Choosing when to walk is a lot like surfing. A surfer sits on his/her board beyond the breaking weaves assessing each coming wave to try to choose the correct wave. When the "right one" comes, the surfer works it. Notice the pattern of the waves. There is a high point and a trough, or low point.
The Camino is similar. At most all starting nodes, places with bus and rail connections to the rest of France, Spain and Europe, pilgrims will arrive on Friday and Saturday to start the next day. This causes an artificial surge of pilgrims leaving the starting node. The result, on some routes, and at some times of the year can be like the proverbial "pig in a python."
These traditional starting nodes on the
Camino Frances include: Sarria, Astorga, Leon, Sahagun, Burgos, Logrono, Pamplona, Roncesvalles and Saint Jean Pied de Port.
The consequence of this departure pattern is that this larger number of pilgrims hit the same stopping places each night. This places a surge demand on accommodations. It is true that some of the surge is attenuated during each days walk, as no two pilgrims walk at the same pace, and most groups can only proceed as fast as their slowest walker. The overall result resembles a classic "bell curve" distribution plot. However, most of the starting surge usually remains intact.
The best way to counter this phenomenon is to arrange your Camino to start at the beginning node on Monday through Friday morning. Monday through Thursday is better. This places you in the trough (or low point) of the waves of pilgrims starting each weekend. DO NOT forget to adjust this pattern for national holidays, or other peculiarities that might cause a similar artificial surge in the number of pilgrims, like final exams being over and school getting out on a particular day.
Hope this helps.