Josie86
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- (2015)
Well, that's it! I've decided that THIS is the year. I WILL be setting off to walk the Camino Frances this summer. I have been flirting with the idea for a little over 3 years now and just decided two days ago that despite my travel buddy backing out, I'm going to go anyway! I would have loved to be able to go during the late spring, but I am a teacher and therefore it is impossible to leave my students for the amount of time needed to complete this pilgrimage.... busy Summer time will have to do haha.
Okay, now the stressful part.... planning for the Camino. I don't want to wait to long to start planning but I am sooooo busy as well. I am finishing my MsEd program in three weeks, the CAHSEE is in mid-march (I teach 10th grade English ), and then we go right into my commencement ceremony, finals for the HS, graduation for the HS and then BAM! it's Camino time.
Besides announcing my trip, I wanted to create this thread as a way of being able to ask all of the 1,894,521 questions that I am sure I will have over the next few months. All advice, suggestions, and whatnot are welcome!
Okay let me start the bombardment....
1.) Anyone travelling during the same dates? I will be leaving from California on May 29th. Planning to arrive in Paris early morning on the 30th and hang out for a tad bit before hoping on a flight to Biarritz either late afternoon on the 30th or early am on the 31st. Then, catch a train to SJPP and hoping that I arrive in SJPP not too late on the 31st. Obviously, I will be booking flights in advance but is it very difficult to get train tickets in Biarritz? I have never been on a train or at a train station so I don't really know what to expect. Is this something that I should also book in advance or can I just buy it when I'm there? Is there a significant price difference? I really would rather not be on a tight schedule.
2.) I plan on walking from about the 1st or so of June through the 5th or 6th of July (roughly 35 days). I want to average about 15 miles a day but plan to have 5-7 days where I kick it up to 20+ miles so that I can have the luxury of spending extra time in a city should I feel so inclined. Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I hike here in California but nothing extensive.
3.) On that note, I plan on starting a Camino prep training plan. I will start with just long walks back-to-back-to-back-to-back to get the feel for walking when sore and tired. Once I decided on the backpack I will purchase and travel with, I'll start walking/hiking with it. Will this type of training suffice or should I throw in some trail running?
4.) Backpacks..... bleh! With so many options, my head begins to spin. Ladies out there.... your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Backpacks... and most equipment in general are always sort of awkward on me. I am pretty petite. At 5'2" and about 125lbs EVERYTHING is always too big. The only real must-have and non-negotiable for me on the backpack is that it have a bladder compartment. I really like having access to water at my shoulder haha. What suggestions do the ladies have in terms of which backpack to purchase (men, you too, if you've done research for the ladies! haha)?
5.) Since I will be travelling alone, should I plan the cities I want to stop in and where I want to stay each night? Is there a resource I can look over of people who have done the Camino Frances in about the same amount of time? Is there one you particularly love?
6.) If you want to share your comprehensive list of what was in your gear pack... I'd love to read it! Share on!
Well, that wasn't quite 1,894,521 questions .... but I'm sure that between now and the end of May, I will have plenty more!
Thank you in advance for any help that you are able to offer. My first period class is waiting behind the locked door... I guess I should go open it! Have a great day!
- Jo
Okay, now the stressful part.... planning for the Camino. I don't want to wait to long to start planning but I am sooooo busy as well. I am finishing my MsEd program in three weeks, the CAHSEE is in mid-march (I teach 10th grade English ), and then we go right into my commencement ceremony, finals for the HS, graduation for the HS and then BAM! it's Camino time.
Besides announcing my trip, I wanted to create this thread as a way of being able to ask all of the 1,894,521 questions that I am sure I will have over the next few months. All advice, suggestions, and whatnot are welcome!
Okay let me start the bombardment....
1.) Anyone travelling during the same dates? I will be leaving from California on May 29th. Planning to arrive in Paris early morning on the 30th and hang out for a tad bit before hoping on a flight to Biarritz either late afternoon on the 30th or early am on the 31st. Then, catch a train to SJPP and hoping that I arrive in SJPP not too late on the 31st. Obviously, I will be booking flights in advance but is it very difficult to get train tickets in Biarritz? I have never been on a train or at a train station so I don't really know what to expect. Is this something that I should also book in advance or can I just buy it when I'm there? Is there a significant price difference? I really would rather not be on a tight schedule.
2.) I plan on walking from about the 1st or so of June through the 5th or 6th of July (roughly 35 days). I want to average about 15 miles a day but plan to have 5-7 days where I kick it up to 20+ miles so that I can have the luxury of spending extra time in a city should I feel so inclined. Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I hike here in California but nothing extensive.
3.) On that note, I plan on starting a Camino prep training plan. I will start with just long walks back-to-back-to-back-to-back to get the feel for walking when sore and tired. Once I decided on the backpack I will purchase and travel with, I'll start walking/hiking with it. Will this type of training suffice or should I throw in some trail running?
4.) Backpacks..... bleh! With so many options, my head begins to spin. Ladies out there.... your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Backpacks... and most equipment in general are always sort of awkward on me. I am pretty petite. At 5'2" and about 125lbs EVERYTHING is always too big. The only real must-have and non-negotiable for me on the backpack is that it have a bladder compartment. I really like having access to water at my shoulder haha. What suggestions do the ladies have in terms of which backpack to purchase (men, you too, if you've done research for the ladies! haha)?
5.) Since I will be travelling alone, should I plan the cities I want to stop in and where I want to stay each night? Is there a resource I can look over of people who have done the Camino Frances in about the same amount of time? Is there one you particularly love?
6.) If you want to share your comprehensive list of what was in your gear pack... I'd love to read it! Share on!
Well, that wasn't quite 1,894,521 questions .... but I'm sure that between now and the end of May, I will have plenty more!
Thank you in advance for any help that you are able to offer. My first period class is waiting behind the locked door... I guess I should go open it! Have a great day!
- Jo