by the seat of my pants! from Ponferrada

[ready to go]

Hello all! I'm brand new to the forum so, patience please.
I have been mulling the idea of a camino for about a year and recently just decided to book it and go. I will be travelling alone and am arriving in Madrid Sept 11, arriving in Ponferrada via bus from there on Sept 12. I am staying at the Hotel Novo in Ponferrada the night of the 12th and begin my camino on Sept 13.
As my title suggests, I am doing this a bit off the cuff. I have read no guide books, I have no maps (other than the basic internet searches) and essentially no real plan. I do have a rough idea of how far I need to walk each day and an idea of what towns I could stay in by name only.
How big of a deal is this? Do I need to get a guide book rushed to me? Are there taxis at the bus station in Ponferrada that I can take to the hotel? The hotel's web site says they are "on the camino route" but, is it?
Any help or advice is appreciated!

 

[annakappa]

Hi, welcome to the forum! I suggest that you start surfing the Internet to get as much information as possible. One good site is mundicamino.com. They provide maps, information regarding the Albergues, What facilities there are, where and when. Etc etc. Although in Spanish, You can read it in English by hitting the British flag at the top of the page.
Another of my favorite sites is the Eroski site: caminodesantiago.consumer.es . This one is on Spanish only, but again, a hive of information! Buen Camino! Anne

 

[Deleted member 3000]

"on the camino route" but, is it?

It is close to the camino on its exit from down, but at some distance from the center of Ponferrada. Yes, there are taxis.

Buen camino from an advocate of having a guidebook.

 

[whariwharangi]

People used to walk the camino before there was a guidebook so its possible.

Find the yellow arrows that mark the way and follow them west.

 

[Letsgocamino]

Hello all! I'm brand new to the forum so, patience please.
I have been mulling the idea of a camino for about a year and recently just decided to book it and go. I will be travelling alone and am arriving in Madrid Sept 11, arriving in Ponferrada via bus from there on Sept 12. I am staying at the Hotel Novo in Ponferrada the night of the 12th and begin my camino on Sept 13.
As my title suggests, I am doing this a bit off the cuff. I have read no guide books, I have no maps (other than the basic internet searches) and essentially no real plan. I do have a rough idea of how far I need to walk each day and an idea of what towns I could stay in by name only.
How big of a deal is this? Do I need to get a guide book rushed to me? Are there taxis at the bus station in Ponferrada that I can take to the hotel? The hotel's web site says they are "on the camino route" but, is it?
Any help or advice is appreciated!

Greets, Ready!
It appears your hotel is about a mile from the route but no matter. Whats a mile compared to all the miles you will be doing! As for me, pouring over maps and guide books before a journey is half the fun. I bought John Brierley's book, Camino de Santiago, over the internet. My husband and I liked it and packed it and used it off & on during our camino. We started from Ponferrada also, May of this year. I am very excited for you. How far do you plan to walk each day? Have a wonderful journey. Via con Dios and Buen Camino.

 

[ready to go]

It really does vary a bit. I think I have shorter distances than many but I'm hoping to make it an easy enjoyable journey. I tend to meander. I have estimated between 21 and 27 km / day until leaving Santiago to Fisteria. Those days are a bit longer it would seem.

 

[heitgl]

Ready To Go:
Can you tell me how you found out which bus to take? I will be arriving in Madrid on October 2 and would like to begin my walk in Ponferrada as well, but have no idea where to start looking for transport. Buen Camino!

 

[StuartM]

People used to walk the camino before there was a guidebook so its possible.

Find the yellow arrows that mark the way and follow them west.

That is exactly what I did. All I had was a list of towns and distances from the Godesalco website. I got off the train in Astorga and started walking. I made the decision to go on the Monday, on Wednesday I was walking in Spain.

I loved it, every day was a new discovery. Walk til you're tired, stop where you like.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

From the airport:
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 Ponferrada 09:35 15:45 6h 10min 29.34€
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 -Ponferrada 13:45 18:50 5h 05min 40.24€
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 -Ponferrada 14:45 20:35 5h 50min 29.34€
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 -Ponferrada 15:45 20:45 5h 00min 48.7€
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 -Ponferrada 16:45 22:30 5h 45min 29.34€
Aeropuerto Madrid - Barajas T4 -Ponferrada 23:59 05:15 +1día 5h 16min 29.34€

 

[ready to go]

Alsa website.

 

[Jochen-Schmidtke]

Alsa website.

Here is the website of Alsa bus company in English.
Buen Camino
Jochen

 

[demcrookedvultures]

Hi,
I did my first Camino del Norte in 2011 by following the arrows and learning and surviving as I went along. And repeated the trick on the Frances last year.It made it even more special for me. Great fun, you'll love it. Just relax and walk.
Buen Camino,
Johnny.

P.S. Ear plugs and vaseline for your feet ;O)

 

[30daystosantiago]

Good luck- I just completed my second Camino- this time with my wife and two year old. Because I was traveling with a child I had to plan much more than when I traveled solo. Buen Camino!