Going from London in January 2008

[Rae]

Or that's the plan anyway (damn this fear of flying!). We're heading off from London at the start of January and hope to get to Santiago sometime between August and October next year, depending on how much R&R we take. Or we might get to the Channel and turn back...

So a lot of the advice on how little to take won't be relevant - I'm expecting cold and wet. But what I'm getting most concerned about is the amount of accomodation on the GR 13 between Vezelay and Le Puy in France. Has anyone done anything on this route - can you comment on the accommodation situation?

Also, I get really bad Raynaud's syndrome (excessive tendency to cold in the extremities - not good for walking in the winter) - has anyone got any tips or advice for dealing with that?

I've spotted some people planning to walk the routes next year - I've no idea if we'll overlap, but I'm looking forward to all the fellow pilgrims we do meet.

Rae

 

[Peter Robins]

what I'm getting most concerned about is the amount of accomodation on the GR 13 between Vezelay and Le Puy in France. Has anyone done anything on this route - can you comment on the accommodation situation?

I walked the first part through the Morvan - getting on for 20 years ago - but then followed my own route via Cluny. That was Holy Week (I was in Vezelay for Palm Sunday and Cluny for Easter Day) and it was cold enough then in the Morvan; when you are there, it could easily be snowbound. I didn't have any problems with accommodation (I remember one old-fashioned hotel I stopped in with an enormous feather-bed - very welcome given the outside temps), but the Massif Central is not really the place for winter walking. So, unless you have some especial reason for taking the GR13, I would recommend following the Vezelay route to Corbigny or Nevers and then, assuming you don't just continue to the Pyrenees on that, following the canals south to the Cluny route near Roanne http://www.amis-st-jacques.org/pages/cheminsen-ra.html
Alternatively, there is a route through the Bourbonnais connecting the Vezelay route with Clermont and on to Le Puy, though I'm not sure what the status is with marking/guide. http://www.ville-souvigny.com/SouvignyI ... cques.html

Also, I get really bad Raynaud's syndrome (excessive tendency to cold in the extremities - not good for walking in the winter) - has anyone got any tips or advice for dealing with that?

mittens (with undermitts as well if necessary), thick woollen socks, woolly hat . . . but then no doubt you already have those.

 

[Rae]

Thanks Peter - those are interesting suggestions. I'll get the maps out again and re-consider. I've been assuming we'd be in the Massif later into the summer, but when we were there in June a couple of years ago it certainly threw it down most of the time.

Thanks for your very informative sites too!

all the best

Rae