Leon to SDC in Start of Nov

[Joshua Lok]

Dear fellow philgirms,

i would be heading for my camino with my wife arriving on the 1st Nov 130pm in Madrid.

hope that i can garner some assistance:

1. I doubt i can make it for the train timing at 230pm, thus the earliest i think i can reach Leon would be 8-830pm. isit too risky for me to buy the 230pm train ticket? the later timing will allow me to reach at 8pm, i afraid that there'll be no lodging available. any advice for this aspect?

2. where can i go to get my credentials stamped in Leon as my starting point?

3. i intend to complete the 300km camino in 14 days, spent another 1 day by bus to/fro finisterre, is this feasible? i read that the albergue will not accept philgrims by bus at finisterre, so would it be better to go there for a day-trip and back?

4. What's the weather like at that timing? the average temp? will it be necessary to prepare winter/snow clothings?

thanks so much.
joshua

 

[whariwharangi]

1330 arrival means NO chance of taking the 1430 train.

You might try ALSA bus from terminal 4 or Estacion Sur.

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en/

I went from end October to mid December. There was frost almost daily. By mid November a jacket was usually worn all day.

You do not need winter clothing ... in the unlikely event it gets cold enough to need it ... buy it enroute. Bring light gloves, a hat, and a scarf.

The big deal is rain in Galicia. It started squalling hard just as I got to Fisterra in mid December. Streets filled with water in 5 minutes. Apparently the rains were late that year.

 

[Joshua Lok]

so i should stay a night in Leon?

 

[mspath]

Joshua,

In Leon you can get your Credential stamped wherever you stay. I usually stop at the Albergue del Monasterio de las Benedictinas (Carbajalas), Plaza Santa María del Camino, 7. Here is their web page. For additional accommodation suggestions scan this list of hotels suggested by other members.

Be sure to read what has been written about walking west from Leon towards Astorga following either the main camino or a more rural alternate in this earlier Forum thread.

One never knows what the weather might be, but lightweight layers are most practical for walking in late autumn/winter. All of us who walk at this time have our favorite combos; see this recent thread for more ideas.

Buen Camino to you both,

Margaret Meredith

 

[crackmrmac]

Hi Joshua,
Be aware that clocks will have changed by then, but you probably know this already.
Buen Camino

 

[Joshua Lok]

dear crackmrmac,

wat clock changes? im not sure abt thie factor.

thanks.2

 

[mspath]

Joshua,

On Sunday October 26 in Spain and much of the European Union the time will change back one hour from DST (Daylight Savings Time) to Standard time. Clocks will be set back one hour at 03:00 to 02:00. There will be more light in the morning but darkness will arrive earlier each afternoon. See this Time and Date site for more info.

Margaret Meredith

 

[crackmrmac]

Thank you Margaret. Your post clarifies my thinking that darkness will arrive in early evening.
Buen Camino Margaret & Joshua!

 

[november_moon]

We started in Leon as well - arrived by train, stayed overnight and then started walking in the morning. We had reserved a hotel room for Leon so that we didn't have to worry about finding a place when we arrived. We had our credential stamped at our lodging before we left in the morning.

 

[nreyn12]

Regarding your question about staying in an albergue in Fisterra, there are now 10 private albergues, and you do not need to be a walking pilgrim to stay at one of them.

Here is a list to show you what is available: http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/etapa-de-olveiroa-a-finisterre

 

[Joshua Lok]

Joshua,

On Sunday October 26 in Spain and much of the European Union the time will change back one hour from DST (Daylight Savings Time) to Standard time. Clocks will be set back one hour at 03:00 to 02:00. There will be more light in the morning but darkness will arrive earlier each afternoon. See this Time and Date site for more info.

Margaret Meredith

hi Margaret,

your blog holds great info. honestly, now im tempted to take the path off the expressway by gg rural. im not sure if the walking distance is the same and the time taken is the same. i used your maps and im kinda lost coz its quite off the main route, any advice on this? cheers

josh

 

[mspath]

hi Margaret,

your blog holds great info. honestly, now im tempted to take the path off the expressway by gg rural. im not sure if the walking distance is the same and the time taken is the same. i used your maps and im kinda lost coz its quite off the main route, any advice on this? cheers

josh

Josh,

Sorry, but I am a bit confused. What do you mean by gg rural?

If you are referring to the camino alternate route from Virgen del Camino - Hospital de Órbigo see this handy on line digital map from fellow Forum member Peter Robins comprehensive Walking Pilgrim site.

As mentioned in my earlier post read what has been written about walking west from Leon towards Astorga following either the main camino or a more rural alternate in this earlier Forum thread.

It is always very pleasant to escape the N120 highway noise and suburban sprawl while crossing wide flat plains up to V de M where there are several pilgrim albergues listed here on the Mundicamino site. Albergue Tio Pepe is where I usually stop. Nevertheless, in autumn watch out for hunters shooting across the fields! No joke. Wear a bright color and make noise as you cross the plains.

Margaret

 

[Joshua Lok]

Josh,

Sorry, but I am a bit confused. What do you mean by gg rural?

If you are referring to the camino alternate route from Virgen del Camino - Hospital de Órbigo see this handy on line digital map from fellow Forum member Peter Robins comprehensive Walking Pilgrim site.

As mentioned in my earlier post read what has been written about walking west from Leon towards Astorga following either the main camino or a more rural alternate in this earlier Forum thread.

It is always very pleasant to escape the N120 highway noise and suburban sprawl while crossing wide flat plains up to V de M where there are several pilgrim albergues listed here on the Mundicamino site. Albergue Tio Pepe is where I usually stop. Nevertheless, in autumn watch out for hunters shooting across the fields! No joke. Wear a bright color and make noise as you cross the plains.

Margaret

Hi Margaret,

Thanks once again for your assistance. Yes! i meant that if possible, i hope i can avoid walking the N120 expressway route and take the more greenery route. but im not sure if it will affect the time i scheduled to walk. originally, based on the original route, i will go to Paramo (correct me if im wrong). but since its mainly expressway, i prefer to go the alternate route to Villar de Mazariffe (i trust this is the alternate route).

going by both ways, is there much of a time difference taken? and yes, as this is the first, i think i should come back to the hospital after Mazariffe.

thanks!