May walk

I start May 7. Am buying a new sim card when I can, only once in Spain. I was going to pack a poncho but decided to keep with a rain jacket and now, just waiting for a new rain kilt to arrive. The kilt is simply plastic with a velcro belt so it can be used for a number of things as needs arise. Basically, the jacket, ( that can be worn with a fleece sweater and keep me warm down to 0C), and the kilt are lighter than the poncho. Use of a pack rain cover is also used when walking thru cities to disuade anyone thinking they have easy pickings from pack pockets.

On the choice of route, let the Pilgrim Office help with that. An option that avoids all mud is the Valcarlos roadway. On the Napoleon Route, there is 7 km where mud is unavoidable, and once past Cize, do take the RIGHT HAND path. The marked path to the left is extremely steep and if wet, courts disaster.

For me, Valcoaros, 12 km first day and 12 km second day, or, if still fresh when reaching Roncesvalles, maybe punch on to Espinal, (+6.5 km).

Dianes954 said:

Am walking solo first week of May and see rain is forecast daily. How to prepare for it? Do US cell phones work or should I get a Spain phone?

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Hi, u.s. cell phones work but the International charges are very expensive. It's cheaper just to buy a SIM card from one of the phone stores to use in your own phone. I like to buy them in pamplona because it's a big city and somebody will speak English. As for rain the forecast changes day by day. Often the rain starts later in the day. I have arrived at 1 or 2 and watch the pilgrims come in soaked later in the day.
The typical Pilgrim rain outfit is a poncho. However I like a rain jacket and a rain skirt just because the jacket is more versatile for wind , cold and rain. I also carry an umbrella.
My rain skirt is from zpacks in the US and weighs 1.9 oz. I wear it for wind protection too. My Outdoor Research jacket weighs 5.8 Oz. Both together much lighter than a poncho.
Be prepared, but just look at the rain as something different.
I will also be walking in May. I hope to see you. I am the woman with the sunflower on her hat. Buen Camino

Dianes954 said:

Am walking solo first week of May and see rain is forecast daily. How to prepare for it? Do US cell phones work or should I get a Spain phone?

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We may see you as we are leaving St Jean on Monday 7th. MovieStar SIM worked well last time. It was able to be topped up in lots of places, the coverage and speeds were good, both phone and WiFi for quite cheap monthly rate.
As for the weather? It will be changeable and hard to predict. We crossed the Pyrenees in 2014 at the start of May. We had a cold and misty walk. People who walked two days later had bright sunshine.