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Hi Laurie,Hi Ash, I agree with Donovan completely. I used the Spanish guide in summer 2013 and soon after the new version came out. I know some have had complaints about the guide but I used it exclusively and thought it was accurate and just what I needed in a pinch. I would not walk without it.
When are you planning to walk? I started around May 1 or 2 and the weather was great (a few hours of rain all the way to santiago), and the flowers and the shockingly bright emerald green fields were beautiful. I'd love to walk this camino again! Buen camino, Laurie
I walked with two French pilgrims and they were always cursing Gerard and his errors. Based on their comparison with my amigos guide, I think Alan's comment is accurate.
Thanks for the tips. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) I live in very hot part of the world and should be able to build my heat tolerance through the summer. And hope the weather smiles on me.Hi Ash - I walked earlier this year, in April/May. Spring was a lovely time to walk, though judging by Laurie's photos I was probably a month or so early for the best of the wildflowers.
Andy-d's advice regarding limited water supply is correct. Between La font de Figuera to Higurela would be tough in hot weather due to lack of water, shade or a village to take a break.
I haven't, but will take a look. Just started today with a little bit of research.Hi Kinky One, have you seen Bills post on the Sureste forum, there's a photo of a pamphlet that was available on the camino this year with some very up to date info,
Regards
George
I was really surprised how many municipal and other albergues there are!
Ultreia!
you can't really go wrong but they should be a bit more generous with marking. I found it varied from council area to council area (Shire?).
Well, Laurie, I guess we all know who's the real trooper hereHi, Kinky,
I did a calculation when I walked in 2013, and I think that two thirds of the typical stopping points between Valencia and Zamora have albergues. After I finished in August, there were three new albergues opened during the rest of the year -- Castronuno, Torrijos, and San Clemente. Not sure if 2014 has seen more openings, but the infrastructure is pretty darn good.
I think there are no more than five or six unavoidable stages of 30 to 35 kms. And none of those days has any elevation gain at all to speak of. So, I think it's quite d0-able for a trooper like you.
It's always good to be either planning or walking a Camino! Buen camino, Laurie
Wow, very welcome info!!! I personally like acogidas (which are plenty apparently) as the locals look at you somewhat differently if you want to stay in them. I found that out this year on Camino de Madrid. I got the feeling that I'm not just another tourist full of cash in their eyes and therefore was kind of awarded with lots of sincerity. Spending some additional € in local bar for a beer or a meal helps a lot thoughNope, it's not that bad. Go to Alpera after Almansa, very nice albergue €7 and then on to Higueruela, stages of about 25km each, or it is if you don't miss an arrow at some point after Alpera, which meant I took 32km to Higueruela. La Roda to San Clemente is great, very easy track, zumo/cerveca stops on the way, I think there is acogida at the halfway village (Minaya) if you really need it. San C to Las P is also not bad, I'm fairly sure it's only 4-6 hours (?25km), and there is some shade. Rather than do Villacañas to Mora, I'd stop in Villanueva de Bogas, where the Valenciano pilgrim I was with last night said he stayed free in municipal acogida. I went from Tembleque to Almonacid de Toledo, where the (fairly horrible, but free) acogida is in the changing rooms of the swimming pool, it's also 10km closer to Toledo than Mora. After leaving Almonacid make sure you follow the Sureste rather than the Levante, as this avoids Nambroca, saving another couple of km, and the coffee in Burguillos de Toledo is fine, and there's virtually no tarmac. I would recommend buying food for the evening at the minimercado in Villanueva, as there is no shop in Almonacid and the Kuki bar [sic] is smokey and not very friendly.
Rather than do Rielves to Escalona, I'd stop in Torrijos where there is acogida municipal, and Torrijos from Toledo is not a bad walk (?30km, but in pleasant countryside once you get out of the suburbs and the quarries). Sadly, I can't help you with Castronuño to Villalazán. It would be sad to miss Toro. Last year I did Siete Iglesias (albergue), Toro, Zamora (albergue) which was quite hard work, especially the last.
Whichever way you go, you'll find lots to enjoy.
One other question - what's the distance between Albacete and La Roda (there's no such info on that stage on Mundicamino)?
Thanks in advance!
Hi, Kinky,
Albacete to La Roda is 35 km. There is also an albergue about halfway in the polideportivo of La Gineta. Problem for us was that, even though I called on Friday to say we would be arriving on Sunday, when we arrived, we could find no one. No police officer, no one at the polideportivo, no one in a bar who knew anything. We wound up having to take a train to La Roda, because we had already walked 35 km (we started in Chinchilla and had breakfast in Albacete) and there was no way I was going to walk 20 more km to La Roda. So, if you arrive during the week there should be no problem.
Have you seen this website? I thought it was pretty good, though there were a few errors if I remember correctly and it may not be totally up to date.
http://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/caminos/caminover.asp?CaminoId=14
Thanks for the hint, Alan.I've found the number for the acogida at Minaya, half way between La Roda and San Clemente, if you don't want to do that trek in one day. It's at the polideportivo and you should call Jesús [sic ...] on 615.680.385.
Rather than heading on to San Clemente, it's possible to bifurcate at Minaya onto the Sureste, which is possibly slightly better arrowed than the Levante: Minaya to El Provencio (23km), El Provencio to Las Mesas (19km) and Las Mesas to El Toboso (25km). Polideportivo in El Provencio (Ayuntamiento tel. 967.165.381, or Manolo 626.719.493). Ayuntamiento in Las Mesas, tel 967 155 522 (or possibly the parroco: Don José Tel. 967 155022 or 626 175521)
Hi, Alan,I've found the number for the acogida at Minaya, half way between La Roda and San Clemente, if you don't want to do that trek in one day. It's at the polideportivo and you should call Jesús [sic ...] on 615.680.385.
Rather than heading on to San Clemente, it's possible to bifurcate at Minaya onto the Sureste, which is possibly slightly better arrowed than the Levante: Minaya to El Provencio (23km), El Provencio to Las Mesas (19km) and Las Mesas to El Toboso (25km). Polideportivo in El Provencio (Ayuntamiento tel. 967.165.381, or Manolo 626.719.493). Ayuntamiento in Las Mesas, tel 967 155 522 (or possibly the parroco: Don José Tel. 967 155022 or 626 175521)
Hi, Alan,
I don't know what El Provencio and Las Mesas are like, but I think San Clemente is one of the little jewels along the Levante.
Hi,Hi Laurie,
I was thinking of leaving early September. My other two caminos gave been in May, which I loved but I would like to see a different season, if possible.
I also read and loved your blog. I suppose I could work it out, but how many days/stages did you take? I like doing the distances that you did.
That's good to hear that the guide is adequate, I do think I will get a phone for this camino, though. And I already a coil!
So I have been wanting more of a solitary camino and am thinking this one would be perfect. I have been reading thru some of the recent posts here in this forum and it seems there are mixed reviews of the guidebook by the Amigos in Valencia. I think I would probably be able to muddle thru the Spanish one, since it seems the English one maybe hasn't been updated as recently. I would love to here more detailed reviews if you would carry it again or if the arrows and maybe research beforehand would be enough?
Thanks,
Ash
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