Looking for suggestions on a 8 day walk

[joebshuck]

So I'm going to do a partial Camino in October. I only have about 8 days of walking to do. My initial plan was to start in St Jean and in 2 days get to Pamplona then bus to O'Cebreiro and finish from there to Santiago for the last 6 days of walking. I want to at least do the first day of walking from St Jean since I have heard it is the toughest. Take in mind that I am a experienced backpacker, I am a triathlete, a mailman that walks a 12 mile mail route everyday, and have already completed 2 Ironman triathlons this year. So I am capable of putting in a good amount of miles. My other plan is to go from St Jean to Roncesvalles in one day then transport to somewhere before O'Cebreiro and do a longer stretch and maybe possible gain a small walking family that way. Give me any suggestions also as to where i should start and end exactly and how many miles that you believe I may be capable of. Please give me any experienced suggestions. Thanks

 

[SYates]

Camino Ingles comes to my mind with a possible Finisterre/Muxia extension if you are too fast.

Just one food for thought ... It is a pilgrimage, not a sportive event.

Buen Camino, SY

 

[joebshuck]

Camino Ingles comes to my mind with a possible Finisterre/Muxia extension if you are too fast.

Just one food for thought ... It is a pilgrimage, not a sportive event.

Buen Camino, SY

Thank you, but I would like to stick to the Camino Frances. I know it's not a sporting event, and I plan on taking my time to walk as I am doing this for spiritual reason. But...I also don't know when I will have the opportunity to walk again so I would like to see and cover as much grouND as possible. I don't mind if I am walking into the night. I welcome the struggle aND I know it's going to take alot for me to see the struggles on the path.

 

[SYates]

Than the answer is easy. Make a good guess at what you can confidently walk each day x available walking days = starting point. For example Ponferrada - 210 km before Santiago comes to my mind. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Mark Lee]

The walking to Pamplona, then busing to O'Cebreiro sounds like a good option. You do lose that day you bus in to O'Cebreiro. That is, as far as it being a walking day.
As far as getting a "Camino Family". Quien sabe?

 

[Felipe]

There are trail routes....and there is the Camino de Santiago. It is completely another thing.
I usually look for the more interesting and more challenging parts of a given trail, and take buses if necessary or convenient. But in the Camino there is a kind of immersion experience that comes with day after day of continuous walking. Well, I can't really explain it, but I feel that dividing the experience in two, with a day of buses, terminals, highways, and with people who don't recognize me as a fellow pilgrim, breaks the magic.
I'd start in Saint Jean Pied de Port, and just walk as far as I like, with just a general and provisional idea for every day. Being free of a set schedule is liberating.
You can come back another year, and restart exactly where you finished this year.
Buen camino!

 

[joebshuck]

The walking to Pamplona, then busing to O'Cebreiro sounds like a good option. You do lose that day you bus in to O'Cebreiro. That is, as far as it being a walking day.
As far as getting a "Camino Family". Quien sabe?

So you think walking to Pamplona from SJPDP then starting from O'Cebreiro is a better option than starting from SJPDP and stopping in Roncevalles then busing to a point before O'Cebreiro ( was thinking Villafranc del Bierzo). I will also be flying into Pamplona and will have a few hours to hangout there before I bus to SJPDP, so I will have seen it beforehand.

 

[joebshuck]

There are trail routes....and there is the Camino de Santiago. It is completely another thing.
I usually look for the more interesting and more challenging parts of a given trail, and take buses if necessary or convenient. But in the Camino there is a kind of immersion experience that comes with day after day of continuous walking. Well, I can't really explain it, but I feel that dividing the experience in two, with a day of buses, terminals, highways, and with people who don't recognize me as a fellow pilgrim, breaks the magic.
I'd start in Saint Jean Pied de Port, and just walk as far as I like, with just a general and provisional idea for every day. Being free of a set schedule is liberating.
You can come back another year, and restart exactly where you finished this year.
Buen camino!

Iv never done the Camino, but I agree with you when you say it may break the magic. But, I really have no clue if or when I will be able to return after this time so I would like to at least make the completion to Santiago. And I have heard so much about the 1st day that I really want to experience that as well. Im starting on leaning on just walking that one day at the beginning then traveling to around 180km before Santiago and finishing out. Then I will have more days done walking consistently. Plus I am scheduled to meet a friend in Sarria on a certain day.

 

[Mark Lee]

So you think walking to Pamplona from SJPDP then starting from O'Cebreiro is a better option than starting from SJPDP and stopping in Roncevalles then busing to a point before O'Cebreiro ( was thinking Villafranc del Bierzo). I will also be flying into Pamplona and will have a few hours to hangout there before I bus to SJPDP, so I will have seen it beforehand.

I guess it all depends on what you like to do. I like Pamplona, and wouldn't miss out on spending a night there, but if a couple of hours roaming it before you catch your bus is cool with you, take that route.
You could even start in Pamplona. A lot of people do. Walk a few days from there and then bus to Sarria on whatever day you need to be there.
There are so many ways to walk the CF and the bus and train system in Spain is cheap and flexible you can hop around very easily.
No matter what schedule/route you walk, it's all good.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I only have about 8 days of walking to do. My initial plan was to start in St Jean and in 2 days get to Pamplona then bus to O'Cebreiro and finish from there to Santiago for the last 6 days of walking. I want to at least do the first day of walking from St Jean since I have heard it is the toughest. Take in mind that I am a experienced backpacker, I am a triathlete, a mailman that walks a 12 mile mail route everyday, and have already completed 2 Ironman triathlons this year.

I would like to see and cover as much grouND as possible. I don't mind if I am walking into the night. I welcome the struggle

Do you need to sleep? If not you might be able to do the entire CF.

Seriously, the camino may not be for you. Being a backpacker maybe you should consider St. Jean to Roncevalles and then backup a bit and take the GR-11 trail east along the Pyrennes. This webpage, although it has a title that may put you off, provides a look at the pros and cons of walking the camino or hiking in the mountains: http://francistapon.com/Travels/Spain-Trails/10-Reasons-Why-El-Camino-Santiago-Sucks

Peg and I had hopes of doing both the CF and the GR-11 (a least a bit of it) but it was not to be.

I am scheduled to meet a friend in Sarria on a certain day.

Well, that kills the GR-11 idea.