New Pilgrim, Requesting Advice Please

[HollyFitness]

Hello friends!

I am so grateful for all I have found on this site and your stories are so very inspiring. It has been ten years of me wishing to take this journey and within the last month, the opportunity presented itself. I have 2 weeks of time on the Camino (not factoring in days for travel from the US). My heart tells me I want to take the Camino Norte but I have so many recommendations along the Frances route. Also, I am considering renting a bike for 3 or 4 days in the beginning so that I may see more of Spain. I am very athletic, this is not an athletic endeavor for me but I find peace within myself when I travel farther and I know myself well enough that I would be yearning to travel more if I limited myself to 20-30k/day. Walking, I would be happy to do roughly 40k/day and on the bike about 150k.

I purchased The Northern Caminos book and have been searching for other resources. Any recommendations are welcome. Do you recommend the Frances over the Norte for a first time pilgrim? Is biking the Frances (in the beginning of the journey) frowned upon? I get the feeling the Norte might be more conducive to this?

Any wisdom you are willing to share would be very appreciated.
Thank you for reading.

 

[HollyFitness]

Apologies for posting in the wrong place! Also- tried to enter my travel dates on the Calendar, Im not having any luck. This is embarrassing!

(Got the calendar sorted!)

 

[JabbaPapa]

I am so grateful for all I have found on this site and your stories are so very inspiring. It has been ten years of me wishing to take this journey and within the last month, the opportunity presented itself. I have 2 weeks of time on the Camino (not factoring in days for travel from the US). My heart tells me I want to take the Camino Norte but I have so many recommendations along the Frances route. Also, I am considering renting a bike for 3 or 4 days in the beginning so that I may see more of Spain. I am very athletic, this is not an athletic endeavor for me but I find peace within myself when I travel farther and I know myself well enough that I would be yearning to travel more if I limited myself to 20-30k/day. Walking, I would be happy to do roughly 40k/day and on the bike about 150k.

hmmmm, sounds like you might be able to do some significant distance in say 12 days if those daily averages are correct.

4 days at about 130k average on the bike is about 500 K, and 8 days hiking at say 35k average is 280 K, so you could possibly manage 750-800 K in that timeframe !! So potentially, the "whole" Francès, or possibly just from Pamplona for bike rental availability.

Mind you, if you started with the biking on the Norte, you could get the tarmac behind you til a 250-300 K hiking section into Santiago.

 

[HollyFitness]

hmmmm, sounds like you might be able to do some significant distance in say 12 days if those daily averages are correct.

4 days at about 130k average on the bike is about 500 K, and 8 days hiking at say 35k average is 280 K, so you could possibly manage 750-800 K in that timeframe !! So potentially, the "whole" Francès, or possibly just from Pamplona for bike rental availability.

Mind you, if you started with the biking on the Norte, you could get the tarmac behind you til a 250-300 K hiking section into Santiago.

The 250-300k hiking section you are referring to- Can you tell me where that begins? Ribadesella? Should I go by way of Oviedo?

I sincerely appreciate your response!

 

[JabbaPapa]

The 250-300k hiking section you are referring to- Can you tell me where that begins? Ribadesella? Should I go by way of Oviedo?

Oh, it was just abstract speculation from your reported speeds -- and I'm not sure what limitations would exist on locations where to return the bike. Oviedo is further away than that distance anyway, whilst Ribadeo is about 200 K from Santiago. You'd need to find out more about the available rentals services.

http://www.chemins-compostelle.com/sites/all/modules/itineraire/carte.php?id=44

I dunno -- maybe you could bike down via Oviedo to Astorga or Ponferrada then walk from there ? You could probably do that quickly enough, especially if you took an off-Camino shortcut avoiding Léon.

 

[HollyFitness]

Oh, it was just abstract speculation from your reported speeds -- and I'm not sure what limitations would exist on locations where to return the bike. Oviedo is further away than that distance anyway, whilst Ribadeo is about 200 K from Santiago. You'd need to find out more about the available rentals services.

http://www.chemins-compostelle.com/sites/all/modules/itineraire/carte.php?id=44

I dunno -- maybe you could bike down via Oviedo to Astorga or Ponferrada then walk from there ? You could probably do that quickly enough, especially if you took an off-Camino shortcut avoiding Léon.

Ah! That map is lovely! Thank you.

I should have stated that better- I would like to take the Norte and then onto Santiago via the Primitivo, that is, if Im not persuaded to take the Frances route.

I am grateful for knowledge- your experience is inspiring!

 

[JabbaPapa]

I should have stated that better- I would like to take the Norte and then onto Santiago via the Primitivo, that is, if Im not persuaded to take the Frances route.

I'm not sure that I'd attempt that within the available timeframe, as the Primitivo would be a significantly more difficult and especially more time-consuming walk.

If you had more time, even 3 weeks instead of 2, I'd say go for it -- and actually, my intuition was that it's what you were thinking of -- but with only 2 weeks I'd suggest biking from Pamplona or San Sebastian to Astorga or Ponferrada, then finish on the Francès ; but given your desire to see "more of Spain", I'd certainly suggest biking on the Norte, but then hiking on the Francès.

 

[HollyFitness]

Awesome! I like it. Thank you!
I wanted to start in San Sebastian, that would give me the best of both!
I need to schedule the bike pick up/drop off and I have been hesitant because I didn't feel confident in my route. I appreciate a second set of eyes!

 

[SYates]

... I have 2 weeks of time on the Camino (not factoring in days for travel from the US). My heart tells me I want to take the Camino Norte but I have so many recommendations along the Frances route. Also, I am considering renting a bike for 3 or 4 days in the beginning so that I may see more of Spain. I am very athletic, this is not an athletic endeavor for me but I find peace within myself when I travel farther and I know myself well enough that I would be yearning to travel more if I limited myself to 20-30k/day. Walking, I would be happy to do roughly 40k/day and on the bike about 150k. ...

Biking up to 150km/day doesn't leave you any time to 'smell the roses'. Walking 40km/day, taking all day, might allow for that. Choose the way that calls you. If you don't 'make it' to Santiago this year, come back next year to finish your pilgrimage. Buen Camino, SY