New Group of Pilgrims

[kgreid]

I will be traveling the Camino Frances in April 2010. We are a group with little experience. Therefore, we only wish to do the minimum of 100 KM. What is the best place to start a 100 KM pilgrimage?

Ken R.

 

[MichaelB10398]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

You might want to consider starting in Sarria. If you begin there you will be able to obtain your Compostela in Santiago.

Consider that next year will be a Holy Year and there will be many more pilgrims on the Camino than normal and this will affect the availability of beds in the albergues. Start early and finish early will help facilitate getting a bed for the night. This year has been difficult from Sarria on finding beds given the number of pilgrims currently on the Way.

Welcome and Buen Camino

MIke

 

[annakappa]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

How many are you planning to be in your group and what is the average age? Depending on the number of participants, you might wish to book in pensions rather than in the albergues, due to the large number of pilgrims expected to be travelling along the Camino next year! In any case, you should all start some training programme as soon as possible. Anne

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

Your starting point would depend a bit on whether you wish to obtain a Compostela or not. Starting from Sarria means you would be walking with crowds from the outset. If you don't feel the need to leave with a Compostela, you could start somewhere else along the route, with the possibility that you might come back and continue another time. An option might be to start at Roncesvalles or Pamplona and walk as far as say Logrono.
Margaret

 

[MichaelB10398]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

Margaret has a very good point that you should consider. Is receiving a Compostela important? If it is not, you would find the Camino before Sarria to be much better. That last 100 km will be very tough next year. If you started further toward the front of the Camino you would find it more enjoyable and getting a bed would not be such a concern. After walking as much as you wanted you could then just catch a bus/train into Santiago de Compostela and go to a pilgrim's mass.

It is a thought worth consideration.

MIke

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

Last 100 kms may be

Sarria on the Camino Frances
Ourense on the Via de la Plata
Tui on the Camino Portuguese
Ferrol on the Camino Ingles

It might be best to avoid the Camino Frances altogether next year!

 

[WolverineDG]

Re: New Elder Group of Pilgrims

Holy Week 2010 starts March 28 & ends with Easter Sunday, April 4. There will be an upsurge of people on the Camino at this time, in addition to those already there because it's a Holy Year.

Kelly

 

[kgreid]

Thanks so much for the tips!! Getting the Compostela is very important to some members of our group (5 or 6). We will have to put up with the crowds from Sarria. Another question is the necessity of a sleeping bag. If we were to stay at Albergues and Refugios, is bedding provided or do you need a sleeping bag or youth hostel type of liner?

Thanks, Ken R.

 

[WolverineDG]

What time of year are you walking the Camino? You might get buy with just a silk liner in warmer weather, but if you're going in the fall/winter/early spring, you'd best take a lightweight sleeping bag. While the albergues have beds (bunks), not all of them have blankets.

Kelly

 

[skilsaw]

If you go in April, take a sleeping bag.

 

[annakappa]

You mentioned in your first message that you plan to walk in April 2010. You will most certainly need a sleeping bag then if you stay in the albergues. Sometimes there is a bottom sheet on the matress and often a blanket (but I think that for hygenic reasons you are better off with your own sleeping bag)! You didn't mention your average age??? Anne

 

[kgreid]

You mentioned in your first message that you plan to walk in April 2010. You will most certainly need a sleeping bag then if you stay in the albergues. Sometimes there is a bottom sheet on the matress and often a blanket (but I think that for hygenic reasons you are better off with your own sleeping bag)! You didn't mention your average age??? Anne

Hello Anne,

Two of us are 63 (me included) while the rest are closer to 50. I will start training in March to try to get in shape. Thanks, Ken R.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Hello Anne, Two of us are 63 (me included) while the rest are closer to 50. I will start training in March to try to get in shape. Thanks, Ken R.

Lol Ken.... not so old! You are going to find lots of company along the route from people of the same age.... And if you are as lucky as I was, you might also meet some of the 'Real Elders'- those in their 70s/80s who have walked all their lives, are fit as fiddles, have wicked senses of humour, and who leave the rest of us young'uns behind in their wake!
Margaret

 

[annakappa]

Come on Ken... that's not so old` - at least I hope not, because I'm 67 and Adriaan is 71. We start our 2nd Camino from Roncevalles this September and have given ourselves approx. 35 days to complete it.We walked it comfortably last year, but I have to say that we walk daily (about 6kms) all year round. That's the advantage of being pensioned! Last year, from about Rabenal onwards, we kept bumping into a tiny Brazilian lady, walking by herself and she was 73 years old. I think a good option would be to check out the various alternative routes mentioned by Johnnie Walker: Via de la Plata, Portugues and Inglés, instead of leaving from Sarria on the Francés (because you are a group and it's Holy Year, and as already mentioned there will be a lot of Pilgrims around). Anne

 

[ranthr]

Why don`t you do a longer step? You seem to be pensioners with a lot of time.Try to avoid the busiest hour of 2010 where everybody take ¨part in a holy year? Thats what`s about possibilities, we who can choose the time have to do that and walk in 2019 or 2011 instead.
Randi

 

[Hermanita]

[quote="KiwiNomad06

....And if you are as lucky as I was, you might also meet some of the 'Real Elders'- those in their 70s/80s who have walked all their lives, are fit as fiddles, have wicked senses of humour, and who leave the rest of us young'uns behind in their wake!
Margaret

Margaret
It reminds me of hiking in the mountains in Italy when I was in my 50's and the "Real Elders" were leaving us in their dust.
I am really looking forward to meeting some people in this age group, on the Camino. I admire and try to be like those who keep themselves "fit as fiddles", and "have wicked sense of humour".
What a testimony they are to good healthy habits!!

 

[Minkey]

I'd say do the first bit. That way, should you want to return to continue your journey, you'll still have the end to look forward to. Sarria to Santiago is nowhere near as beautiful as SJPdP to say... erm... Pamplona or somewhere.

That's just my opinion, though.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Getting the Compostela is very important to some members of our group (5 or 6)

They appear to want to arrive in Santiago

 

[Minkey]

Ah ok.

was trying to multitask :-/

 

[Javier Martin]

I will be traveling the Camino Frances in April 2010. We are a group with little experience. Therefore, we only wish to do the minimum of 100 KM. What is the best place to start a 100 KM pilgrimage?

Ken R.

Considering that next year is a holy year, you should think of not walking Sarria-Santiago. Why not from Tui or Ourense?

Buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain