plabrecque
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First of all a 50L plastic bottle in your pocket will get you through most of the day if you stop here and there to refill it. A very bad and hot day on the Meseta might requires an extra 1.5L bottle in your pack, I don't think that will be necessary here.
I walked Le Puy to Cahors last June and July, and the weather was perfect. You are either very fit or optimistic to think you can do Le Puy to Conques in 9 days
I had a little perrier bottle that I refilled, but I didn't drink it dry, because I drank water at breakfast and dinner. I drank from streams too.
The tent is a total waste of time, I took a bivvy( a swag to me) and used it once.
My first two caminos were with a water bottle, which I thought worked splendidly. However, a naval friend, who is often on long training hikes or bushwalking, swore by the bladder, and convinced me. She told me that, with the bladder, one is constantly sipping, and thereby avoiding dehydration. With a bottle, one drinks when one is thirsty, which is often too late. From the bladder's weight, you will have a good idea of how much is in it. The only downside is that it takes a bit more labour to refill.
I cannot be certain about the possibilities of using a tent, but I have walked other routes in France and would judge it to be impractical.
Canadian French is easily understood in rural France, except when people don't want to! I've done two long-distance Caminos in France (from Toulouse, and then from Mont Saint Michel), and have yet to have a problem.
Yes, I have considered an hydratation bladder
Well... no, I didn't know... hope I didn't said something wrong... To make sure everyone see what is it for me:(Oh, and you probably know not to call it a fanny pack in the UK!)
Well... no, I didn't know
Incidentally, Le Puy to Conques in 9 days is a tough itinerary - (I took 10 days) I hope you've got it worked out.
Thanks for this info, very important for me...Difficult to choose any step to miss, but Le Puy to St Privat is not particularly scenic, and you could get to Conques in 9 days from there.
Or Saint-Côme-d'Olt to Estaing.
Yes, I would like to do it that way...It took me 12 days from Le Puy to Conques, and I was slow! Why not just walk from Le Puy, at your own leisure until your time is up, Conques wont move, that means you can come back and start from where you left off! Many pilgrims walk like this, they call it etapes - walking in stages.
This is an important information for me! If can use gite to do camping (so: no snoring! and food !!!).I camped a lot on this route, and loved it. I freecamped, used municipal campsites and even many Gites let you stay in a tent too.
I blogged my journey, it can be read here (day by day with pictures - it starts in Geneva, so scroll down for Le Puy).
Apologies - I have just looked over my old records and it did, in fact, take me 9 days to reach Conques!Le Puy to Conques in 9 days is a tough itinerary
I am assuming this is your first Camino.
I am starting from Le Puy around the same time and this will also be my first GR65. However I have walked many Caminos.
First of all a 0.5L plastic bottle in your pocket will get you through most of the day if you stop here and there to refill it. A very bad and hot day on the Meseta might requires an extra 1.5L bottle in your pack, I don't think that will be necessary here.
You might want to check the tent camping restriction on this Camino. It is populated by farms and they don't want/permit people sleeping people on their property.
Backpack weight is totally relative. I am 73 years old and carry a 30L pack with a couple changes of clothes. It works for me.
BTW, I live in France part of the year and my French is totally shitty
I learned my French living for 3 years in West Africa, so I speak a Creole version that verges on Jamaican English, mon.Glad to hear your French isn't great....planning to do this Camino this Fall and my French I learned 40 years ago isn't coming back very well....a little hesitant to even use it....
Allyson,Glad to hear your French isn't great....planning to do this Camino this Fall and my French I learned 40 years ago isn't coming back very well....a little hesitant to even use it....
I am interested in the silk liner comment, Carole. Was that instead of taking a light sleep sac? Where do I find such a liner?I walked Le Puy to Cahors last June and July, and the weather was perfect. You are either very fit or optimistic to think you can do Le Puy to Conques in 9 days and you should stay an extra night in Conques, do watch the son et lumiere at the cathedral at 10pm most nights. That cathedral is the most interesting and the monks are lovely, I was going to say divine, but of course, they are that too, and very musical.
Conques is a tourist destination, and cute by great effort on the part of the locals. Beautiful gardens, interesting artisans.
There is water everywhere. Refills from locals, in cemertaries. from farms, that often sell milk. (Raw Milk! I drank lots and am still alive!) You can buy bottles of it everywhere. I had a little perrier bottle that I refilled, but I didn't drink it dry, because I drank water at breakfast and dinner. I drank from streams too.
The tent is a total waste of time, I took a bivvy( a swag to me) and used it once. And that only at Pech Merle, which is a must see side trip. And if you take a tent, you need to take a bed foam pad... One of the rarest cave paintings in the world. It won't be on view for much longer. (I am into cave paintings big time and would walk far to see them). The Gites were all clean and comfortable, and some were so good I would take up permanent residence at the drop of a hat. I do advise you to take a silk liner and cut open the foot end and sew a zip in, so much easier to to walk to the bathroom. I calculated my average spend at 44 euros per day. 35 for bed and meal, and other for entries to museums, donations and other food and coffee. You can't drink the tea in France!
Always do the demi pension option. The food is never less than terrific. (and I am Australian, not even British).
Any outdoors store will have them.I am interested in the silk liner comment, Carole. Was that instead of taking a light sleep sac? Where do I find such a liner?
I am interested in the silk liner comment, Carole. Was that instead of taking a light sleep sac? Where do I find such a liner?
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