Journey without maps?

[blister-shy]

How easy is it to navigate the early stages of the Camino Frances without a map? And would anyone know whether it's possible to buy an english-language guidebook in Pamplona - and if so where?
Many thanks

 

[nellpilgrim]

Hi,
If you're taking the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees the weather can be very unpredictable so you'd be better off with a map for the stage from SJPP to Roncesvalles. You can get a free outline map of the route from the in the Pilgrims office on Rue de Citadelle in St Jean Pied de Port.
Otherwise the signage is clear and easy to follow. Some pilgrims don't take any maps or guides at all but I liked to have the historical and other knowledge a guide provided including distances and elevations and my walking partner loves maps. The guide we had also encouraged us to make some really worthwhile detours to Eunate, Suso, Yuso and Cana that we wouldn't have visited otherwise and it also gave alternatives to the 'route direct' that were well worth taking.
I know someone who bought the John Brierley guide in an english language bookshop in Legrono (not sure of it's name or exact location) and heard that someone had picked a copy up in Burgos but not sure where.
Nell

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola

I think that the people who use maps do so because they like reading maps. I´ve never used a map, ever, on the routes I´ve walked. The waymarking on the Camino Frances and most other routes is now so good that a simple guide book is all that´s needed. Inmho for the Camino Frances all that is needed is the CSJ Guidebook which is updated every year.

http://www.csj.org.uk/acatalog/The_CSJ_ ... in_23.html

 

[blister-shy]

That's good and bad news - Happy to hear that the signage is good, but I love maps, don't have one and doubt I have time to get one - I'm starting in Pamplona next week and ending somewhere near Legrono, by which point that bookshop will be a bit late.
Nell - the unpredictable weather comment has got me worrying. I was hoping I might be able to get away with just a silk sleeping bag liner. Am I being optimistic? I'm in the Middle East at the moment, and it's difficult to remember what European nights are like in early September. Should I be trying to squeeze a sleeping bag into my backpack?
Thanks so much for any suggestions!

 

[nellpilgrim]

Sorry that my comment got you worrying of course crossing any mountain range one must expect a little of the unexpected weather wise and for anyone crossing the Pyrenees I'd just check with the pilgrims office and or the tourist office before they head off.
But you're starting after the Pyrenees in Pamplona and the terrain between it and Logrono is gorgeous and rolling rather than mountainous. The other good news is that September and October apparently provide the most stable weather conditions of all for pilgrims so you should be sauntering along in balmy weather with warm days and cool nights...pure bliss ! I'm not speaking from personal experience as I walked the CF in early Spring but that's what a friend found when walking the CF in September about 4 years ago and her description fits with what most of the guides report.
Silk liners are warm but if it gets too chilly you can 'dress up' to go to bed and/or avail of the blankets that are on offer in most of the albergues. Using a hat or scarf to keeping your head covered really saves on heat loss in chilly sleeping conditions with the additional upside of waking up with an award winning 'bed head' guaranteed to raise a smile from everyone you meet :lol: .The other alternative, and I'm afraid my personal favorite, is to support the local economy by firing up your inner engine with some Rioja before retiring to bed

Have a wonderful journey
Nell

 

[blister-shy]

I'm all for supporting the local economy, so the Rioja bedwarmer sounds the best option

 

[dutchpilgrim]

Hi,

Another confirmation:
I did it without maps too. Only for the stretch in France I used the maps that are available at
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/-Et ... ml?lang=fr
Once in Orisson there was a flyer of
http://www.redalberguessantiago.com/index.html
It was sufficient.

Ultreya,
Carli Di Bortolo