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Some points:I'm planning my Camino to start the end of August, SJPP to Santiago with hopes of continuing on to Fisterra.
I have several questions....I know everyone is different but I am worried that I after I get to Santiago I may not be mentally or physically up to walking another 4 or 5 days. I do plan to go to Fisterra, even by bus if I decide, but did anyone else decide to go or not go once they got to Santiago? And what were the factors that went into your decision.
Secondly, I have walking poles but I really would prefer to buy a wooden walking stick once I get there. If I walk all the way across Spain with my wooden stick that by the end I anticipate having an emotional attachment to, I will really, really want to bring it home with me. Will I be able to fly back to the USA with it??? Will the airlines allow it, I assume it goes on with me as carry on.
And lastly, I am having a hard time figuring out a return date. I don't want to to have too little time and yet I don't want too much time either. I know this is personal but if I have 40 days walking (24K / 15m a day average), how many days should I figure for rest days and how added days for sightseeing? A day in Pamplona? A day in Leon? I know I want to go the monasteries of Suso and Yuso. An extra day in Santiago?
Any and all advise from those who have walk the Camino would be appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon, I really need to book my reservations. I have been stalling since I can't figure out a return date.
Happy walking, Happy feet!!!!
Sounds like you will be there about the same time as me. I'll start from SJPDP on August 21, I'm hoping to arrive in Santiago 36 days later on my birthday.I'm planning my Camino to start the end of August, SJPP to Santiago with hopes of continuing on to Fisterra.
I have several questions....I know everyone is different but I am worried that I after I get to Santiago I may not be mentally or physically up to walking another 4 or 5 days. I do plan to go to Fisterra, even by bus if I decide, but did anyone else decide to go or not go once they got to Santiago? And what were the factors that went into your decision.
Secondly, I have walking poles but I really would prefer to buy a wooden walking stick once I get there. If I walk all the way across Spain with my wooden stick that by the end I anticipate having an emotional attachment to, I will really, really want to bring it home with me. Will I be able to fly back to the USA with it??? Will the airlines allow it, I assume it goes on with me as carry on.
And lastly, I am having a hard time figuring out a return date. I don't want to to have too little time and yet I don't want too much time either. I know this is personal but if I have 40 days walking (24K / 15m a day average), how many days should I figure for rest days and how added days for sightseeing? A day in Pamplona? A day in Leon? I know I want to go the monasteries of Suso and Yuso. An extra day in Santiago?
Any and all advise from those who have walk the Camino would be appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon, I really need to book my reservations. I have been stalling since I can't figure out a return date.
Happy walking, Happy feet!!!!
Thank you for your input, it is helpful! I need to make my best guess estimate on how many days, add a day or two and then trust it will all work out from there.Some points:
- tagging this as Live from the Camino gives the impression you are already on the Camino - clearly you are not.
- unless you sustain an injury, when you arrive in Santiago, you are going to be as well prepared physically to do an extra few days as you ever will be. You mental preparedness is more likely to be limiting than your physical capacity.
- it would be sad to think that you might develop an emotional attachment to an inanimate wooden object that will be unable to respond to your affections. But I guess worse things might happen - you could form an emotional attachment to real people, like the other pilgrims you meet. Nonetheless, if you can get your stick back to the US, it might be a wonderful piece of memorabilia and a great talking point when you can find a sympathetic audience.
- Planning for rest days and sightseeing is really up to you. My basic pattern for my longer walks was to plan for:
- a rest day for every 10 days of walking that are also for sightseeing (I have seen groups plan for a rest day for every six days of walking)
- a spare day in case of illness or injury
- a short day before and after any place that I wanted to spend a bit longer in for sightseeing that didn't align with a rest day, alternatively, plan for an extra day
- a day (at least) after arrival, but for my last three pilgrimages I have stayed two or three days
- after that, it is just arithmetic
Secondly, I have walking poles but I really would prefer to buy a wooden walking stick once I get there. If I walk all the way across Spain with my wooden stick that by the end I anticipate having an emotional attachment to, I will really, really want to bring it home with me. Will I be able to fly back to the USA with it??? Will the airlines allow it, I assume it goes on with me as carry on.
I am worried that I after I get to Santiago I may not be mentally or physically up to walking another 4 or 5 days.
Welcome to the Forum Chris. Don't worry too much. There are quite a few of us who, by the time we get to Santiago, become walking machines. I've walked straight through Santiago twice now on my way to Fisterra / Muxia. I tend to spend time in that lovely city when my journey is completed.
And don't worry about mis-postings either. Moderators will sort that sort of stuff.
Buen camino
Or did you stay relatively close to Santiago the night before?
I always planned to continue to Finesterre (and did) but Peg could only do about 15 km a day due to tendonitis. The trek to Finesterre had some long stages in it so she decided to take a couple rest/sightseeing days in Santiago and then bussed to Finesterre. After a full sightseeing day there we walked together to Muxia over two days.I do plan to go to Fisterra, even by bus if I decide, but did anyone else decide to go or not go once they got to Santiago? And what were the factors that went into your decision.
You're in a great space now !!! I remember the days before my first Camino. You'll have lots of fun. Buen CaminoI'm planning my Camino to start the end of August, SJPP to Santiago with hopes of continuing on to Fisterra.
I have several questions....I know everyone is different but I am worried that I after I get to Santiago I may not be mentally or physically up to walking another 4 or 5 days. I do plan to go to Fisterra, even by bus if I decide, but did anyone else decide to go or not go once they got to Santiago? And what were the factors that went into your decision.
Secondly, I have walking poles but I really would prefer to buy a wooden walking stick once I get there. If I walk all the way across Spain with my wooden stick that by the end I anticipate having an emotional attachment to, I will really, really want to bring it home with me. Will I be able to fly back to the USA with it??? Will the airlines allow it, I assume it goes on with me as carry on.
And lastly, I am having a hard time figuring out a return date. I don't want to to have too little time and yet I don't want too much time either. I know this is personal but if I have 40 days walking (24K / 15m a day average), how many days should I figure for rest days and how added days for sightseeing? A day in Pamplona? A day in Leon? I know I want to go the monasteries of Suso and Yuso. An extra day in Santiago?
Any and all advise from those who have walk the Camino would be appreciated.
Hope to hear from you soon, I really need to book my reservations. I have been stalling since I can't figure out a return date.
Happy walking, Happy feet!!!!
Hi Everyone,
I'm looking to venture on the Camino walk next April 2017 and maybe start at St Jean (SJPP). I'm travelling from Sydney Australia but not sure which airport is best to get to, Paris and train south or Madrid and train north or Pamploma and bus up to St Jean?
Thanks Chris. I love the idea about the train ride.Here is what I decided that works for me coming from the USA. I am starting my first Camino at the end of August. I booked a flight to Paris that arrives in the morning and the following morning I am catching a train (8am) to St Jean Pied de Port arriving about 4pm. I'm looking forward to an afternoon in Paris and I thought the 8 hour train ride would be a good way to sit back, enjoy the french countryside and reflect before I start walking. I figure I will meet other hikers on the train as it gets closer to St Jean. Somewhere I read "the buzz of excitement and anticipation starts" as you meet people with their backpacks and hiking shoes.
I saw it as the easiest way to get to SJPP without adding another means of transportation....the bus or taxi.....and wondering about timing and connections.
It gives me two days to adjust although I usually don't have an issue with jet lag.
Best of luck deciding!
@Lonie FooteThanks Chris. I love the idea about the train ride.
I have another question to ask the more experienced Camino walkers.... Along the French walk to Santiago how convenient are the toilets... or am I to dig the odd hole????
I agree with the 'dig the hole' thing but might also add that during my caminos my body adapted very quickly to the new daily schedule. While this was not foolproof it wasn't too much to get worried over either. Sorry, not sure if this qualifies as TMI???Thanks Chris. I love the idea about the train ride.
I have another question to ask the more experienced Camino walkers.... Along the French walk to Santiago how convenient are the toilets... or am I to dig the odd hole????
Here is what I decided that works for me coming from the USA. I am starting my first Camino at the end of August. I booked a flight to Paris that arrives in the morning and the following morning I am catching a train (8am) to St Jean Pied de Port arriving about 4pm. I'm looking forward to an afternoon in Paris and I thought the 8 hour train ride would be a good way to sit back, enjoy the french countryside and reflect before I start walking. I figure I will meet other hikers on the train as it gets closer to St Jean. Somewhere I read "the buzz of excitement and anticipation starts" as you meet people with their backpacks and hiking shoes.
I saw it as the easiest way to get to SJPP without adding another means of transportation....the bus or taxi.....and wondering about timing and connections.
It gives me two days to adjust although I usually don't have an issue with jet lag.
Best of luck deciding!
Hi Chris
Which station in Paris do you catch the train to St Jean Pied de Port . I ask as all I could find from my research is that the trains goes to another station called... not sure how to spell it, but something like Bayonne and you need to bus from there to St Jean Pied de Port?? Is there a station or direct train to St Jean Pied de Port? have you booked your hotel/hostel to stay in Paris near the station?
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