Frances for my 50th

[ShireenB]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

I did the same thing - a milestone for my half-century. Enjoy it, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Buen Camino!

 

[Davey Boyd]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

Welcome to the forum Shireen!

Happy planning and Buen Camino!

Davey

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Shireen, welcome to the forum! What a great way to celebrate your 50th. Wishing you a Buen Camino.

 

[Rich1]

I did my first Camino for my 50th, then repeated for my wife's 50th.
Have a great time...buen camino

 

[Roland49]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

I did walk before I turned 50. Promised this in my early 20s to myself.
And made it.

Will you walk the Frances or the Norte? You give differing infos.
Either way you will have great fun and great experiences.

 

[Kevin Jackson]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

I'll be walking next spring too, but will be a mere 49 years old. Have fun!

 

[Micah26]

Welcome Shireen,
Enjoy the planning and training and your Camino. No matter how old enjoy your adventure!
Buen Camino

 

[trecile]

I wish that I had known about the Camino before I turned 50!

 

[t2andreo]

I did the same thing - a milestone for my half-century. Enjoy it, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Buen Camino!

Me too! Except I arrived at the Cathedral on my 60th birthday.

They even used the Botafumeiro at that noon mass in the Cathedral... Lucky me!

It was one heck of a welcome ceremony... It was humbling as I was celebrating the first half of my life... on my 60th birthday...

Just trying to remain optimistic.

 

[MarkyD]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

I cannot think of a better thing to do on a significant birthday, it will be absolutely fantastic. Happy Birthday (when it comes) and Buen Camino

 

[Zordmot]

Hi Shireen! Excellent plan!! One note is that i started this year from SJPP on April 28 and there was quite a large surge of people that weekend. I think its Mothers Day in France or Spain.I recommend highly having reservations in advance all the way to Pamplona because of the crowd. Otherwise the weather was great. There was snow and hazardous conditions over the top on Day One the previous week but was clear and windy on the 28th.

Two recommendations. 1. Arrive in SJPP on one day, get in the long line at the Pilgrim Office and spend the night across the way from the Pilgrim Office at Beilari Albergue. You will not regret it! Reservations way in advance required.

2. To prepare for the camino and especially that first day, I suggest lots and lots and lots of walking and stair climbing. If there is a football stadium near your home go there and practice walking and even running the steps.

Buen camino!!!
Tom

 

[ShireenB]

I did walk before I turned 50. Promised this in my early 20s to myself.
And made it.

Will you walk the Frances or the Norte? You give differing infos.
Either way you will have great fun and great experiences.

Sorry I was set on the Norte but was convinced by a veteran Pelegrína to do the Frances. I think it’s the right decision for me!

 

[Zordmot]

I think thats a good choice. I recently walked 5 days on Norte. Frances is definately a good choice for your first. I went whole days without seeing another pilgrim and the route is often not clearly marked

 

[gittiharre]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

Oh dear beware! My first Camino, the Frances was in 2006, to celebrate my 50th too. I have been walking pilgrim routes ever since...

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Oh dear beware! My first Camino, the Frances was in 2006, to celebrate my 50th too. I have been walking pilgrim routes ever since...

It does tend to get addictive doesn't it?

 

[Kiwi-family]

I am celebrating my 50th in the same way but starting from Valencia a week before you. Something tells me you’ll make it to Astorga before me!
Enjoy!!

 

[AlwynWellington]

@asb6918 , kia ora (greetings, good health)

@Zordmot has summed up a training regime very succinctly. If you are challenged for hills to walk up, stair climbing is more than an excellent alternative.

I would put some flesh on his training framework by including:
1) always wear your pack filled with the goodies you want/need,
2) work towards achieving, before stopping for breakfast:
2a) 15 km (10 miles);
2b) 400 m of elevation gain.
These are intended to help condition both mind and body to the conditions you will encounter.

Being of the female persuasion I am sure you automatically think of layers to keep warm relative to the conditions.

For me I have four layers with my wet/wind proof layer also being my outer warmth layer. And your training will help you decide what works for you.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

 

[Anik2001]

I will be doing the same in July. Happy planning, buen camino and a wonderful 50th birthday to you!

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

Hola, starting on April 29 will mean that you will be somewhere between Zubiri and Pamplona when May 1st (May Day) public holiday comes along. Whilst ATM/Cash Points will still work at Banks local shops may be closed. You might need to stock up for your lunch times. There is a bonus - you can join the locals in their celebration.

 

[Irene Schade]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

So excited for you. I will be waking for my 60th solo. June 1st. Delighted for you.

 

[turkeyneck]

Hi I’m walking the Frances coming from st Jean...via Paris starting April 29 2020. Then spending a week in Portugal after I’m done. Walking Solo for my 50th. I’m so excited to meet you all!
Shireen

I’m starting on March 22nd and turn 50 before my start date. Due to my multiple sclerosis and history with it, I’m walking very slowly. Today marked a milestone for me. If I could not walk home from the gym, I would not go. Well, I made it. Buen Camino!

 

[alansykes]

Beware.

I started my first camino shortly before my 50th birthday nearly 9 years ago, assuming it would be a one-off, get the t-shirt, tick that off the bucket list.

It wasn't. I've been back every year since. It's as addictive as heroin.