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Welcome to the forum. There is a heap of info here for you to check out. Fantastic info and advice from many, many, members. I would recommend that you go to the top of the forum page and type in what you want to know and explore that information.Hi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
April is the traditional start time for pilgrimages, going all the way back to Chaucer! Winter's over and the weather gradually improves, leaving you with as much time as you need to complete your journey in good conditions. I usually walk in April and October for more space - these months are either the start and end of the official pilgrim season, when most facilities can be relied on to be open. (Winter pilgrimages, November to March, are also possible but a different matter.) Gathering information from various threads I have understood the busiest months to be May, July, August and September, with a small dip in figures in June
But I'd put a substantial bet on someone soon posting screeds of figures that prove me wrong!
These figures prove ME wrong!The top departure month from SJPdP seems to be May:
View attachment 12245
Have a look at the events calendar for September on this site. Also, the thread 'Class of 2014' which gives lists of people walking in September. I can't quite remember but I'm sure there are Australians on there. MaryHi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
Jun: Yes, I'm starting Sept. 9. Want to join us/me? I love Auzzies!Hi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury
When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
Some of us Europeans who must work for a living will sometimes walk for a week or two in one year, then more the next year - we still walk to Santiago, just not all at once!Thanks Falcon for these numbers starting at SJPP. They are important to note for Pyrenées crossers!
It must be said, however, that not all of those listed people walked until Santiago.
We appreciate all of you who continue to work for a living; as we do, too. Or, I did until I finally got to retire and enjoy more adventures. But, the adventures are expensive to access sometimes.Some of us Europeans who must work for a living will sometimes walk for a week or two in one year, then more the next year - we still walk to Santiago, just not all at once!
Hi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
Hi Sharls,Hi Jun, I'm thinking of walking it next year in May I'm from Melbourne
Good morning Gretchen,Jun: Yes, I'm starting Sept. 9. Want to join us/me? I love Auzzies!
Gretchen
Hi Jun YangHi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
I walked it last year and never had aproblem and I am walking it again this year fly out on the 2nd of Sept. I think you may have left it a bit late have you your gear also have you done some walking.Hi Sharls,
Thank you very much for your contact. I really want to do it this September, but would consider next May if I cannot do it this year.
I saw your earlier post seeking advice on whether to book through agent. I have the same question as well. From the replies, most people don't think is necessary to book through agents. I jsut don't know whether the walkers can find a place to sleep by randomly walking into some hostels at the end of each day without booking. I will search for information more today. Could we keep our communication going? Thank you again... Jun
Hi Trevor,Hi Jun Yang
Not Female but I am from Melbourne look on the September 2014 pilgrim on this forum it list all those walking in September and what days, have you booked as I hear people are having trouble in SJPP and Orisson.
Trevor
Hi Jun YangHi Trevor,
Thank you so much for your contact. It sounds you have had everything organized and just counting the days to depart. I am so impressed that this will be your second walk. Are you going for the full walk? I have not done any booking yet and am at the early stage of information gathering and thinking. I initially planned to to go on a Isreal pilgrim tour in October but decided to pull out due to escalating conflict in that region. Hope to hear from you again. Thank you. Jun
This forum will give you heaps of info but don't get stressed and ask if you need helpHi Trevor,
Thank you so much for your contact. It sounds you have had everything organized and just counting the days to depart. I am so impressed that this will be your second walk. Are you going for the full walk? I have not done any booking yet and am at the early stage of information gathering and thinking. I initially planned to to go on a Isreal pilgrim tour in October but decided to pull out due to escalating conflict in that region. Hope to hear from you again. Thank you. Jun
Gretchen... I want to meet up along the route! Not starting in SJPDP ...Jun: Yes, I'm starting Sept. 9. Want to join us/me? I love Auzzies!
Gretchen
Hi, I am new here. Want to do the full walk. When is the best month to do it in terms of weather? Anyone from Melbourne (preferably women) want to go in this September? Thank you. Jun
HaHa. The same happened to me in 2012 when walking the Ingles. Little rain on the way but miserable in SDC. SDC is so, so much better in the sun!Only had two days of on-and-off rain until I got to Santiago. Then it rained for most of a week!
Hola,Jun,
If you look at the weather stats September is an excellent month for least amount of rain. We hiked our 2 Caminos in September and had one day of rain and 2 nights of rain while we slept. But as stated from everyone above you never know. We will be hiking the Camino Portuguese in September hope our luck remains. But hiking in the rain may be a blessing?
Buen Camino
Jason,Hola,
I am kicking off on 04Sept fm SJpdp, hope to get your kind of weather, God willing.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and thoughts on when it is good time to walk. I prefer to walk in cool and dry weather, so September and October would work for me. To all of you who will do the walk again this year or later, have a wonderful experience again and feel those wonderful feelings again. I know many good feelings can only be felt as words will not be able to describe them. JunJason,
We are starting our Camino from Lisbon on Sept 4 maybe we will see you in Santiago.
Buen Camino
Hi JunHi Sharls,
Thank you very much for your contact. I really want to do it this September, but would consider next May if I cannot do it this year.
I saw your earlier post seeking advice on whether to book through agent. I have the same question as well. From the replies, most people don't think is necessary to book through agents. I jsut don't know whether the walkers can find a place to sleep by randomly walking into some hostels at the end of each day without booking. I will search for information more today. Could we keep our communication going? Thank you again... Jun
Jason,
We are starting our Camino from Lisbon on Sept 4 maybe we will see you in Santiago.
Buen Camino
So far, I've found this forum very helpful for planning purposes. I planned and re planned many times. I made reservations in SJPdP and Orrison but after that, I'll don't have a set itinerary. I'm going to play it as I go. I'd like to detour to several northern towns as I'll be only an hour away by bus. Hate to pass up an opportunity to see the rest of the area. And, of course, try all the food specialities. We have a Pilgrims Association in Phoenix so I joined and by listening to their Camino travel stories, I've been able to learn more. You likely have a similar group in Australia. Very comforting and helpful.Good morning Gretchen,
Thank you very much! I will need to spend a lot of time surfing this site for information I need and hope I can fly out in September. I will keep you posted. By the way, how did you plan your Camino? How much booking did you need to make in advance, or what types of bookings you must make in advance apart from the flights? Thank you again.... Jun
Hi Jun
I didn't go through an agent, just booked my flight on a cheap airline that was going to Biarritz. That's the only thing that's fixed for me. From there I plan to go on the Camino del Norte, but I could still decide on arrival that I'll do the Frances instead! I haven't booked any accommodation yet, though when the time gets nearer I might do so in Biarritz or Bayonne, just for the first night. Regarding finding a bed, I'm hoping to be in time each day to get one in a municipal albergue (they don't take advance bookings) and if not that they can point me to somewhere else. I bought a Camino guide that I'm trying to familiarise myself with so that I know what the stages and levels of difficulty are going to be and can have an idea where I should stop, where I should buy stuff to take to the next stage, that sort of thing. Apart from that my only plan is to go as far as I want, stop, eat, sleep and do the same the next day or take a rest day ... just follow my Camino.
Hope you have a fantastic time.
Mary Kate
There is nothing wrong with walking with someone else, but be certain that each of you is self-reliant. Walking partners who become dependent can suck the life out of your walk. One advantage of finding new friends on the Camino is that you can change them daily! While that is rarely necessary, it is comforting to know that you can do it with very little rancor. There may be a lot of rancor, if you part from a friend from home. When you have settled into your pace, you probably will discover that you meet your Camino friends in the evening, but walk independently during the day. A common cause of injury is walking at the pace of someone else. Keep the walk-and-talk sessions short, and join fellow pilgrims for longer talks at bars and restaurants.They told me to buy this book "A pilgrim's guide to the Camino de Santiago" by John Brierley. I am still thinking and cannot decide whether to go on my own or not.
There is nothing wrong with walking with someone else, but be certain that each of you is self-reliant. Walking partners who become dependent can suck the life out of your walk. One advantage of finding new friends on the Camino is that you can change them daily! While that is rarely necessary, it is comforting to know that you can do it with very little rancor. There may be a lot of rancor, if you part from a friend from home. When you have settled into your pace, you probably will discover that you meet your Camino friends in the evening, but walk independently during the day. A common cause of injury is walking at the pace of someone else. Keep the walk-and-talk sessions short, and join fellow pilgrims for longer talks at bars and restaurants.
By all means, take a friend if he/she WANTS to go, and is committed to taking care of himself (with your moral support, of course). A Camino is hard; be sure a companion makes it easier, not harder.
Hi Jun, I agree with falcon 269's reply about doing the Camino with/without a companion. Don't be scared of doing it alone. The CF seems to be busy and as safe a place for a single woman as any on the planet. I'm sure you will quickly find other 'doing-it-alone'ers to chat and share a meal with - while able to pick up and go when you like, stop when you like without rancour or being a burden. Regarding Brierley, I haven't bought the book as I'm doing a different route but it seems to be a good guide for familiarising yourself with the route and becoming aware of the stages that get busy simply because of the numbers following them; you will be better able to know where to avoid if nothing else. Buen Camino.Hi Mary Kate,
Thank you for your reply. You are on good track as you have done quite a lot of preparation work and have a clear idea of what you will do. In regard to accomondation, I want to do the same as well, i.e. sleep in a community bunker or a more comfortable place depending on the condition of my mind and body of the day, if I have this choice. I was recently introduced to a group of people who have done camino and have regular monthly dinner together. I went to their dinner last night the first time and I am really glad I went. I learnt some important information from them (the conversation could have gone far better if the restaurant was not noisy). Quite a few mature aged women did the full walk individually and had little problems. If you are interested in meeting this group, please let me know. They told me to buy this book "A pilgrim's guide to the Camino de Santiago" by John Brierley. I am still thinking and cannot decide whether to go on my own or not.
Best wishes to you,
Jun