Pathfinder075
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Various Routes in (2016), (2017) and (2023).
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Hi, Pathfinder,Been musing over whether to do Primitivo in May or just rip out something larger, and I've decided to try the Madrid route.
I am looking at a route that will take in several routes. For starters, Madrid to Sahagun. Then follow Frances to Ponferrada. Then the Invierno route until somewhere around Montfort. Then down to Ourense to relax for a day or two. Then finally up to Santiago. Its going to be a reasonably long walk. Also if I make it to Santiago and still have enough funds for a couple more weeks, I am not ruling out walking the Norte (or part of it) in reverse and heading back to Santander to get the boat back.
Distance wise, I would like to exceed 1000km, just to see if I can do it.
Kit wise, slightly lighter than last time, but still carrying tent, etc.
I learnt a couple of things from the October session. One was I didnt enjoy the last ~120km into Santiago from Sarria. The terrain was annoying and I expect it will be madly busy in May/June. Walking down that narrow, steep path near Portomarin is something I would like to avoid, if in convoy. Also the smell of that fertiliser plant on the way up the hill from Portomarin to Gonzar. I will pass on that also, I think. Another thing i learnt, is that I want to walk further than 260km. If I had walked the whole month, I could have easily averaged 30km days, back to back. My feet cracked, but didnt blister and the cracking was my fault for not paying attention to them after showering. Would like to see if I can do a 30km back to back from Madrid to Sahagun in the 13 days that the Gronze website says its possible in. I also want to walk into Leon fully. In October I missed the sections from El Burgo Raneiro to Leon and Leon to Astorga, due to time constraints. I want to complete those.
Anyway this post is starting to ramble on a bit.
Any specific advice on the Madrid section is welcome. I have experienced the last 15km from Villada to Sahagun, and am expecting hotter weather than I had, and have also been to Madrid in June when the temperature was pretty hot. So the heat is expected, and all that goes with it.
The other routes I will post into their forums as and when I need advice.
Yes I found the thread Laurie made about this combination of routes. It seems to be a slightly less trodden route in the Madrid and Invierno stages.
What is foot traffic like on the Madrid in May? Is it still a few and far between affair, or do the numbers gradually increase? I don't mind walking alone, but the isolation can get annoying after a few days. Its nice to talk to someone once in a while (that is also walking). I guess investment in a decent MP3 player will be a good idea, possibly with a learn Spanish course in it.
Ah, that's great! We CdM alumni will be lucky to walk it with you again. Can't wait for your excellent blog (as alwaysHi @Pathfinder075. I shall be a week or so ahead of you - leaving Madrid around 23 April. I will be posting to my blog every day and will be reporting on conditions and numbers. It might be useful to you. The link is below if you wish to follow.
I will be continuing on the San Salvador, Primitivo and possibly Fistera.
Buen camino!
Hi @Pathfinder075. I shall be a week or so ahead of you - leaving Madrid around 23 April. I will be posting to my blog every day and will be reporting on conditions and numbers. It might be useful to you. The link is below if you wish to follow.
I will be continuing on the San Salvador, Primitivo and possibly Fistera.
Buen camino!
Very well marked in my memory. Better than Levante anywayOut of interest how well is the route marked?
I am not familiar with acronyms. I would like to know what your mean by "btw". Thank youI walked in May and met two Spanish pilgrims on my second day. I walked with them up to Simancas, where I took a detour for a day in Valladolid (which is very nice btw). Then no one else on foot. I saw one or two cyclists. You may be lucky and meet up with someone, but I would go with no expectation of company. I don't think this Camino is experiencing much growth.
And btw, the stages from Monforte de Lemos to Chantada to Rodeiro to Lalin are just beautiful. Walking down to the Minho on the Codos de Belesar and up on the other side of the river is one of the prettiest non-mountain stretches on any Camino. None of my business of course, but I wouldn't miss it. Buen camino, Laurie
I am not familiar with what "CdM" might mean?Ah, that's great! We CdM alumni will be lucky to walk it with you again. Can't wait for your excellent blog (as always).
Ultreia!
More of them here:I am not familiar with what "CdM" might mean?
Can you help me, please?
Thank you.
Oh, thank you so much for showing me the way to the answers, KinkyOne.
You'll enjoy Invierno. Be sure of thatSo many good points. My plans have kind of gone to hell a bit (thank you whomever decided I needed to be let go at work). But such is life. Still planning on doing it, but not sure it will occur in April or May. Might be June (shudders), and walking from Sahagun to Ponferrada in high season doesnt fill me with joy, based on everything Ive read on here about the droves of people wandering on the path. Hopefully the Invierno will be fairly quiet.
Fall back plan if everything does go to hell is to leave it until early september. I guess it will be really empty at that point, until Sahagun. But peace and quiet is nice. At least it will be less warm.
Pathfinder, I left off in Leon last year and had intended to start in Leon this year. Bur Camino de Madrid sounds like an option which will get me into leon and eventually to Santiago. I have 45 days so should accomplish it. am leaving Madrid June 2nd.Been musing over whether to do Primitivo in May or just rip out something larger, and I've decided to try the Madrid route.
I am looking at a route that will take in several routes. For starters, Madrid to Sahagun. Then follow Frances to Ponferrada. Then the Invierno route until somewhere around Montfort. Then down to Ourense to relax for a day or two. Then finally up to Santiago. Its going to be a reasonably long walk. Also if I make it to Santiago and still have enough funds for a couple more weeks, I am not ruling out walking the Norte (or part of it) in reverse and heading back to Santander to get the boat back.
Distance wise, I would like to exceed 1000km, just to see if I can do it.
Kit wise, slightly lighter than last time, but still carrying tent, etc.
I learnt a couple of things from the October session. One was I didnt enjoy the last ~120km into Santiago from Sarria. The terrain was annoying and I expect it will be madly busy in May/June. Walking down that narrow, steep path near Portomarin is something I would like to avoid, if in convoy. Also the smell of that fertiliser plant on the way up the hill from Portomarin to Gonzar. I will pass on that also, I think. Another thing i learnt, is that I want to walk further than 260km. If I had walked the whole month, I could have easily averaged 30km days, back to back. My feet cracked, but didnt blister and the cracking was my fault for not paying attention to them after showering. Would like to see if I can do a 30km back to back from Madrid to Sahagun in the 13 days that the Gronze website says its possible in. I also want to walk into Leon fully. In October I missed the sections from El Burgo Raneiro to Leon and Leon to Astorga, due to time constraints. I want to complete those.
Anyway this post is starting to ramble on a bit.
Any specific advice on the Madrid section is welcome. I have experienced the last 15km from Villada to Sahagun, and am expecting hotter weather than I had, and have also been to Madrid in June when the temperature was pretty hot. So the heat is expected, and all that goes with it.
The other routes I will post into their forums as and when I need advice.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?