James van Hemert
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino de Frances April 2022
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Aren’t Spreadsheets incredible…but.. now that you found that flaw… what now… I’m thinking along the same lines.. I’ll walk in October… later sunrises.. earlier subsets..shorter days, rain- maybe muddy roads… those things might effect my ability to maintain 25kms daily…I guess.. you just gotta hustle if it will push you against your departing flight— I might add two days in Santiago —so I’m not up against the wall.. thx.. for sharing/- let us know what you do.. I’d be interested in seeing how you figure it out..—maybe “skip a stage before Sarria?”In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
If I had to gain a day, I'd taxi from Leon for a stage, rather than injure myself. Im not a fan of missing stages but a flight home is not a date to miss.Aren’t Spreadsheets incredible…but.. now that you found that flaw… what now… I’m thinking along the same lines.. I’ll walk in October… later sunrises.. earlier subsets..shorter days, rain- maybe muddy roads… those things might effect my ability to maintain 25kms daily…I guess.. you just gotta hustle if it will push you against your departing flight— I might add two days in Santiago —so I’m not up against the wall.. thx.. for sharing/- let us know what you do.. I’d be interested in seeing how you figure it out..—maybe “skip a stage before Sarria?”
I love the planning as much as the walk it makes it all seem longer.Where is the fun in over planning, be spontaneous, just wing it.
I like planning too but not to the point of spreadsheets with contingency formula. I like to make a basic plan and take it from there.I love the planning as much as the walk it makes it all seem longer.
Biggest lesson is don't do a day by day plan! The Camino Frances is so well resourced that almost anyone can choose their destination that day, as they walk.In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
I similarly undercounted the number of days I needed from Leon to Santiago, by one day. I didn't do much planning - only saw Gronze at the recommendation of some helpful pilgrims in St Martin after Leon. I initially thought to walk slightly longer days. Then suffered foot problems, maybe plantar fasciitis, so scratched that plan. As it happened, accommodation was totally full at both O Cebreiro and Portomarin, so I had to taxi/bus ahead, and that solved my non-planning. I do regret ending up ahead of the helpful people I met in the first week though.Once, long ago in the time before we made spreadsheets I made a similar miscalculation which led me to walk from Astorga to Ponferrada. It was the most fun I never want to have again.
OMG, that is a prolonged part of the fun. Planning & savoring before you go.Where is the fun in over planning,
No plan survives first contact with the enemy.OMG, that is a prolonged part of the fun. Planning & savoring before you go.at all the different guides and apps, over and over and even google walking some of it. To paraphrase a well known phrase, so many Caminos/steps so little time. Watching all your plans “go belly up” once you arrive and having to do it on the run. Priceless!
Research and learn what you can but don't over plan and be flexible in what you do and expect - these are lessons that I am teaching myselfWhere is the fun in over planning, be spontaneous, just wing it.
I had a simple spreadsheet for last year on my iPad mini, adjusted it as my plans and distances changed.In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
The expectations that go along with over-planning are a great way to have a disappointing Camino. Although I understand some folks have a type of personality that requires feeling in control of everything, in all the Caminos I’ve done, more than a bare bones plan for a day or 2 ahead has always made me feel like I missed out on something else I might have enjoyed more. But I’m comfortable winging it, and many people are not.In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
Where is the fun in over planning, be spontaneous, just wing it.
At least 4 - 5 days extra!Second lesson is to add on 4-5 days onto any expected finish date.
The expectations that go along with over-planning are a great way to have a disappointing Camino. Although I understand some folks have a type of personality that requires feeling in control of everything,
On a long distance walk I usually average about 30km per day. I generally just divide the total distance by 30 and add a few days to give me some slack. Not booking my return travel until the end is nearly in sight helps too!One of the reasons I plan is to make sure that I have allowed myself enough time to complete my Camino.
I have a very well constructed plan for my upcoming Camino. Put on my backpack at SJPP and eventually arrive in Santiago. It may appear to be somewhat light on detail.I like planning too but not to the point of spreadsheets with contingency formula. I like to make a basic plan and take it from there.
Since when is studying a subject a bad thing?The expectations that go along with over-planning are a great way to have a disappointing Camino. Although I understand some folks have a type of personality that requires feeling in control of everything,
Oh that brought back some not so pleasant memories!In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
Or a plan is not a promise. I like to start my Caminos with as much planning and as little commitment as possible. I like to do the research and make the plans, but hold them in an open hand rather than a closed fist. That way, I have the most possible information to make the decision in the moment - what I have researched before and what I have discovered since.I found that it is best to consider PLAN is a verb and not a noun.
It depends on how you do your train travelling. When I was much, much younger I had a three-month Eurailpass. I had it all planned out and I will never forget the feeling when, in Austria, I threw all my plans out the window (figuratively) to head up to Scandinavia to see the midnight sun. It was a very freeing feeling.Spreadsheets can be really useful where trains and buses are concerned. You can't really wing it where transit visas, two trains a week, and un-changeable bookings are involved for a two month trip, where some of the train journeys last for a week. At least, not much. But a walk along the Camino Frances, yes, you can. If your traveling companion has four hooves and a free spirit then you don't have a choice anyway. So, if you feel the need to book, by all means do so. It doesn't have to be more than a day in advance, and the worst thing that will happen is you end up sleeping somewhere less than ideal.
Visas.... Which cost as much as the train fares, near enough.It depends on how you do your train travelling. When I was much, much younger I had a three-month Eurailpass. I had it all planned out and I will never forget the feeling when, in Austria, I threw all my plans out the window (figuratively) to head up to Scandinavia to see the midnight sun. It was a very freeing feeling.
I didn't have to worry about visas on that trip. I didn't head into Eastern Europe.Visas.... Which cost as much as the train fares, near enough.
Spreadsheets are great only if they allow some flexibility and spontaneityIn planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
Spreadsheets are fine! They really depend upon what one puts in/on them. They actually can help you determine what choices might be available, offering you more flexibility! Spontaneity one can always access (if their personality allows).Spreadsheets are great only if they allow some flexibility and spontaneity
In my Navy days, the saying was "measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an ax.""Measure twice, cut once."
Too late for you now but we hired bikes in Burgos and are dropping them off in Leon - you can save anything up to 5 days with this plan - but you need to discover the problem before Burgos!In planning my Camino Frances pilgrimage in 2022 I discovered folks on this forum who were preparing spreadsheets for the trip and even asking advice regarding their plans. I thought to myself, not a bad idea, especially since I don’t want to strictly follow published stages. So I built a spreadsheet with details on distances, albergues that received shells from A Selection of Favorite Albergues by atilburg1@chello.nl or a heart from Brierley, and interesting sites to visit. I embedded formulas to automatically recalculate days and distances as I made changes over the months of preparation. I even added contingency paths, in case I traveled less in the first days or made a side trip. I built in an ‘extra day’. I checked and double checked. Pretty smart. What could go wrong?
About half way, in Carrion de los Condes, I discovered a previously undetected flaw in my spreadsheet. I was a day short to reach Santiago! Aaaarrgghh! Not so smart.
Extending the pilgrimage with a changed international flight home to Canada was not a viable option. Either I had to give up a future planned rest day or catch up by skipping a stage using transit or taxi. Gabi, an Israeli woman, suggested an alternative: she planned to get to Leon in 3 days instead of the typical 4 from the point at which we were gathered drinking café con leches with a large gaggle of pilgrims. It would entail days of 40, 35, and 32 kms respectively. It was her plan. Surely, I thought, I can pull this off too! I had already walked 18 kms by 10:30 am that day. (never mind that I am 61 and she is 25)
That first day of 40 km nearly finished me off, as I collapsed into the Monestario de Santa Cruz in Sahagun at 5:30 pm, my latest arrival ever. I attach a drawing of my feet cooling off in the middle of the day.
View attachment 144585
The next day of 35 km resulted in painful shins the final 5 km. Suffering seemed to be de rigour for the journey. I made it to Leon a day ahead of schedule!. I had dinner with Gabi and other assorted pilgrims in Leon. She made it also! But not by walking. She got tendonitis and took a bus. The doctor told her to quit and fly home. She wasn’t discouraged at all. Happy to come back next year and finish.
There are some lessons here.
I tucked the spreadsheet into the bottom of my pack. John Brierley’s guide, social connections, and physical reconnaissance would suffice for the remaining days.
Is that how you do it, for some reason I always seem to measure once and have to cut twice, LOL. Enjoy your Camino however you do it"Measure twice, cut once."
yes, indeed, but I have no regrets. Surprisingly, neither did Gabi, who had to fly home. I now have a record 40 km in one day. But never to be repeated.I think the bad idea was the desire to return to the schedule by Leon. Why? Carrion de Los Condes means you are half way down the road, that you have 400 k and two weeks to go. All you have to do is to gain what ? 20-25 k in two weeks? No big deal. If you like planning then see where there are shorter stages, or where you have an albergue just few k ahead. Gaining 25 k in 15 days every body can do it, but walk in 3 days 4 stages this is not for everybody.
Buen Camino
Brandy
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