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Guide Books VDLP

Waka

Veteran Member
Donating Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Some but not all, and other routes too.
VDLP Experts

I have been reading up on the VDLP and am kind of in planning stage. I have the Gerald Kelly guide and find it OK but also note the CSJ have the Alison Raju guide, has anyone used the Alison Raju guide and your opinions off please.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Waka said:
VDLP Experts

I have been reading up on the VDLP and am kind of in planning stage. I have the Gerald Kelly guide and find it OK but also note the CSJ have the Alison Raju guide, has anyone used the Alison Raju guide and your opinions off please.
Click to expand...
Just waked with Kelly and it does the job. No need to supplement.
 
Altus ANDES 400 H30 sleeping bag
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
There is a wonderful Resource here on the forum (the VdlP accommodation guide). This camino is so well marked you really don’t need anything else.
Enjoy the planning @Waka and Buen Camino
 
I used the Gerald Kelly guide, very good, as well as information from this forum.

I also bought the 'Amigos del camino' guide book in Sevilla, I found it quite helpful, available from the albergue Triana or the shop down the road. http://www.viaplata.org/guia-del-camino

I used the Alison Raju guide for the French part of the Via Francigena and I didn't like it one bit, probably because it was already out-of-date...

If you read Spanish, this site is excellent, they also have a free App.
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/mobile/los-caminos-de-santiago/via-de-la-plata/
 
Last edited:
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Thank you all for the responses, as usual the forum comes to my rescue.
I don't know why but I'm getting nervous and I'm not going until next year, during the winter I've had the CF in mind because I've done that one, the VDLP is new and as I understand not as crowded, (the loneliness suits me very well). I guess after the first couple of days I'll be into the swing of camino life and wonder what all the fuss was about. Hay Ho onwards and upwards, only 10 months to go.
 
Buen camino planning, Waka!
 
Waka said:
Thank you, I'll stick with what I've got. I'll have a lot more questions in the coming months.
Click to expand...
Waka, I read the live reports from people who recently walked and made notes along the way. In some cases useful tips for a great meal or to avoid possible arrow confusion.

I know that when I posted I tried to include such info that would complement the guidebook.
 
Altus Poncho (ATMOSPHERIC H30)
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
Waka said:
I don't know why but I'm getting nervous and I'm not going until next year, during the winter I've had the CF in mind because I've done that one, the VDLP is new and as I understand not as crowded, (the loneliness suits me very well).
Click to expand...
Waka, I always get nervous when planning. And one would think that by now I would know better. It's not as if finding on of the only two bars in town or the only grocery store will be difficult. Butuntil I get a visual my head spins.

I loved the fact that you don't see people right, left and center on this route, that you walk alone, unless you don't want to, that albergues fill up during the afternoon making for company in the pm. Albergues were mostly fantastic, with a few old school ones, just to remind us this is a pilgrimage and the "good old days".

Challenge is distances and lack of places to refil water along the way. And by distance I don't just mean from albergue to albergue, but between places to sit during the day: few places to even sit on a rock, let alone in the shade. None of this "when you stop to rest change your socks".

This being said, for daily distances I was able to break up my stages at around 20km on average with two days with a bit of taxing/bussing and a couple of shorter days.

You will love it. This is one Camino I would do again.
 

Distance is the thing I've been looking at, on the F I was doing around the 25Km mark, but I have to say that I'm more comfortable in doing 20 of so, I like to stop off and enjoy place enroute.
I haven't yet got down to roughly working out the stages yet, plenty of time for that after I've gathered all the information.
With Easter Sunday being on April 1st next year do you think that starting two weeks beforehand is a sensible idea?
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Waka said:
With Easter Sunday being on April 1st next year do you think that starting two weeks beforehand is a sensible idea?
Click to expand...
I started walking about 10 days before Easter and it became an issue for those who did not book 2-3 days in advance only for the Friday and Saturday.

Other that, I really enjoyed that time of the year because many active professionals were there walking, taking advantage of the holidays, vs having a crowd made up of mostly retirees.
 
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