Willin'
Abiding Dude
- Time of past OR future Camino
- First Camino in September 2017
Hello all,
Please be patient with me if I ask the wrong things... I'm un-accustomed to this board's software and am having a hard time navigating.
I'm a 65 yo reasonably fit retiree planning to take my first (possibly of many) pilgrimage starting next September. I'll be traveling solo and typically prefer doing things a bit off the beaten path. I'm figuring on allowing about a month to complete it, but can be open ended if things run long. I've read up a bit on the Frances and understand that it is typically everyone's first Camino, but I am tempted to go my own way with perhaps a little guidance from you.
I've narrowed my options to the Frances, Portugues and del Norte, which are all roughly the same distance. While not averse to following convention to take advantage of the company and experience of so many fellow wanderers, my impression is that the Frances may be a bit more crowded than I'd prefer and due to the density of support businesses along the way may be a bit less, well, adventurous.
I've traveled a bit in Spain and France in the past and generally prefer the coasts to the inland. I've very much enjoyed San Sebastien and am tempted to do the del Norte to experience that beautiful section of coast, but understand the availability of food , shelter and other support is much lower along this route than the other two.
I've not been to Portugal but have long wanted to visit there. The path there also follows the coast for much of the way and has the added benefit of beginning right in Lisbon, my port of entry, thereby avoiding a day or two of overland travel to get to the trailhead.
I have enough Spanish, French and Portuguese that I would be equally disadvantaged on any of the routes from a language perspective.
Can anyone suggest reasons why my first pilgrimage shouldn't be the del Norte or Potugues?
Thanks for your help!
Please be patient with me if I ask the wrong things... I'm un-accustomed to this board's software and am having a hard time navigating.
I'm a 65 yo reasonably fit retiree planning to take my first (possibly of many) pilgrimage starting next September. I'll be traveling solo and typically prefer doing things a bit off the beaten path. I'm figuring on allowing about a month to complete it, but can be open ended if things run long. I've read up a bit on the Frances and understand that it is typically everyone's first Camino, but I am tempted to go my own way with perhaps a little guidance from you.
I've narrowed my options to the Frances, Portugues and del Norte, which are all roughly the same distance. While not averse to following convention to take advantage of the company and experience of so many fellow wanderers, my impression is that the Frances may be a bit more crowded than I'd prefer and due to the density of support businesses along the way may be a bit less, well, adventurous.
I've traveled a bit in Spain and France in the past and generally prefer the coasts to the inland. I've very much enjoyed San Sebastien and am tempted to do the del Norte to experience that beautiful section of coast, but understand the availability of food , shelter and other support is much lower along this route than the other two.
I've not been to Portugal but have long wanted to visit there. The path there also follows the coast for much of the way and has the added benefit of beginning right in Lisbon, my port of entry, thereby avoiding a day or two of overland travel to get to the trailhead.
I have enough Spanish, French and Portuguese that I would be equally disadvantaged on any of the routes from a language perspective.
Can anyone suggest reasons why my first pilgrimage shouldn't be the del Norte or Potugues?
Thanks for your help!
Last edited: