Planning a Group Trip on Camino Trail with Offroad Wheelchair. Recommendations?

[Jdreioe]

Hi, I'm going to be rolling (in an offroad wheelchair) the Camino from July 4 to August 23nd. We're going to be 8-10 people to push and carry bags.

We're looking for recommendations for what to do/what not to do!

* Are there regularly toilets on the route?

* If something with the offroad wheelchair goes wrong, where on the route is there bikeshops/metal workers?

* Is it advisable to call the public alberques to tell them that we're coming as a big group?

* Is it realistic to walk the first stretch (Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles) in one day, or is there something between the two stops?

* Are pharmacies in Spain equipped with adult diapers or where is a realistic place to buy them on the route? (We want to carry as little as possible)

* Is there something you think might be good for us to know - we know that it's NOT an accessible project - but we want to do it anyway

We're going to be walking the entire route

 

[malingerer]

Hi, I'm going to be rolling (in an offroad wheelchair) the Camino from July 4 to August 23nd. We're going to be 8-10 people to push and carry bags.

We're looking for recommendations for what to do/what not to do!

* Are there regularly toilets on the route?

* If something with the offroad wheelchair goes wrong, where on the route is there bikeshops/metal workers?

* Is it advisable to call the public alberques to tell them that we're coming as a big group?

* Is it realistic to walk the first stretch (Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles) in one day, or is there something between the two stops?

* Are pharmacies in Spain equipped with adult diapers or where is a realistic place to buy them on the route? (We want to carry as little as possible)

* Is there something you think might be good for us to know - we know that it's NOT an accessible project - but we want to do it anyway

We're going to be walking the entire route

good luck and God bless.

Samarkand.

 

[C clearly]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

You have some important questions, which have not-so-simple answers. Have you consulted with some Camino group, or experienced pilgrims that can help?

 

[Jdreioe]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

You have some important questions, which have not-so-simple answers. Have you consulted with some Camino group, or experienced pilgrims that can help?

We have consulted with 2-3 pilgrims that have walked the route on their own. They haven’t had these things on their minds when they walked the camino. Which Camino groups exist?

 

[Tincatinker]

Hang on. You are setting out in a little over 30 days and you have not already established the answers to your questions?

I’ll try and help but:

Public toilets no. Bars and cafes have facilities as do many but not all public buildings such as museums and civic buildings. Access may be restricted.

There are bike shops and the ilk in most larger towns and agricultural machinery repair specialists. Godgle will be your friend

Most public Albergues do not take reservations you will have no guarantee of beds for a large group

No. Not pushing a wheelchair unless you have had considerable practice. Consider routing via Valcarlos

Yes

Watch the movie “I’ll Push You” unless you already have

 

[Bala]

If you're not already familiar with the movie and/or book, "I'll Push You" that's a good place to start. Two men, Justin and Patrick, did the Camino Frances, Justin in a chair and Patrick pushing. They have since led several wheelchair groups on the Sarria to Santiago stretch. Do a Google search for them. They or someone from their groups would likely be your best resource.

 

[Walkerooni]

Hi, I'm going to be rolling (in an offroad wheelchair) the Camino from July 4 to August 23nd. We're going to be 8-10 people to push and carry bags.

We're looking for recommendations for what to do/what not to do!

* Are there regularly toilets on the route? Yes. The next one may be 4K down the road, or it may be 17k. It may be in a basement of a bar with a steep, narrow staircase.

* If something with the offroad wheelchair goes wrong, where on the route is there bikeshops/metal workers? Larger cities. Many of the small villages have virtually no services other than an albergue and a bar. There might be several days walking (or a quick cab ride) to get there. It might be worth talking to someone at home who services the type of chair involved. I would want to go forearmed with advice on the parts of the chair most likely to fail, have a few parts, as well as knowledge of how to perform minor repairs.

* Is it advisable to call the public alberques to tell them that we're coming as a big group? Most public albergues do not take reservations, but I am sure there are exceptions. This would need to be addressed pronto for such a large group, regardless of where you stay.

* Is it realistic to walk the first stretch (Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles) in one day, or is there something between the two stops? Many do. It is a tough, steep climb. Many divide it into two days, with a stop at either Orisson or Borda, about 8 and 9k in respectively. Both require reservations, and if you are indeed looking at tying this all together in a little over a month, you may find them already booked.

* Are pharmacies in Spain equipped with adult diapers or where is a realistic place to buy them on the route? (We want to carry as little as possible). Pharmacies in Spain are plentiful and helpful. Again, this is something you would be best to address in larger centres, vs. small towns.

* Is there something you think might be good for us to know - we know that it's NOT an accessible project - but we want to do it anyway I think there is a ton of planning that goes into just getting to the start line for most arriving from overseas. Once there, it tends to unfold and becomes a wonderful daily routine of walk/wheel, eat, sleep. Your plan will have challenges I cannot even comprehend, but it sounds like you have a committed team prepared to make this happen. Your biggest challenge will likely be that you have virtually no time to pull this together.

We're going to be walking the entire route. Buen Camino!

I see a lot of views of this post with but few replies. This is likely because most who have walked the full Frances are recalling the sections that were tough for us on our own. Much of it I can’t make suggestions on, but will offer bits that if not helpful, may at least steer you to things you may need to think about. Comments embedded above.

 

[dick bird]

Hang on. You are setting out in a little over 30 days and you have not already established the answers to your questions?

I’ll try and help but:

Public toilets no. Bars and cafes have facilities as do many but not all public buildings such as museums and civic buildings. Access may be restricted.

There are bike shops and the ilk in most larger towns and agricultural machinery repair specialists. Godgle will be your friend

Most public Albergues do not take reservations you will have no guarantee of beds for a large group

No. Not pushing a wheelchair unless you have had considerable practice. Consider routing via Valcarlos

Yes

Watch the movie “I’ll Push You” unless you already have

I'll endorse everything tincatinker says. I would add: there are two bookable private albergues at or near Orisson but they will be 100% full now. The Valcarlos route has (I have been told) some very steep bits. Some public albergues do not accept large groups at all. Spanish pharmacies are extremely well-stocked and given the popularity of cycling in Spain, repair shops should be easy to find. There are toilets in bars, cafes and restaurants, not in between and certainly not out in the country. But I have to say, most pilgrims spend a lot longer than one month preparing. Good luck, you are going to need it.

 

[trecile]

Here are a couple of sites with information

Camino de Santiago in a wheelchair

lll➤ Do you want to do the Camino de Santiago in a wheelchair or would you like to encourage a friend with reduced mobility to do it? ✅Our best advice

santiagoways.com

The Camino de Santiago for people with disabilities

The Camino de Santiago is accessible to everyone and has numerous guides that provide all the necessary information to plan the adventure correctly.

vivecamino.com

Additionally, you can contact the group who made the film I'll Push You. In the past they have offered group trips for wheelchair users.

I'll Push You: Accessible Camino 2021 Group Trips

Do you live with limited mobility and would like to walk/roll the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain? Then join us on our Accessible Camino 2021 group trip!

www.illpushyou.com

 

[stevetay3815]

There's a fellow in our NORCAL APOC group who has done several routes with his wife who is wheelchair bound. He would have really good information. Look for the Norcal page on Facebook and ask for him. I'm pretty sure his name is Rob.

 

[Felice]

The Valcarlos route has indeed got some very steep bits and they are near the end of the stage. I found them hard enough to get my self up so goodness knows how tough it would be to push a wheelchair. In addition, there are stretches where the path is quite rough. You could avoid these by walking on the road but it's quite a dangerous road at certain times. I had to flatten myself against the crash barrier when a huge hay lorry went past in November.

 

[Felice]

Although it was fairly cool last week on the CF, July and August are typically very hot months to walk in.
Don't forget that August will be very busy, especially from Sarria onwards, as that is when many Spaniards walk. Accommodation will be tight then. July might well be less busy before Sarria as many people find it too hot to walk then.
Buen camino and good luck planning.

 

[trecile]

There's a fellow in our NORCAL APOC group who has done several routes with his wife who is wheelchair bound. He would have really good information. Look for the Norcal page on Facebook and ask for him. I'm pretty sure his name is Rob.

Here's a link to the chapter

Northern California Chapter - American Pilgrims on the Camino

The NorCal Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino hosts events and walks for people interested in walking or who have walked the Camino de Santiago.

americanpilgrims.org

 

[henrythedog]

but we want to do it anyway

Why?

 

[Rita Flower]

A couple of additional points.
(Many/most) municipal albergues give first priority to pilgrims with disabilities (and probably their carer) but possibly not to the rest of a bigger group. Many have separate rooms set aside. But … as there are now many more people who are determined not be be restricted by their disability, there might be a higher demand for these facilities.
Secondly I am continuously amazed at what people can do. So get busy with your research, and give it your best shot.
Buen Camino.
PS. I hope that in the future I can quote your Camino to people who are anxious about a 10 day Camino with 18 months time to prepare
PPS. Keep us posted on this forum please.
PPS. This may inspire

Kurt Fearnley Crawls Kokoda - Kokoda Spirit

www.kokodaspirit.com.au

 

[Jdreioe]

I should probably say that we're coming from Egmont Højskolen in Denmark, and that the 8-10 people pushing are very used to pushing in harsh terrain!
Last Autumn, our Adventure-line went to Norway to hike in 5 days. That was very hard terrain.If there's some kind of road on most of the first stretch, it'll be easier than the hike we had in Norway,
Here's a video from our Norway trip:

We've been planning this trip since February, we know it's gonna be difficult

 

[Kathar1na]

I should probably say that we're coming from Egmont Højskolen in Denmark, and that the 8-10 people pushing are very used to pushing in harsh terrain!

If you don't know it already, there is a former pilgrim BK Lee who recorded his walk on the Camino Frances in 34 videos with each about 5 hours long: https://www.youtube.com/@bklee3769

It gives you a good idea of the terrain which, obviously, varies. I see that you use wheelchairs that are quite narrow and have three wheels. That makes things easier on some terrain and more difficult on other terrain. I have a bit of experience with using a device called a joelette. It has just one wheel and can go on any footpath but that is different from yours.

I see that you asked about the first stretch (Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles). You must be aware of the two options: Route Napoleon and Route Valcarlos. Have you decided which one to take? My gut feeling is that Napoleon would be actually easier for you (I did not check the more difficult bits but there are not many) but I do think that you must break it up in two parts, perhaps with a transport option back to SJPP for one night. Numerous pilgrims on foot do this.

PS: When our group had to use roads with car traffic we had someone with a warning flag at the start and at the end of the group. Although we were a large group we followed the rules for pedestrians: walking on the left side of the road facing the cars coming towards us (unless a switch to the other side was advisable for reasons of better visibility, for example just before a bend of the road to the left).

 

[Felice]

Wish you had posted that video at the start - you're pros, you know what you're doing.

After Norway, the camino is going to be much easier. There's lot of walking on 'senda' paths that are like walking motorways - really easy for you. There are some rough patches, as I'm sure you're already aware of, like the descent from the Alto de Perdon which is on loose cobbles, and the descent to Molinaseca, but if they look too difficult for you, there are work arounds.

I agree with Kathar1na - split the first day in two, whichever way you go. At least on the Napoleon route, Express Buricott runs a regular shuttle service which you could use. At Valcarlos, there is a municipal hostel. There's a hostel at Orrisson too of course, but that gets booked up way in advance.

Best of luck with the planning. The Camino is a wonderful journey and I have no doubt that you will encounter lots of people along the way who will do all they can to help if you need it - as well as making lots of new friends.
Buen camino

 

[Walkerooni]

I agree with Felce—this would have been good information to open your original post with! Much of the CF will be much easier than what is in your video. Many days will be similar. What a team! Enjoy.

 

[Jdreioe]

For those of you wondering, I comleted the Camino. It was way tougher than ancitipated!
The Camino was very fun, but very cool.
I froze every morning, as it was about ~10 degC
We hired a lot of extra people on the Way.
If you want to see pictures, instagram @CaminoOnWheels

 

[SabsP]

For those of you wondering, I comleted the Camino. It was wayt tougher than ancitipated!

Congrats! Hope you have time to write a report here.

 

[Bala]

Congratulations!!

 

[Rita Flower]

So happy that your Camino was ‘fun and cool’.
Congratulations to you and the team who all completed the Camino Francés with you.