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Hi everyone, I am four weeks out and getting anxious! I am walking from Sarria to SDC. I know which town I am going to stay in each night, I will have booked all my accommodation in advance (because I have very bad knees and I need to know there is a room waiting for me). Do I need a guide book (John Brierly) to help me find my way or for any other reason? Thanks in advance for your help! Buen Camino
Having walked the whole route I found Brierley's book very useful. I agree with Frank, just take a few pages with historical information as it provides a context and increases the Camino experience. HappyMarkHi everyone, I am four weeks out and getting anxious! I am walking from Sarria to SDC. I know which town I am going to stay in each night, I will have booked all my accommodation in advance (because I have very bad knees and I need to know there is a room waiting for me). Do I need a guide book (John Brierly) to help me find my way or for any other reason? Thanks in advance for your help! Buen Camino
The other way of looking at this is that a guidebook will provide you with information about the places you will pass through, distances to go, etc. You might find a few pages printed out from one of the many resource pages useful. There is a list here.
I concur absolutely. I think that the Camino has gained in popularity because of the increased secularity. I really wonder how many walk it simply because.....I hate how "pilgrimage" is forced on every walker.
"Forced on every walker" seems a bit strong. One could just as easily assert secularism or ultralight backpacking is being forced on every walker.. . . I hate how "pilgrimage" is forced on every walker.
Hi everyone, I am four weeks out and getting anxious! I am walking from Sarria to SDC. I know which town I am going to stay in each night, I will have booked all my accommodation in advance (because I have very bad knees and I need to know there is a room waiting for me). Do I need a guide book (John Brierly). As per tominrm, you won't 'need' a guide book from Saria, but might want one for the extra rescouces it will offer! We had Brierly's slim guide to Shahagun ( a day per page) but lost it there! Got to Leon easy without it but replaces with the standard book that offered a better breakdown of the gaps between towns or churches or points of interest! Plus you will know how far to the next Albergue if your day doesn't fit his! We stopped before or after larger towns to miss the Hub. Effect that the book forms! Got to walk though the towns and cities early, empty and quitet that way! Suited us! Buen Camino.
In defense of John Brierley:
I have been told more than once on the camino, "I don't like to follow John Brierley's Guide." It was by people who have walked more than once. The reason they said was basically by following his guide, you are in a competition to look for a bed every night with those who follow his guide, not because his suggestion is bad or wrong. Another reason for not following his guide would be desire to walk just about the same distance everyday.
But I think John has to suggest the way it is in his guide even though the distance for each stage is not evenly distributed because there always are more first time pilgrims in each day than experienced pilgrims. These first timers usually heed to John's suggestion at least first few days. If John spread out the distance each day more evenly and suggest stay in a small town with only one or two albergues, there will be a problem for those who arrive late in the day with finding a bed. I think that's why John suggests fairly large size villages.
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