Mixed-method Camino - no distance certificate/compostela?

[nickymd1]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if one is still technically eligible for a distance certificate if one mixes modes?

I started walking the 'real' camino from my front door last year and would like to walk the rest of Jakobsweg through to France next spring. I'm seriously considering switching to my bike for the french portion of the Camino though, as much due to time considerations as expense/linguistic ones, before switching back to á pied from near Ostabat (not sure if continuing CF or CdN thereafter). I'd love to have a (final) pair of cathedral-stamped documents saying I made the trip from Berlin and would hate to miss receiving them due to a technical rule. Does anyone know if the Pilgrims Office has a policy on this?

Thanks!
*final because I'm not likely to stand in line a fourth time, not final because it'll be my last Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

There don’t appear to be any rules in regards to the distance certificate other than “on foot, bicycle or horse”, evidenced by “sellos”. But beware the “recognized” Camino rule. Try to avoid wobbling about too much

 

[trecile]

The only KMs that count for the Compostela are the last 100 km by foot, or the last 200 by bike. The distance certificate is another story. I did a combo of the Frances, Salvador and Norte this year. I kept track of my distance, and that is what was recorded for me on my distance certificate.

 

[benny aumala]

There might be rules when entering Albergues. They look the sellos for continuation.

 

[Davey Boyd]

There might be rules when entering Albergues. They look the sellos for continuation.

I have never experienced this. I can't remember a hospitalera checking my last sello for continuation. I have walked the Frances backwards three times and no one in any albergue said anything. (Well, apart from calling me loco). But maybe I just never noticed?

Davey

 

[Davey Boyd]

As far as I can gather the OP won't have a problem. If from Berlin you walked, rode a biycycle, and used a donkey on different stages, as long as the last 200km (bike or donkey) or 100km on foot is on a 'recognized camino' in won't matter. It is that last section they will be checking in the office.

When I first walked I heard of a guy who started in Moscow. Apparently he hitch hiked until he hit a camino trail in Western Europe then walked from there. He received the compostela of course. He received a distance certificate from Moscow (probably out of respect).

Davey

 

[Tincatinker]

There might be rules when entering Albergues. They look the sellos for continuation.

There are all sorts of rules when entering Albergues . But in this instance some Albergues, and typically the Donativo, Paroquial and Xunta Albergues, might look for a continuity of journey westward or eastward but they are well aware that walkers and bikers cover vastly different distances in a day.

 

[Bradypus]

f from Berlin you walked, rode a biycycle, and used a donkey on different stages, as long as the last 200km (bike or donkey) or 100km on foot is on a 'recognized camino' in won't matter.

The pilgrim office website doesn't actually mention donkeys but I would guess they would treat that like riding a horse - in which case the minimum distance is 100km, the same as walking.

 

[Davey Boyd]

The pilgrim office website doesn't actually mention donkeys but I would guess they would treat that like riding a horse - in which case the minimum distance is 100km, the same as walking.

I really thought using a horse/donk was 200km. I stand corrected!

Davey

 

[David Tallan]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if one is still technically eligible for a distance certificate if one mixes modes?

I started walking the 'real' camino from my front door last year and would like to walk the rest of Jakobsweg through to France next spring. I'm seriously considering switching to my bike for the french portion of the Camino though, as much due to time considerations as expense/linguistic ones, before switching back to á pied from near Ostabat (not sure if continuing CF or CdN thereafter). I'd love to have a (final) pair of cathedral-stamped documents saying I made the trip from Berlin and would hate to miss receiving them due to a technical rule. Does anyone know if the Pilgrims Office has a policy on this?

Thanks!
*final because I'm not likely to stand in line a fourth time, not final because it'll be my last Camino

As others have said, it won't be a problem to switch modes in France. It is only a problem if you switch modes in the last 100 or 200 km immediately before Santiago (depending on your mode).

 

[Bob Chambers]

If I walk the Camino Primitivo Camino Verde as far as Biomorto, then cut across to Lavacolla, am I still able to receive a Compostella in that the last 50 or 60 km will not be on an actual marked Camino route?