KiwiNomad06 said:
And while you might manage a couple of 40km days
Not everyone is in the same boat, Margaret -- having disproportionately long legs, 40KM was a day's normal hike for me ; and I'd manage a few 65KM ones...
In 2005 though, my average (non-solo) day was instead 30 or 35 ; not from any limitation of my own, but because the friend I walked most of the Spanish part with was uncomfortable with (
not incapable of) daily 40KM treks (though he did do ONE 50 KM stage -- his own legs not being particularly short either).
(though he was left far behind when two other friends and I decided to do one day of "serious" walking -- they were both marginally stronger hikers than me BTW, and very well suited to each other's company on the Camino ; though of course we did not push any further than he and our other (
very slow but
very brave) friend could reach, at whatever time in late afternoon)
(VERY strange thing happened at the end of the Way, though, strange, odd, bizarre occurrences provided that my friend and I PLUS the other group of three all five of us ended up finishing the Camino solo, including one by ambulance (nothing serious) --- all worked out strangely well, though, as my good friend finished at his own 100% preferred pace, our
very slow and
very brave friend ditto, ambulance girl was oddly pleased with the strange manner of her own arrival (as she had been strangely nervous about "finishing"), Guy was the wise old man among the five of us anyway, and as for myself -- Santiago gave me a glorious 65 KM final solo hike to the Cathedral
)
---
Bottom line, there really is no universal rule as to how far is a good daily distance, nor how far an exceptionally long day's trek might be, nor how long it will take to walk the Camino.
There is NO meaningful difference between a pilgrim who can do 20-25 KM / day, and another who can do ~40KM. The ONLY important thing is that both will reach Santiago, in their
own good time.
The only real issue is that a 25KM/day pilgrim and a 40 KM/day one may frustrate each other as walking companions.