Hi, Camino novice doing the VDLP or Le Puy in September 2104.

[Richo]

Hi there peregrinos. I'm Richard, from Adelaide, Australia. I'm greatly looking forward to my first camino in mid September 2014. I had decided on doing the VDLP, since I have already travelled that route, more or less, by car some years ago when on holidays in Spain. So I thought it would be cool to revisit it. However I am now considering Le Puy instead, for the scenery, having read many of the posts on that forum.
I'm 60 years old and moderately fit. I can get by in both French and Spanish. I'll be travelling solo. Just not sure if I want to devote as much as 10-12 weeks to the route from France for a first camino.

Great to join this interesting and very helpful forum!

 

[Cejanus]

Welcome Richo to the forum I am from Perth and walked the entire Camino Frances last year at the age of 65. I went solo but walked with many wonderful pilgrims. It was the most enjoyable, emotional and exhilarating experience of my life. I am heading black to walk the Via de la Plata in due course. I should be there now however little grandchild number 9 is due to arrive any day and my plans have changed. I have thought of September, however I am not keen on walking in the heat or through dry country as there is enough of that here at home. So I will walk in early Spring next year.

There is an app for iPhone called Via de la Plata and I have found it useful and it will be my only guide.

All the best with your planning.

 

[Richo]

Welcome Richo to the forum I am from Perth and walked the entire Camino Frances last year at the age of 65. I went solo but walked with many wonderful pilgrims. It was the most enjoyable, emotional and exhilarating experience of my life. I am heading black to walk the Via de la Plata in due course. I should be there now however little grandchild number 9 is due to arrive any day and my plans have changed. I have thought of September, however I am not keen on walking in the heat or through dry country as there is enough of that here at home. So I will walk in early Spring next year.

There is an app for iPhone called Via de la Plata and I have found it useful and it will be my only guide.

All the best with your planning.

Hello Cejanus. Thanks for the encouraging comments. I strongly feel a pull towards the camino this year and expect some great challenges and rewards as well. In short - an adventure! If I do the Le Puy this year, who knows, maybe I'll see you on the VDLP next spring.
cheers,
Richard.

 

[jirit]

I have walked both routes, and personally I would select to walk the Le Puy route.

The VDLP reminded me of Spain's version of "the great red outback" which if you are from Australia like myself might be exactly what you want.

However if you are looking for something different in terms of scenery, culture and people then a walk through France maybe makes more sense.

If you are reasonable fit and able to walk 25 km or more per day, then you should be able to finish the entire walk from Le Puy to Santiago in 8-9 weeks. If you do the entire walk then you get to mix things up a bit and you get to enjoy both a bit of Spain and France, each offering different experiences.

 

[Richo]

I have walked both routes, and personally I would select to walk the Le Puy route.

The VDLP reminded me of Spain's version of "the great red outback" which if you are from Australia like myself might be exactly what you want.

However if you are looking for something different in terms of scenery, culture and people then a walk through France maybe makes more sense.

If you are reasonable fit and able to walk 25 km or more per day, then you should be able to finish the entire walk from Le Puy to Santiago in 8-9 weeks. If you do the entire walk then you get to mix things up a bit and you get to enjoy both a bit of Spain and France, each offering different experiences.

Tks, Jirit. Its not the fitness that concerns me, but rather my poor sense of direction. Seems like there's more chance of wandering off the path in France, otherwise I'd probably choose Le Puy

 

[Cejanus]

Now you have me thinking differently Jirit. I will have to explore the Le Puy route and hunt down directions across the forum as I too would have a concern about getting myself lost walking alone. Are you able to recommend a good guide/map or an application or downloadable stuff especially places to stay along the way?
Thanks

 

[jirit]

The route in France is well marked and well traveled, probably more so than the VdlP in Spain.

You are more likely to cross paths with other pilgrims on the Le Puy route throughout the day than compared to the VdlP.

Very unlikely you will get lost on this route and even less so once you join the camino Frances in Spain.

 

[jirit]

Now you have me thinking differently Jirit. I will have to explore the Le Puy route and hunt down directions across the forum as I too would have a concern about getting myself lost walking alone. Are you able to recommend a good guide/map or an application or downloadable stuff especially places to stay along the way?
Thanks

I would recommend taking the latest French guide Miam-Miam-Dodo, by Jacques Clouteau, Editions du Vieux Crayon and taking the English guide Le Puy to the Pyrenees, by Alison Raju. The former you can wait and buy in Le Puy at the cathedral bookshop and the latter you can down load the kindle version.

As I indicated in my other post the Le Puy route is well marked - it is the GR 65 trail and these are generally well marked.

 

[Kanga]

I agree with jirit that it is almost impossible to get lost on the Le Puy route - only nuts like me who decide to do a little exploring on the side get into trouble! The only section where we had any trouble was on the Albrac Plateaux and that was because we were so busy chatting to some other pilgrims that we got distracted. We realised within 15 minutes and retraced our steps.

 

[Cejanus]

I would recommend taking the latest French guide Miam-Miam-Dodo, by Jacques Clouteau, Editions du Vieux Crayon and taking the English guide Le Puy to the Pyrenees, by Alison Raju. The former you can wait and buy in Le Puy at the cathedral bookshop and the latter you can down load the kindle version.

As I indicated in my other post the Le Puy route is well marked - it is the GR 65 trail and these are generally well marked.

Many thanks jirit. I will begin to explore the possibilities.

And thanks Kanga for your thoughtful words and encouragement.

I am always concerned about starting off alone but I am sure I will run into some lovely people along the way.

 

[Richo]

The route in France is well marked and well traveled, probably more so than the VdlP in Spain.

You are more likely to cross paths with other pilgrims on the Le Puy route throughout the day than compared to the VdlP.

Very unlikely you will get lost on this route and even less so once you join the camino Frances in Spain.

Thanks Jirit, that's reassuring. I'm leaning more towards the Le Puy route now.

 

[Richo]

I agree with jirit that it is almost impossible to get lost on the Le Puy route - only nuts like me who decide to do a little exploring on the side get into trouble! The only section where we had any trouble was on the Albrac Plateaux and that was because we were so busy chatting to some other pilgrims that we got distracted. We realised within 15 minutes and retraced our steps.

Thanks Kanga, I was reading a post somewhere by a chap who found himself 15 Kms off course somehow and was thinking - yeah, this could be me

 

[Kanga]

It's a lovely Camino. Hope you enjoy.