pnwPilgrim
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Dreaming about 2014.
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In the summer there is the issue of the heat. I like the warmer weather, but many prefer the cooler very early morning.
In my experience, the sun rises fairly late on the camino. That is partly due to European summer time and Spain's placement on the western side of the time zone. Now in mid-October I show the sun rising today at 8:20 am in Pamplona and at 8:48 am in Santiago de Compostela. When I was walking in July, I believe the sun was rising at about 6:00am. You may be just fine!
These people all take part in what is know as "The Bed Race". they run like hell in order to catch a cheap bunk at the next public albergue.
They also use a headlamp in order to walk those kms. in the dark.
Funny don´t you think , people travel from all over the world to walk the Camino and see a new place but do it in the dark......... don´t see a thing.
Buen Camino!
..., can one successfully opt out of the "bed race" and still find a bed? That's my real fear. If the camino is just a bed race it seems a lot less interesting... As you say, why spend all that money, travel half way around the world, only to have all that stress...!
Keep in mind that this perception is yours to control. In May and September particularly, there are always beds. It is hard to resist the feeling. I remember on my second camino sitting at a bar for second coffee and counting over fifty pilgrims walking by. My thought with each one was "there goes another bed." Yet I never have had a problem getting a bed. I advise that you simply force yourself to ignore the bed race. It really is only in your mind.This makes the Camino start to feel like a rat race.
Falcon, I missed the "casino" on the WayKeep in mind that this perception is yours to control. In May and September particularly, there are always beds. It is hard to resist the feeling. I remember on my second casino sitting at a bar for second coffee and counting over fifty pilgrims walking by. My thought with each one was "there goes another bed." Yet I never have had a problem getting a bed. I advise that you simply force yourself to ignore the bed race. It really is only in your mind.
Albergues will escort pilgrims out the door by 0830, which is a problem in winter and early spring when sunrise is after that. For the times you plan to walk, there will be visible light by the time you must leave. As for other pilgrims, you can agonize over "why" they leave early, but you cannot control it. Your reaction can be either irritation or acceptance. Irritation will only lessen your experience, so I recommend acceptance. You may even eagerly join them after a few days, if an early start has helped you avoid the blistering sun in the afternoon.
Buen camino!
These people all take part in what is know as "The Bed Race". they run like hell in order to catch a cheap bunk at the next public albergue.
They also use a headlamp in order to walk those kms. in the dark.
Funny don´t you think , people travel from all over the world to walk the Camino and see a new place but do it in the dark......... don´t see a thing.
Buen Camino!
Exactament, some of my best photos and most memorable moments are walking in the early morning and it's must that you have at least one of those 20 foot tall shadow photos from your walk.And then there are those of us who don't need an alarm to wake up, quietly sneek out and actually enjoy the early morning hours. I have experienced incredible peace and spectacular sunrises (don't forget to look behind you on the CF) which I would not want to have missed!
Whether you participate in "The Bed Race" is entirely up to you.
I really wanted to comment about "your second casino" because I was wondering how I missed the first one.Falcon, I missed the "casino" on the Way
MendiWalker, can one successfully opt out of the "bed race" and still find a bed? That's my real fear. If the camino is just a bed race it seems a lot less interesting... As you say, why spend all that money, travel half way around the world, only to have all that stress...!
Hi folks,
I'm gathering info and thinking about a 2014 Camino. A question for you all:
I've read in many posts about walkers who like to rise at 5am and be on the road by 6am or sooner. I'm a bit anxious about this as (a) I generally hate being up that early, let alone active, and (b) from sunrise calendars is seems that in early May that's about 30 mins in pitch black before twilight (let alone sunrise) and in early Sep that's 1 hour in pitch black. I'm looking at a May or Sep Camino.
This makes the Camino start to feel like a rat race. To me, a key point of doing a Camino would be to get *away* from such craziness.
So...my questions to you:
- Why *do* people walk this early? Is it required? Or do they just like walking in the dark?
- Can I have a successful Camino sleeping a bit longer and walking from 7:30 or later?
Thanks
...
And if you don´t stop and chat, you don´t get coffee.
Maybe it´s not the pilgrims. Maybe it´s us... or our vast pack of ill-assorted curs!
Apparently, there is a possibility that Spain may change its clocks ! The sunrise is so late now because of Franco, who wanted Spain to be in line, time-wise, with Germany. So IF the clocks do change eventually, maybe pilgrims will have a whole extra hour in bed!
It is said the early bird gets the worm. Hardly a reason for me to get up.
I am not sure if pilgrims are racing or the sun is setting earlier or what, but in the eight years I have walked my dogs on the camino in the morning, the pilgrims themselves have changed.
There are notably more pilgrims out there now.
We always greet the pilgrims we pass. We always have.
Pilgrims used to consistently greet us back. They´d hunker down to talk with the dogs, chat with us, even sometimes come home for a coffee.
Nowadays a large number of them are utterly engaged in whatever is playing on their earphones, or what their companions are saying. They do not respond to us. The ones not plugged-in usually still say hello, and they occasionally slow down if a dog asks them directly for a pat on the head.
But most pilgrims we see nowadays are obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. They don´t stop and chat.
And if you don´t stop and chat, you don´t get coffee.
Maybe it´s not the pilgrims. Maybe it´s us... or our vast pack of ill-assorted curs!
These people all take part in what is know as "The Bed Race". they run like hell in order to catch a cheap bunk at the next public albergue.
They also use a headlamp in order to walk those kms. in the dark.
Funny don´t you think , people travel from all over the world to walk the Camino and see a new place but do it in the dark......... don´t see a thing.
Buen Camino!
I think you are 100% correct Rebekah,
We found no early risers on the Norte until some spanish girls left @ 5.00am seeking a bed at Miraz.
They got there very early , got reprimanded and were given jobs cleaning .
They were then @ noon given beds with the rest of the pilgrims .
They apologised to all over the day and we realised they had only started in Ribadeo .
I liked the albergues that locked the doors so the 'early risers' couldn't get out, ...
Crumbs! That sounds better than being at home!Alex, a hospitalero, in a truly great albergue , Bodenaya, on the Primitivo, had a wonderful solution.
At dinner, there was a discussion with everyone to come to an agreement about the time we would get up. 7 am was agreed. Alex then woke us up with music, and breakfast was served 10 mins later
Obviously this wouldn't work everywhere, in every albergue, but it was very civilised!
While we walked to Finisterra last year we stayed in a very new Hostal, we were told breakfast would be at seven am so we were down at about 07.10 and found the place in darkness so we decided to leave but could not as all the doors were locked. The son of the people who owned the hostal strolled in at 07.30 and was a little surprised when we weren't staying for desayuno. I said nothing to him about the doors but was a bit miffed, what if there had been a fire????Don't like the idea of locked doors!!.........Vicrev
Yikes! I just "watched" that episode on CSI! The bar was locked and a fire broke out! Ugly!While we walked to Finisterra last year we stayed in a very new Hostal, we were told breakfast would be at seven am so we were down at about 07.10 and found the place in darkness so we decided to leave but could not as all the doors were locked. The son of the people who owned the hostal strolled in at 07.30 and was a little surprised when we weren't staying for desayuno. I said nothing to him about the doors but was a bit miffed, what if there had been a fire????
Something to ask when we check in....I hope the albergues that lock their doors at night have emergency exit for evacuation in case of fire. The albergue that i worked as a hospitalero in santiago have emergency exits that are clearly marked in case of emergency.
I also hope at least they have some exits for peregrinos to get out instead of being complacent waiting for something to happen before taking any action. I noticed when walking the camino frances and vdlp, everytime i registered into a public or private albergue. nothing was ever mentioned whether there are emergency exits or if so, where the locations are located.
I wish everyone a sage buen camino and also be safety concious. God bless you all.
I must admit that I assumed that there would be fire or emergency safety laws at some level of Spanish, regional or municipal government that would apply to albergues. I cannot see that these would allow for the circumstance where people might be locked into a building during an emergency. Does anyone know what building regulations are applied to albergues?
I walked Camino this year in August. Everyday were the last who left the albergue and started like eight. Yes, it is hot and sometimes hard but for me perfect. I took my time, visited churches and had some nice breaks on the way. So I would recommend also for you this. Just enjoy and don't think about the early roosters. I was all the time so annoyed of the people who woke up at six or earlier and started packing the bag in the sleeping area. If you want to wake up early just be respectful with the others. And about walking with the sun. You know what does not kill makes you stronger and I have to say that I have some crazy and amazing memories about walking under the sun. My biggest recommendation is that but away your book and just walk, don't think about how others are walking the Way - just take your time and make it yours.
I am not sure if pilgrims are racing or the sun is setting earlier or what, but in the eight years I have walked my dogs on the camino in the morning, the pilgrims themselves have changed.
There are notably more pilgrims out there now.
We always greet the pilgrims we pass. We always have.
Pilgrims used to consistently greet us back. They´d hunker down to talk with the dogs, chat with us, even sometimes come home for a coffee.
Nowadays a large number of them are utterly engaged in whatever is playing on their earphones, or what their companions are saying. They do not respond to us. The ones not plugged-in usually still say hello, and they occasionally slow down if a dog asks them directly for a pat on the head.
But most pilgrims we see nowadays are obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. They don´t stop and chat.
And if you don´t stop and chat, you don´t get coffee.
Maybe it´s not the pilgrims. Maybe it´s us... or our vast pack of ill-assorted curs!
I walked Camino this year in August. Everyday were the last who left the albergue and started like eight. Yes, it is hot and sometimes hard but for me perfect. I took my time, visited churches and had some nice breaks on the way. So I would recommend also for you this. Just enjoy and don't think about the early roosters. I was all the time so annoyed of the people who woke up at six or earlier and started packing the bag in the sleeping area. If you want to wake up early just be respectful with the others. And about walking with the sun. You know what does not kill makes you stronger and I have to say that I have some crazy and amazing memories about walking under the sun. My biggest recommendation is that but away your book and just walk, don't think about how others are walking the Way - just take your time and make it yours.
One should not assume that laws that may exist at home, exist in other places. The only law that makes sense is your common sense.
I would suggest that common sense is that you don't get up in the wee hours of the morning and unintentionally wake everyone up. Anyone with common sense reasonably would know that this is not socially acceptable behavior.
What's wee? Some people think sleeping until sunrise is wasting the whole day.
The problem with threads like this is people have different ideas of "normal".
What's wee? Some people think sleeping until sunrise is wasting the whole day.
The problem with threads like this is people have different ideas of "normal".
.
And if you don't want to adhere to common standards of conduct then I would encourage you to make other plans for your accomodation .... one where you don't risk ruining everyone elses day in pursuit of not wasting your day.
Lovely post about walking at night. Personally I only ever started before dawn once on the Ingles, foolishly thinking it would be pre dawn light by the time I reached the end of town. I found myself in a forest walking by moonlight and trying to find markers using the light on my mobile. Like I say, foolish and never again. Besides which I like to let everyone else get on with it first.
Happened us twice this year, got up early to have breakfast and walk while it was still cool only to find no place open for breakfast so started to walk in the dark, found ourselves in a forest looking for markers with the light on the mobile. Good laugh, but I would not try and repeat it.Lovely post about walking at night. Personally I only ever started before dawn once on the Ingles, foolishly thinking it would be pre dawn light by the time I reached the end of town. I found myself in a forest walking by moonlight and trying to find markers using the light on my mobile. Like I say, foolish and never again. Besides which I like to let everyone else get on with it first.
Thank you, Aikidosteve, for putting this so beautifully; it is wonderful to read. Particularly so, because this past April after I’d started my Camino, I realized that there was to be a full moon towards the end of the month (the 25th I think) when my companions and I expected to be on the meseta. I couldn’t imagine anything more magical, and soothing, than walking in the open under a full moon, and I immediately put the idea to my companions – both women. I had serious plans to make this work. Alas, it was not to be. By the time the 25th rolled around, I had left my companions walking on the meseta, and gone ahead to Leon to nurse the tendinitis in my leg. (I doubt if my proposed walk would have come to pass anyway because, as I heard it, the weather on the meseta at that time was horrendous). It is so good now to read of your experience this past June................This past June, I took my love of the darkness to another level when I did a solo night walk under the full moon on the meseta. I began walking at 1am and walked through until mid-day the following day. I saw no one except an occasional owl and experienced the world in a very different way. Walking through sleeping villages, finding my way by moonlight, noticing and releasing the occasional fear, and feeling immense awe and gratitude for the gifts of darkness, solitude and life. For me, it doesn't get much better. The journey is, after all, a spiritual pilgrimage - at least for me it is - and part of that experience is best found in darkness and solitude. So, yes perhaps I did travel all the way to Spain to miss some of the scenery while walking in the darkness but what I found in that darkness was far more precious and far more important to my soul.
So, please, when you see me in the future walking before sunrise, please suspend your judgements of me. I am not racing for a bed; I am experiencing the camino in a way that is most meaningful for me.
This July we hit Hornillos around the full moon. While we stayed at the new albergue, many pilgrims who were staying in the muni had decided to walk the next stage by moonlight, so napped during the afternoon and early evening and set off before midnight. We met some of them again the next day and they were far less enthusiastic. While they reported the walk as being cool and comfortable, with no problems finding the route, they were bushed the next day having been up all night and then just sitting in the heat outside the albergue for ages, waiting until it opened. A couple of days later one of these pilgrims told us his body clock was still just about recovering and he also admitted that it wasn't that great as he had walked with quite a lot of people and didn't really feel any magic, just chatter.
Actually it's the LATE worms that get eaten by the early birds. The other worms had gone to bed before the sun rises : )I got a wonderful T-shirt in Berlin a few years ago inscribed "The late worm escapes the early bird." Priceless.
Hospitalera here. Nightwalkers occasionally show up at the door after sunup, looking a bit worse for wear. We usually give them a bed if we don´t have plans to go shopping that day. But they have to tolerate without complaint all the racket we make cleaning up the place and getting on with the day they are sleeping through. Somehow, they always manage to revive in time for lunch!
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