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Hello Camino Travelers, I want an honest answer from you camino experts ... this will be my first time on the camino ... and traveling alone and potentially with a help of a tour for my family's peace of mind. I am so torned between wanting to do the full camino Frances (SJPP to Santiago) in 35 days or just maybe the last two sections (Ponferrada to Santiago) in 14 days. I am not trained for it yet, I have only started my daily walk of 6 miles and will be slowly increasing the number of miles as I go. My camino will start in less than 2 months (beginning of October 2014). So my question is, am I being realistic with the full camino or should I just maybe start with the last two sections and come back another year? Also how is the weather condition for an October walk? Please shed some lights and thank you for your advices. Vanessa
Hello Camino Travelers, I want an honest answer from you camino experts ... this will be my first time on the camino ... and traveling alone and potentially with a help of a tour for my family's peace of mind. I am so torned between wanting to do the full camino Frances (SJPP to Santiago) in 35 days or just maybe the last two sections (Ponferrada to Santiago) in 14 days. I am not trained for it yet, I have only started my daily walk of 6 miles and will be slowly increasing the number of miles as I go. My camino will start in less than 2 months (beginning of October 2014). So my question is, am I being realistic with the full camino or should I just maybe start with the last two sections and come back another year? Also how is the weather condition for an October walk? Please shed some lights and thank you for your advices. Vanessa
A 6 mile daily training walk for two months will be plenty - far more than my wife and I did training for a 35 day SJPdP to Santiago Camino last fall, probably far more than most pilgrims train. Do train with your pack, though, building up until you are training with the full amount of weight you will carry on your Camino. Train on hills, steep hills if possible; the Camino crosses some steep mountains!Hello Camino Travelers,
I am not trained for it yet, I have only started my daily walk of 6 miles and will be slowly increasing the number of miles as I go. My camino will start in less than 2 months (beginning of October 2014).
Vanessa
VanessaD,
Welcome to the Forum!
You will find a wealth of information here to help you plan your camino and to show your parents some of the many aspects of this special journey.
Since you plan to walk in October be sure to scan this Forum thread re walking in autumn to read what other pilgrims and I have posted earlier regarding weather, albergues and kit during the cooler months.
Last October the weather was great -- golden days and cool nights. I hope it is the same this year for you!
Buen Camino,
Margaret Meredith
Thank you Allan! I will have no problem asking silly questions! As a matter of fact, I have one ... I am trying to minimize what I take, are two pair of liner socks and two pair of wool socks really enough for 35 days? And is the thin wool socks good to reduce blisters or the thicker wool socks is a better choice?Welcome to Ivar's wonderful world! Seriously though. Read the threads, ask any question however silly you might think it. You have a whole two months to learn, buy, train and prepare. Take the 35 days and don't worry about it being enough as you can always bus a bit if you need to. The great thing about it being only two months to your off is that it doesn't give you a lot of time to start worrying about things which you shouldn't worry about. Once walking you will realise there is nothing to worry about anyway other than your feet.
No worries Jeff for the posts, when I published my first post, I had to re-edit it like 10 timesHi Vanessa:
Seeing how this is my first complete message on the forum, please forgive my 2 previous mishaps.
I also plan to start the walk about 2 months from now. Since I plan to spend a few months walking around Europe after the Camino, I'm going to be walking with a bicycle trailer to carry what amounts to a medium-sized backpack full of my gear and some edible goodies. Although, from what I've discovered so far by browsing the Internet, people are pretty confident that you don't need to carry much along the way. I'll just make sure I have a couple of good pairs of shoes, comfy socks, and some rain gear. We'll see what happens. Oh yeah, and a pocket full of cash backed up by a bag of travelers checks to buy my way out of any hardship.
Good luck.
Jeff
Thank you Karl. I have to say, it is not easy to even do 6 miles every day ... I am getting all type of cramps on my calves, legs, thighs ... because I have never worked on certain part of my muscles before! I have been told to stretch more and use a foam roller to release the knots. Will try that and hopefully I can keep up the pace! Did your wife manage to walk 14-16 miles per day during the camino?A 6 mile daily training walk for two months will be plenty - far more than my wife and I did training for a 35 day SJPdP to Santiago Camino last fall, probably far more than most pilgrims train. Do train with your pack, though, building up until you are training with the full amount of weight you will carry on your Camino. Train on hills, steep hills if possible; the Camino crosses some steep mountains!
I'd, personally, walk the whole way if you have time, but lots of people thoroughly enjoy shorter Caminos as well.
Karl
As you may have discovered everyone has their own foot approach. If you have decided to have an inner and an outer (maybe smartwool inner and a merino outer) then obviously if you wash them every day one to wash and one to wear is ok. Obviously you will have to consider what happens if you cannot dry the washed pair but you will probably be ok in September. Anyway you can always look for an albergue with a secador (dryer) if necessary.Thank you Allan! I will have no problem asking silly questions! As a matter of fact, I have one ... I am trying to minimize what I take, are two pair of liner socks and two pair of wool socks really enough for 35 days? And is the thin wool socks good to reduce blisters or the thicker wool socks is a better choice?
More like 15 - 20, most days. She was 64. The last 100 kilometers she carried my boots as well as her pack (I had blisters and wore sandals after Sarria).Did your wife manage to walk 14-16 miles per day during the camino?
I am getting all type of cramps on my calves, legs, thighs ... because I have never worked on certain part of my muscles before! I have been told to stretch more and use a foam roller to release the knots.
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