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All I can tell you is we went early Sept through mid Oct. SJPP to Santiago. Had a blast. One day of rain. Meseta was gorgeous in the morning and late in the day, and not super hot. We missed the wildflowers but the grapes were at harvest. Nothing like eating a bunch of grapes fresh off the vines. Mornings could be cool near the end but days and evenings very comfortable. Days did clearly get shorter as we went. I get your point - I’m from Minnesota and our winter days are short. But my Camino experience was wonderful.I've been carefully planning my camino for May 2023. There is a small possibility that I could instead go this year, in September/October, which I'm now considering.
Reasons I chose spring rather than fall:
- spring flowers along the route.
- it will be summer when I finish and return to the real world
Reasons I didn't choose the fall:
- vegetation is drying out and dying in the countryside. Still beautiful in it's own way, but autumn has always felt melancholy to me. Probably a product of growing up in a cold northern climate.
- it will be late fall when I finish and return to the real world. As per the point above, fall/winter can be dark and gloomy in Canada, and might not be conducive to my post-camino hangover...
So those are pretty much the only two pieces of criteria I've used to make my decision - flora and the following season, which has me wondering if I'm not considering something I should be.
Any other important considerations I should be aware of when deciding between spring and fall? Crowds I'm guessing will be similar. Any other factors? Any differences in food and drink? I assume fresh-sqeezed orange juice is not widely and cheaply available in the spring?
I appreciate your comments, especially if you've walked the CF during both of these time periods and can compare them.
Ah yes the grapes. A definite advantage to walking in the fall! I'd also love to see the fields of sunflowers, but I suspect I would have to be walking mid-summer to see them in their full glory.All I can tell you is we went early Sept through mid Oct. SJPP to Santiago. Had a blast. One day of rain. Meseta was gorgeous in the morning and late in the day, and not super hot. We missed the wildflowers but the grapes were at harvest. Nothing like eating a bunch of grapes fresh off the vines. Mornings could be cool near the end but days and evenings very comfortable. Days did clearly get shorter as we went. I get your point - I’m from Minnesota and our winter days are short. But my Camino experience was wonderful.
Love that idea. My bank account however, not so much... But fully agree that each season/route has its own special qualities, and my hope/dream is to experience them all eventually.If you can, go this fall, then again next Spring!
Yep. This is one of my favorites.Love that idea. My bank account however, not so much... But fully agree that each season/route has its own special qualities, and my hope/dream is to experience them all eventually.
I have a variety of camino photos displaying in a slideshow on my desktop computer. No idea who they belong to - I got them via a Google search. This photo, clearly taken in the fall, takes my breath away. It's scenes like this that keep me anxiously awaiting my time to go. There's something about the wide open spaces and road that seems to go on forever that really attracts me. I suspect the meseta will be my favourite part of the CF.
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On the other hand, during Spring I was able to get delicious strawberries. 500 grams (over a lb) for €1.Ah yes the grapes. A definite advantage to walking in the fall! I'd also love to see the fields of sunflowers, but I suspect I would have to be walking mid-summer to see them in their full glory.
Hi ! I walked the Camino Frances from SJPDP to Santiago from mid April to mid May in 2018. I am planning to walk the same route this Fall from September 21st.I've been carefully planning my camino for May 2023. There is a small possibility that I could instead go this year, in September/October, which I'm now considering.
Reasons I chose spring rather than fall:
- spring flowers along the route.
- it will be summer when I finish and return to the real world
Reasons I didn't choose the fall:
- vegetation is drying out and dying in the countryside. Still beautiful in it's own way, but autumn has always felt melancholy to me. Probably a product of growing up in a cold northern climate.
- it will be late fall when I finish and return to the real world. As per the point above, fall/winter can be dark and gloomy in Canada, and might not be conducive to my post-camino hangover...
So those are pretty much the only two pieces of criteria I've used to make my decision - flora and the following season, which has me wondering if I'm not considering something I should be.
Any other important considerations I should be aware of when deciding between spring and fall? Crowds I'm guessing will be similar. Any other factors? Any differences in food and drink? I assume fresh-sqeezed orange juice is not widely and cheaply available in the spring?
I appreciate your comments, especially if you've walked the CF during both of these time periods and can compare them.
I don’t mean to sound like a finger-wagging schoolmarm here but please don’t take fruit from the fields, traipse across them, etc. unless invited to do so. That’s someone’s livelihood you are messing with. My understanding is that anything hanging over the public right of way, even if the tree or vine itself is on private property, is for the taking. But that’s about it.Nothing like eating a bunch of grapes fresh off the vines.
I've been carefully planning my camino for May 2023. There is a small possibility that I could instead go this year, in September/October, which I'm now considering.
Reasons I chose spring rather than fall:
- spring flowers along the route.
- it will be summer when I finish and return to the real world
Reasons I didn't choose the fall:
- vegetation is drying out and dying in the countryside. Still beautiful in it's own way, but autumn has always felt melancholy to me. Probably a product of growing up in a cold northern climate.
- it will be late fall when I finish and return to the real world. As per the point above, fall/winter can be dark and gloomy in Canada, and might not be conducive to my post-camino hangover...
So those are pretty much the only two pieces of criteria I've used to make my decision - flora and the following season, which has me wondering if I'm not considering something I should be.
Any other important considerations I should be aware of when deciding between spring and fall? Crowds I'm guessing will be similar. Any other factors? Any differences in food and drink? I assume fresh-sqeezed orange juice is not widely and cheaply available in the spring?
I appreciate your comments, especially if you've walked the CF during both of these time periods and can compare them.
I couldn't agree more. You can never be sure of the heat, cold, rain, sleet flowers, landscapes or crowds. Who knows what will be so just go at the first available opportunity that you can. It will make your wait for the first camino shorter and maybe for your second and third also.I think the best advice, given the world’s uncetainty, is to go when you can!
I will be going in Sept. I must admit, I am looking forward to the Meseta as it will remind me of home, Canadian prairies.Love that idea. My bank account however, not so much... But fully agree that each season/route has its own special qualities, and my hope/dream is to experience them all eventually.
I have a variety of camino photos displaying in a slideshow on my desktop computer. No idea who they belong to - I got them via a Google search. This photo, clearly taken in the fall, takes my breath away. It's scenes like this that keep me anxiously awaiting my time to go. There's something about the wide open spaces and road that seems to go on forever that really attracts me. I suspect the meseta will be my favourite part of the CF.
View attachment 130112
Just returned end of June and one of the many things we loved were the flowers. Flowers everywhere also got hooked on the fresh orange juice zumos. So I definitely understand, however I'm sure the fall will offer different and memorable experiences. I would not hesitate to try either time with hopes of doing it again at a different time of year if possible.I've been carefully planning my camino for May 2023. There is a small possibility that I could instead go this year, in September/October, which I'm now considering.
Reasons I chose spring rather than fall:
- spring flowers along the route.
- it will be summer when I finish and return to the real world
Reasons I didn't choose the fall:
- vegetation is drying out and dying in the countryside. Still beautiful in it's own way, but autumn has always felt melancholy to me. Probably a product of growing up in a cold northern climate.
- it will be late fall when I finish and return to the real world. As per the point above, fall/winter can be dark and gloomy in Canada, and might not be conducive to my post-camino hangover...
So those are pretty much the only two pieces of criteria I've used to make my decision - flora and the following season, which has me wondering if I'm not considering something I should be.
Any other important considerations I should be aware of when deciding between spring and fall? Crowds I'm guessing will be similar. Any other factors? Any differences in food and drink? I assume fresh-sqeezed orange juice is not widely and cheaply available in the spring?
I appreciate your comments, especially if you've walked the CF during both of these time periods and can compare them.
Who knows for sure on the day you'll walk them.? Averages don’t really matter…Think layers and be prepared for warm,cool cold, still or windy days with sun,clouds, rain or snow! Then your ready for anything that comes your way.What will the weather be in late October doing the last two mountain passages (Cruz de Ferro and O Cebreiro)? What should I plan for colder weather clothing?
Thanks,
Jim
Love that idea. My bank account however, not so much... But fully agree that each season/route has its own special qualities, and my hope/dream is to experience them all eventually.
I have a variety of camino photos displaying in a slideshow on my desktop computer. No idea who they belong to - I got them via a Google search. This photo, clearly taken in the fall, takes my breath away. It's scenes like this that keep me anxiously awaiting my time to go. There's something about the wide open spaces and road that seems to go on forever that really attracts me. I suspect the meseta will be my favourite part of the CF.
View attachment 130112
Thanks.Who knows for sure on the day you'll walk them.? Averages don’t really matter…Think layers and be prepared for warm,cool cold, still or windy days with sun,clouds, rain or snow! Then your ready for anything that comes your way.
I have just done the full route from SJPP from 2nd May to 11th June and the green spring colours were great. Despite all of the “dull and boring” comments that abound about the Meseta, in spring it is a smorgasbord of green shades punctuated by wild flowers.I've been carefully planning my camino for May 2023. There is a small possibility that I could instead go this year, in September/October, which I'm now considering.
Reasons I chose spring rather than fall:
- spring flowers along the route.
- it will be summer when I finish and return to the real world
Reasons I didn't choose the fall:
- vegetation is drying out and dying in the countryside. Still beautiful in it's own way, but autumn has always felt melancholy to me. Probably a product of growing up in a cold northern climate.
- it will be late fall when I finish and return to the real world. As per the point above, fall/winter can be dark and gloomy in Canada, and might not be conducive to my post-camino hangover...
So those are pretty much the only two pieces of criteria I've used to make my decision - flora and the following season, which has me wondering if I'm not considering something I should be.
Any other important considerations I should be aware of when deciding between spring and fall? Crowds I'm guessing will be similar. Any other factors? Any differences in food and drink? I assume fresh-sqeezed orange juice is not widely and cheaply available in the spring?
I appreciate your comments, especially if you've walked the CF during both of these time periods and can compare them.
Thanks for that @peregrina2000 . I gave myself a few days to write something similar (and not to sound "patronising"). But the fact that 3,500 pilgrims came to Santiago in one day (and all of them passed by some fruit trees and at least half of them will pass by vineyards in the fall... Everyday)but please don’t take fruit from the fields, traipse across them, etc. unless invited to do so. That’s someone’s livelihood you are messing with.
Probably more than the 3500+ pilgrims that collected Compostelas arrived in Santiago today, since many (especially repeat) pilgrims don't take the time to get one.But the fact that 3,500 pilgrims came to Santiago in one day (and all of them passed by some fruit trees and at least half of them will pass by vineyards in the fall... Everyday)
nicely said ref wide open spaces etc.Love that idea. My bank account however, not so much... But fully agree that each season/route has its own special qualities, and my hope/dream is to experience them all eventually.
I have a variety of camino photos displaying in a slideshow on my desktop computer. No idea who they belong to - I got them via a Google search. This photo, clearly taken in the fall, takes my breath away. It's scenes like this that keep me anxiously awaiting my time to go. There's something about the wide open spaces and road that seems to go on forever that really attracts me. I suspect the meseta will be my favourite part of the CF.
View attachment 130112
And besides purloining private property, those grapes have had multiple applications of insecticides.I don’t mean to sound like a finger-wagging schoolmarm here but please don’t take fruit from the fields, traipse across them, etc. unless invited to do so. That’s someone’s livelihood you are messing with. My understanding is that anything hanging over the public right of way, even if the tree or vine itself is on private property, is for the taking. But that’s about it.
@Rebekah Scott has said it much better than I in this post and here again.
But as to the original question, I think the best advice, given the world’s uncetainty, is to go when you can! The natural backdrop is an important part of the camino, I think, but each season has its own unique beauty.
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