just one route. Personally as a dyed-in-the-wool walking fundamentalist I would rather saw my own legs off than use rucksack transport services or skip stages by taking a bus. But each to their ownActually, I think I have heard that Jacotrans offerscthis service in some areas.
The Pilgrim Office website has a page about the Credencial which includes an English language version of the text: https://oficinadelperegrino.com/en/pilgrimage/the-credencial/Without fishing out my most recent Credential I don't know if it still carries the same information, but it did in my old ones.
Call call me a pedant but I thought albergue so were for pilgrims that plodded it out carrying their gear with them... I've been tempted to blow the whistle on more then a few dry clean travellers that turn up after the bus hits town and try to get a free bed. I know the Camino is the way you make it, and we all go our own way in the end, but it's good to see the hospitalero looking after weary walkers.I'm a hospitalero. If I see someone arrive in a car or bus, and I'm working at a donativo shelter, I will not let the person stay. Even if they walked 10 km. earlier in the day.
Unless it's low season and there's plenty of room, or the person is ill or injured or otherwise in really bad shape.
If you can afford to taxi around, you can probably afford to get a room.
Yield to it!I've been tempted to blow the whistle on more then a few dry clean travellers that turn up after the bus hits town and try to get a free bed.
Yes I know, but it makes me feel smug and sanctimonious... stubborn and smelly I can handle.Yield to it!
you would have refused to give me a bed?
In context.or the person is ill or injured or otherwise in really bad shape.
True.I only have good boundaries.
Go back to read Rebekha's post: "unless the person is ill or injured or otherwise in really bad shape". No lack of kindness or understanding.Wow, I am amazed at the comments lacking any sort of kindness and understanding on this thread.
So, even though I had already walked a couple hundred km, but when I was collapsing from pain in my side, carrying my own back pack and with 10-15km already walked that day, and my walking companions called a taxi for me to bring me to the next town, you would have refused to give me a bed?
I would be very careful doing this as the molecheros are not licensed to drive people.After a rather expensive taxi ride, she stated hitching a ride with one of the luggage transport companies each day. It was fairly cheap compared to the taxi (I think around $20 a day), but could take a while to get to her final destination because the transport vehicle had a regular route to follow.
set aside your offence until you read to the end, please.
I am not lacking in kindness and compassion. I only have good boundaries. The last few years I've been manipulated by pain-wracked taxi riders who are miraculously healed and resurrected when a party starts. YOu only have to play me once.
Hi Everyone
I'm doing the Camino Frances next year and have a friend who would like to join me for part (or possibly all) of the way ..... however she is not a walker (for various reasons) and would probably only be able to walk about 10km a day.
I'm wondering if we could manage this by having me head off solo each morning, while she takes her time having breakfast etc, then catches a bus to one of the villages around 10km from where I anticipate finishing that day so she can join me for those last kms.
I realise there is a chance our plans may go wrong some days, and we may miss each other (that's fine - we are both confident on our own - we will reconnect the following day).
My main concern is whether or not the buses run daily between the villages along the main route.
Would welcome your thoughts, especially those of you familiar with the bus services in Spain.
Thanks
There IS a rule if you want to get a compostela: you must walk the last 100 km into Santiago. That means no vehicle in the last 100 km.There is no RULE that using a vehicle now and then is unacceptable
Any amd every bar has taxi phone numbers. But at 1€ or more a km. And then what do you do with yourself all day?Many towns have listings posted for local taxi service.
Thanks for clarifying that for everyone.There IS a rule if you want to get a compostela: you must walk the last 100 km into Santiago. That means no vehicle in the last 100 km.
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