introduction new member

[Bem48]

Hi there,
in 10 days I will be leaving Sydney/Australia, and plan to be in StJPdP by the end of April to start my very first Camino....I hope to be well prepared, following advice from many
web-sites for many weeks esp. this one, which is excellent. I'm in my late 50s, pretty fit, energetic
and keen. what concerns me a bit at this point in time is the weather....here in Australia we are
a bit spoiled, even in winter we manage with T-shirts, a thin sweater and a light jacket. What can I expect by early May....snow in the pyrennees, still freezing temps ??? I hope I can manage with
various layers, a fleece and a Goretex...or do I have to have thermals etc??? I have my backpack down to 8.5 kg and think that's enough....don't want to take any more stuff. Please give me some ideas!!!
If anyone has similar camino plans and similar timing, would like to catch up
Cheers and Buen Camino Bem in Sydney

 

[William Marques]

Welcome Bem.

Sorry to not be much more accurate but the only thing one can say weatherwise about the Pyrenees in May is "Be prepared for anything". To some extent that applies all year round but in early may you could get anything from snow storms to hot sunny weather. I would stay as you are kit wise and use the road route if necessary.

Buen Camino
William

 

[Cyd]

Hi Bem

I'm leaving Sydney on 20 April and start from St Jean on 25 April. Check out the Camino calendar at the bottom of each page, that gives you a good update on who's starting when.

You could also check out the thread 'Class of 2008'

might see you on the walk

good luck
Megan

 

[Arn]

Hi Bem...and welcome to the Class of 2008.

As Megan says...check out the Class link. What a bunch of characters we are...well, maybe I should just speak for myself.

I've got very few things to do before I leave this Saturday...but, every time I think I've done enough...another thought crosses my mind and I take something out...put something in...or forget what I was doing...and start all over again.

The folks on this forum are family...welcome to the Family.

Buen "let's get started" Camino
Arn

 

[sillydoll]

I live near Durban on the Indian Ocean coast and had the same concerns as you - we enjoy a sub-tropical climate with very mild winters (definitely no snow in Durbs!).
I took an ultralight long sleeved fleece pullover and a fleece zip up jacket also ultralight weight. I also had a parachute chill cheater. These are those very thin jackets runners wear, that can fold up into a fist sized ball.
I took one pair of long trousers made of 'quantek' - tracksuit material. I also had long trousers made in the parachute material and they were wonderful on cold mornings. I wore shorts underneath them and could take them off as it warmed up. I took a silk sleeping bag liner and on the two nights that it was really cold and there were no blankets I slept in the chill cheater trousers and my fleece top.
This photo was taken at Manjarin. It was a chilly afternoon so I put on my chill cheater trousers over my shorts and a fleece jacket and blue chill cheater on top of the t-shirt.

 

[frmikeminn]

In Minnesota we call what sil did, "layering". just keep putting on the clothes you brought until you have enough to keep warm! It is supposed to snow here tomorrow in the land of 10,000 lakes and much snow. I look forward to being "warm" in Spain next week! I think the average temp is between 10 and 14 cel in May which is warmer than here!

Warmth is a relative matter, most of my relatives are warmer than me!