First time walking from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago.

[tezzanorris]

Hi I'm an Australian lady in her early 60's looking to walk the 800kms from late September/October. I've been looking through the forum & found it's extremely informative. I'll be walking on my own so am conscious of what I'll need to carry. Thinking of arranging to use Rayo Travel to transport my large backpack but am concerned that it will lock me into the distances I'll have to do everyday. Would welcome any advice from fellow travellers. Cheers.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You will find many advisory posts about NOT locking yourself into distances. There is nothing difficult about arranging each day for baggage transport. You have plenty of time each day, so add it to your list of things to do, like laundry and brushing your teeth!

 

[rglongpre]

Hi I'm an Australian lady in her early 60's looking to walk the 800kms from late September/October. I've been looking through the forum & found it's extremely informative. I'll be walking on my own so am conscious of what I'll need to carry. Thinking of arranging to use Rayo Travel to transport my large backpack but am concerned that it will lock me into the distances I'll have to do everyday. Would welcome any advice from fellow travellers. Cheers.

I am walking this route as well hopefully beginning on October 4th. Like you I am in my 60's.

beun camino

 

[julie]

Thinking of arranging to use Rayo Travel to transport my large backpack but am concerned that it will lock me into the distances I'll have to do everyday.

Will you need to have access to this backpack every day or is it for post Camino travels? If the latter, you would be better off sending it to Santiago.

It is preferable not to make fixed plans of where you are going to stop each day as it ties you down. If you are going to transfer your bag, keep some flexibility by making the decision of resting place on a day-to-day basis rather than planning too far in advance.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Large backpack? How large?

 

[sillydoll]

I am becoming a plan-ahead convert! I know more-or-less how far I want to walk each day and enjoy choosing which village I want to stop over in. As the Camino gets busier and there is a bigger race for beds, I prefer the security of knowing that I have a bed booked ahead each day. This way, even if the day seems to be long and tiring, you have the comfort of knowing that you have a bed and shower waiting for you at the end of it.
If you are planning on sending a pack ahead you will have to decide where you are going to stop that day and book your bag transfer the day before. Remember, many traditional albergues don't accept pilgrims with some sort of vehicle back-up.

 

[Bevey Ann]

Hi I'm an Australian lady in her early 60's looking to walk the 800kms from late September/October. I've been looking through the forum & found it's extremely informative. I'll be walking on my own so am conscious of what I'll need to carry. Thinking of arranging to use Rayo Travel to transport my large backpack but am concerned that it will lock me into the distances I'll have to do everyday. Would welcome any advice from fellow travellers. Cheers.

I am walking this route as well hopefully beginning on October 4th. Like you I am in my 60's.

beun camino

Hi I also am an Australian lady hoping to walk in May 2013 although I'm a little older in my early 70's - will be very interested in hearing of your experience. I shall arrange for my bag to be transported by Garry@spanishadventures.com he has been most helpful with my planning.

 

[Bevey Ann]

Hi I'm an Australian lady in her early 60's looking to walk the 800kms from late September/October. I've been looking through the forum & found it's extremely informative. I'll be walking on my own so am conscious of what I'll need to carry. Thinking of arranging to use Rayo Travel to transport my large backpack but am concerned that it will lock me into the distances I'll have to do everyday. Would welcome any advice from fellow travellers. Cheers.

I am walking this route as well hopefully beginning on October 4th. Like you I am in my 60's.

beun camino

Hi I also am an Australian lady hoping to walk in May 2013 although I'm a little older in my early 70's - will be very interested in hearing of your experience. I shall arrange for my bag to be transported by Garry@spanishadventures.com he has been most helpful with my planning.

 

[sillydoll]

When I walked the Aragones route a few years ago many pilgrims reported on the dirty conditions of the Municipal albergue in Tiebas and some even said to avoid it at all costs.
We stopped to have a look and it was in a mess with old food in the kitchenette area, the floors were dirty and the shower floors awash with water. But, we were a little weary and decided to stay.
We found mops and cleaned the showers, used the wet mops to clean the floor in the small dorm, washed the dishes and wiped down all the surfaces. We had a wonderful pilgrim meal - Paella - in the village and on our way back to the albergue we picked a few grasses and wildflowers and put them in a plastic cup on the table.
We had a comfortable night and I'm sure that the next lot of pilgrims must have been pleasantly surprised by the clean and welcoming look of the albergue!

 

[rglongpre]

When I walked the Aragones route a few years ago many pilgrims reported on the dirty conditions of the Municipal albergue in Tiebas and some even said to avoid it at all costs.
We stopped to have a look and it was in a mess with old food in the kitchenette area, the floors were dirty and the shower floors awash with water. But, we were a little weary and decided to stay.
We found mops and cleaned the showers, used the wet mops to clean the floor in the small dorm, washed the dishes and wiped down all the surfaces. We had a wonderful pilgrim meal - Paella - in the village and on our way back to the albergue we picked a few grasses and wildflowers and put them in a plastic cup on the table.
We had a comfortable night and I'm sure that the next lot of pilgrims must have been pleasantly surprised by the clean and welcoming look of the albergue!

I think that this is what we all need to do - give rather than expect - if conditions are poor, pitch in to make them better. There is something contagious about such behaviour, likely affecting even the hosts who had all but given up.

Thanks, Syl.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The Tiebas albergue is in a multi-use municipal building on the playground of a surplus school. Teenagers prop open the normally locked door all day in order to use the bathroom. A lot of dirt and rubbish drifts in with the kids, so pilgrims are less responsible for the mess and more responsible for the clean up. There were continuous guitar lessons on the second floor, which really was kind of nice. The guitar teacher did lock up after the last lesson. The hospitalero shows up mid-evening to see how the pilgrims are doing, but I doubt if he cleans up. Otherwise, it is up to the pilgrim to track down the key if the teenagers haven't left the door open. The restaurant has irregular hours, but opened up in the morning specifically to feed us. If there was a tienda in town, we never found it open. Dining was from supplies in our packs (pasta, of course).

 

[sillydoll]

Falcon, when I stayed there a cycle team were encamped on matresses in the large hall. They were a roudy but happy lot. We had a meal at the Cafe-bar/Restaurante in town that served pilgrim menus. It was the only place I've ever seen on a Camino that served paella as the main meal!

 

[Susanm]

Hi I am a first timer too heading off around Sept 26. Might see you on the track

 

[Michael C]

Hi I am also in early 60's and hoping to start 4th Oct so will be just a few days behind you. Good luck and maybe we will see each other its a long way after all.

Michael