Le Puy to Santiago by skateboard in June.

[michael heitzman]

Howdy! My name is Michael and I plan on walking from Le Puy to Santiago in June, then down to Lisbon and back again, then Camino Del Norte, maybe Turonensis, etc. I'm going until my bank account is empty or my legs fall off. I'll be bringing a secret weapon though, my trusty skateboard.

Now I know what some of you might think, "Why would you carry all that extra weight? Just leave it at home." Not happening. I've traveled all around Asia with my piece of wood and it's very much an extension of myself and a passion of mine. I realize that I won't be able to use it most places, that's fine, I'm used to toting it around on my pack anyways, but the thought of cruising down the Pyrenees at dangerous speeds is a once in a lifetime chance I can't pass up. With that said, I'm looking forward to meeting whoever I come across on the Camino and if you see someone with skateboard on their pack it might very well be me.

Also any tips/suggestions/questions would be greatly appreciated. Just don't tell me to leave my board at home, please.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Hate to tell you, but skateboards are not so unusual on the camino. Like you anticipate, it will spend a lot of time on your back, however, as most of the Camino de Santiago is not really skate-able -- if you follow the hiking trail down the Pyrenee (there's only one) you will certainly not be doing it on a skateboard, it's loose rock, broken ground and mud! The road option is used by fast-moving traffic. Good luck with that.

 

[michael heitzman]

Hate to tell you, but skateboards are not so unusual on the camino. Like you anticipate, it will spend a lot of time on your back, however, as most of the Camino de Santiago is not really skate-able -- if you follow the hiking trail down the Pyrenee (there's only one) you will certainly not be doing it on a skateboard, it's loose rock, broken ground and mud! The road option is used by fast-moving traffic. Good luck with that.

The only positive thing I can take away from this is that there will be other skaters on the trail, that's good to know. I'm not doing this to stand out or look cool I just typically skate around town to get from point A to B, it's my transportation. Was really hesitating to introduce myself on here because there's always someone to take the wind out of your sails but that's life. Bon chemin.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I have only ever seen one skateboarder on the trail-- a young woman on the del Norte somewhere near Deba. More of the del Norte is skateboardable than the Francese, but really I've not thought much about it.

 

[Kanga]

If you use it within the last 100km of Santiago you will not quality for a Compostela. The requirement is that you walk the last 100km.

 

[michael heitzman]

If you use it within the last 100km of Santiago you will not quality for a Compostela. The requirement is that you walk the last 100km.

That's fine with me. I don't even know if I'll get one the first time around. I imagine I might change my mind when I'm there but I think just making it to Santiago will be accomplishment enough for me but who knows.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

You won't be alone. You'll probably have a crowd of kids at the stops, everyone wants to learn how to Ollie!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I can imagine the bit down the Cruz de Ferro past Majarin must make for a fun ride on a skateboard.

 

[michael heitzman]

I can imagine the bit down the Cruz de Ferro past Majarin must make for a fun ride on a skateboard.

I'll mark that on my map and look into it! Thank you.

 

[nellpilgrim]

…..Michael there were occasions when, if I'd seen one, I'd have seriously considered nicking it as a backpack trolley-keep it safe from old ladies you have been warned.

 

[michael heitzman]

…..Michael there were occasions when, if I'd seen one, I'd have seriously considered nicking it as a backpack trolley-keep it safe from old ladies you have been warned.

I'd be more than happy to let a cute older lady use it as a trolley. Might even show you how to ride it

 

[CaminoDebrita]

I'd be more than happy to let a cute older lady use it as a trolley. Might even show you how to ride it

You are fun : ) btw, a good friend of mine took her scooter-thing (like a skateboard but with a handle?) but she didn't use it much. I bet you will have fun at night with people showing them how to do tricks and such!

Greetings from a fellow Oregonian---I'm just 22 m. SE of you, but my stepson lives in PDX, and I used to live on Hawthorne.

 

[nellpilgrim]

I'd be more than happy to let a cute older lady use it as a trolley. Might even show you how to ride it

God bless you that'd be two of us in the nearest orthopaedic unit for sure and certain-but I appreciate the offer.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Saw people riding these in the last stretch after Saria last spring:

 

[michael heitzman]

You are fun : ) btw, a good friend of mine took her scooter-thing (like a skateboard but with a handle?) but she didn't use it much. I bet you will have fun at night with people showing them how to do tricks and such!

Greetings from a fellow Oregonian---I'm just 22 m. SE of you, but my stepson lives in PDX, and I used to live on Hawthorne.

That's crazy! I lived on 40th and Hawthorne for six years. Greetings fellow, Oregonian! You live in Canby? My girlfriend goes drifting down there at Pats Acres. I actually live in Boring but didn't want to explain the name :/

 

[CaminoDebrita]

That's crazy! I lived on 40th and Hawthorne for six years. Greetings fellow, Oregonian! You live in Canby? My girlfriend goes drifting down there at Pats Acres. I actually live in Boring but didn't want to explain the name :/

Awesome! I lived on 28th, back in the day.
I am very familiar with Pat's Acres, as well as Boring, Oregon!