Possible Intinerary for our Camino.

[JP]

Possible Intinerary for our Camino, subject to change along the way. We plan on starting slow and speeding things up when we get into our Camino legs. Hoping to do it in 35 days, so we have two planned rest days and a 2 day safety margin for emergencies.


* Departing St-Jean Pied de Port 19 Avril 2014
1- Orisson (8 KM)
2- Burguete (20 KM)
3- Larrasoana (25 KM)
4- Pamplona-Cizur Menor (20 KM)
5- Puente de la Reina ((19 KM)
6- Estella (23 KM)
7- Torres del Rio (29 KM)
8- Logrono (20 KM)
9- Najera (28 KM)
10- Granon (29 KM)
11- Belorado (29 KM)
12 - San Juan de Ortega (25 KM)
13/14- Burgos (29 KM) Rest Day
15- Hontanas (31 KM)
16- Boadilla del Camino (33KM)
17- Carrion (27 KM)
18- Caldadilla de la Cueza (17 KM)
19- Reliegos (30 KM)
20/21- Leon (27 KM) Rest Day
22- Villar de Mazarife (22 KM)
23- Santibanez (21 KM)
24- Rabanal (32 KM)
25- Molinaseca (26 KM)
26- Villafranca del Bierzo (32 KM)
27- Villafranca del Bierzo - O Cebreiro (28 KM)
28- Triacastella (22 KM)
29- Ferreiros (33 KM)
30- Palas de Rei (31 KM)
31- Arzua (30 KM)
32- Lavacolla (30 KM)
33- Arriving Santiago de Compostella (11 KM)

 

[Tumbleweed]

The planning is always so exciting. It looks like a good plan. Being an average walker, it took me 33 days with 1 rest day. Buen Camino!!

Peace be with you and may the Lord guide your steps.

 

[scruffy1]

Shalom and Merry Christmas from Jerusalem!
Very ambitious and not a bad plan but I will give you a few observations, just a few things to think about- Pamplona-Cizur Menor try and arrive in Pamplona early for a good walkabout its a charming place, Cizur Menor is just a place to sleep with a view of the mountains; both Puente de la Reina and Estella deserve a small walkabout very interesting churches and secular architecture; Najera avoid the albergue run by the Americans but do see the Santa Maria de la Real monastery; Boadilla is an excellent choice do stop at the En el Camino Albergue-family run and very very welcoming-lovely communal dinner as wel; San Juan de Ortega is a lovely ancient church however the lodging there while very traditional is also ancient, freezing cold, and has a curious smell of age, mildew, and dry rot-continue another 3-4 kilometer until Ages which has several very nice places to stay; Burgos and Leon are not the best places for a rest day both are intriguing with many sights to see and you may find yourself walking more on a rest day then when on the Camino!; Villafranca del Bierzo - O Cebreiro take the hill route unless you just like slogging along the highway, its a 28k day with two steep climbs may be too much consider stopping at the wonderful alberegue at Herrerias before climbing up to O Cebreiro; do continue on toPalas de Rei and don't even consider stopping earlier at the so-called Pilgrims Pavillion Os Chacotes - huge barn of a place and very very noisy; and lastly all plans however detailed may and will be changed and modified-good to have something but be ready for surprises and the unexpected! Buen Camino, Ultreia, and

S.

 

[dougfitz]

There are some inconsistencies in your distances, and some opportunities for different stops. Eg Granon to Belorado is much less than 29km. If you do make Granon (it is a fantastic place to stay) then you should be able to get beyond Belorado the next day, around Atapuerca the following day and spend a little more time in Burgos. I stayed at Epinosa del Camino and Atapuerca after Granon but there are several options in that stretch of the path.

Your stages from Burgos to Leon are ambitious, but by then you will know how well you will cope with 30+km days. I left Burgos on a pretty miserable day, and found the albergue at San Bol had been opened for the night (it normally doesn't open till May according to Brierley). I then twisted my knee on the way out of Hontanos, and had to rest up at Castrojeriz. After that, I didn't try for longer distances until after Astorga.

Buen camino,

 

[jpflavin1]

Possible Intinerary for our Camino, subject to change along the way. We plan on starting slow and speeding things up when we get into our Camino legs. Hoping to do it in 35 days, so we have two planned rest days and a 2 day safety margin for emergencies.


* Departing St-Jean Pied de Port 19 Avril 2014
1- Orisson (8 KM)
2- Burguete (20 KM)
3- Larrasoana (25 KM)
4- Pamplona-Cizur Menor (20 KM)
5- Puente de la Reina ((19 KM)
6- Estella (23 KM)
7- Torres del Rio (29 KM)
8- Logrono (20 KM)
9- Najera (28 KM)
10- Granon (29 KM)
11- Belorado (29 KM)
12 - San Juan de Ortega (25 KM)
13/14- Burgos (29 KM) Rest Day
15- Hontanas (31 KM)
16- Boadilla del Camino (33KM)
17- Carrion (27 KM)
18- Caldadilla de la Cueza (17 KM)
19- Reliegos (30 KM)
20/21- Leon (27 KM) Rest Day
22- Villar de Mazarife (22 KM)
23- Santibanez (21 KM)
24- Rabanal (32 KM)
25- Molinaseca (26 KM)
26- Villafranca del Bierzo (32 KM)
27- Villafranca del Bierzo - O Cebreiro (28 KM)
28- Triacastella (22 KM)
29- Ferreiros (33 KM)
30- Palas de Rei (31 KM)
31- Arzua (30 KM)
32- Lavacolla (30 KM)
33- Arriving Santiago de Compostella (11 KM)

JP:

Your plan is great. That said, I would offer this suggestion.

The plan to stop at Orisson is a great start. You will ease into your Camino and meet many Pilgrims that you will interact with along "The Way". An additional step would be to work on your pack weight. There are many good lists in the forum. You will be carrying that pack a half marathon every day for a month. As far as your daily stops, it is great to have a plan but the Camino will probably have something to say about that.

Ultreya,
Joe
.

 

[JP]

1)"Eg Granon to Belorado is much less than 29km."

Do you know the exact distance, I have not been able to find it on the distance tables.

2)"San Juan de Ortega is a lovely ancient church however the lodging there while very traditional is also ancient, freezing cold, and has a curious smell of age, mildew, and dry rot"

Thanks for the warning, my friend suffers from allergies and we will certainly stay away from that one.

3) Nothing is written in stone on that list, it is just a series of possibilities. I like to micro manage everything and that is one thing veteran pilgrims I have met locally on our practice runs told me I must learn to let go of on the Camino.

 

[mralisn]

I have about 16km from Grañon to Belorado. Of over 100 days on the Caminos, Grañon is one of my favorites of all stays.

Agree with San Juan de Ortega. I stayed the first walk and moved on during my second. A nice place to rest for a bit before continuing.

Your plan seems to be just right for you. I know you've been working on it for some time in all your preparation. If you stay to it, good. If you allow the Way to reveal itself to you each day, even better.

Very excited for you.

Trust in the arrows,
Simeon

 

[scruffy1]

One last word, Orisson is a very good idea! You are not the first to have this very good idea!! It is a popular place and always always full!!! Jean-Jacques is a very busy man and does not always pass reservations received from the site to his books so reserve a place from home use the internet site but also call him at telephone: 05.59.49.13.03 - Mobile : 06.81.49.79.56 or you may find yourself an extra day or two in SJPD or walking it all the way into Roncevalles.

 

[JP]

"you may find yourself an extra day or two in SJPD or walking it all the way into Roncevalles."

Thanks for the warning, I speak French so confirming a reservation by phone, will not be a problem. If Orisson does not work out, we will have to walk to Roncesvalles since we are on a tight Schedule and we can't afford to hang around in St-Jean.

 

[JP]

Following People's advice received here, I have modified the route by adding a walking day and cutting down on some of the 30+ KM days. Thanks for the input!

* Departing in St-Jean Pied de Port 19 Avril 2014
1- Orisson (8 KM)
2- Burguete (20 KM)
3- Larrasoana (25 KM)
4- Cizur Menor (20 KM)
5- Puente de la Reina ((19 KM)
6- Estella (23 KM)
7- Torres del Rio (29 KM)
8- Logrono (20 KM)
9- Najera (28 KM)
10- Santo Domingo de la Cazalda (21 KM)
11- Belorado (23 KM)
12 - Ages (28 KM)
13/14- Burgos (22 KM)
15- Hontanas (31 KM)
16- Boadilla del Camino (29 KM)
17- Carrion de los Condes (25 KM)
18- Terradillas Templar (26 KM)
19- Bercianos del Real Camino (24 KM)
20- Reliegos (20 KM)
21/22- Leon (25 KM)
23- San Martin del Camino (25 KM)
24- Astorga (24 KM)
25- Foncebadon (26 KM)
26- Ponferrada (27 KM)
27- Villafranca del Bierzo (23 KM)
28- O Cebreiro (29 KM)
29- Triacastella (21 KM)
30- Sarria (25 KM)
31- Portomarin (23 KM)
32- Palas de Rei (25 KM)
33- Arzua (29 KM)
34- Lavacolla (29 KM)
35- Arriving in Santiago de Compostella (11 KM)

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

I would say stop in Vilacha instead of Portomarin. Casa Banderas in Vilacha is so nice. I saw that you replaced day 23, with the original plan I would have said stop 2 km before Santibanez in Vilar del Obrigo at Pablo y Belèn's albergue.

Day 4 is it really 20 to CM? I remember it like less than 5 km. Pamplona to Puente la Reina is about 23.5 or so.

 

[dougfitz]

Day 4 is it really 20 to CM? I remember it like less than 5 km. Pamplona to Puente la Reina is about 23.5 or so.

Beatrice, that day starts in Larrasoana. Distance looked about right if that is where they plan to start.

 

[JP]

Starting in Larrasoana to Cizur Minor is 20 KM? If we can reach Santiago in 35 days,we hope to make it to Finisterra before we have to go back Home

 

[shefollowsshells]

Starting in Larrasoana to Cizur Minor is 20 KM? If we can reach Santiago in 35 days,we hope to make it to Finisterra before we have to go back Home

So out of everything you mention i will chime in here....if you can make Finesterre happen I offer my biggest advice- DO IT!!!!
I think your plan is a good one, I will share that I had one similiar and it went off on day three and out the door 100 percent after a wonderful stay in Eunate (now closed).
I urge you to put Granon back on your list, a stay at the parochial auberge was a highlite of my camino...My shortest day followed and I passed Belorado and stayed in another parochial establushment, the name escapes me right now but maybe Tosantos. It was that and a small bar to that town but I enjoyed the night with some nice traditions it offers.
Buen Camino

 

[mralisn]

I'm sure I did the same as the above. Again, Grañon should not be missed. From there, I walked to Tosantos and stopped there for the night as I was awaiting a package drop. It was a short walk, but the refugio experience there was wonderful. The hospitaleros were great, a mass at a church carve in the cliff (I wish I could explain that better), and communal dinner. Mats on the floor for sleep made it even better for me.

See how it goes, and perhaps you'll find the time. I hope you do.

 

[Pieces]

I say, plans are great, just don't feel you need to stick to them

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Beatrice, that day starts in Larrasoana. Distance looked about right if that is where they plan to start.

A my mistake.

 

[RENSHAW]

Grañon should not be missed. From there, I walked to Tosantos and stopped there for the night as I was awaiting a package drop. It was a short walk, but the refugio experience there was wonderful. The hospitaleros were great, a mass at a church carve in the cliff (I wish I could explain that better), and communal dinner. ......................

Agreed!
Flexibilty was Key to my first camino - I planned as I walked , perhaps only deciding the night before , pondering over maps and advice from other pilgrims.

 

[annakappa]

I say, plans are great, just don't feel you need to stick to them

My experience is, that after having walked 6 full or part Caminos, you are going to have to be very, very elastic with your plans.
I do not know how many of this Forum readers can truthfully say that they walked the whole way exactly acording to their original plan.
Last time, not even a fiticial so-called Plan B worked. Not one day. In this case, due to my illness, but it could be a myriad of things that can send you off schedule. I think that in our case, it was usually because we came upon a nice Albergue, or maybe a village that attracted our attention, that totally changed our original plan.
For instance, on our first Camino, we had planned rest days in the usual large towns ( Burgos and Leon), however once arriving there, we quickly left, because the peace and certain freedom of the countryside totally contrasted with the hustle and bustle of a large town.
Just be elastic, take it easy and ENJOY! Anne

 

[CK007]

I'm in full agreement with Renshaw and Annakappa. Walking my first Camino end April 2014 from SJPP to Finisterre, I've planned the days before and after the Camino (getting there and back and some tourist sightseeing) down to the last detail, but for the walk itself I've planned nothing. Whilst I'm capable of walking 30km daily in 5-6 hours I fully intend to explore everything that strikes my interest. Whether the journey takes 30 or 40 days matters not. I must mention however that I'm very lucky in the sense that I've got more than sufficient leave build up over the last handful of years to be able to do my Camino in such a flexible way.

JP, here's to a wonderful Camino for you guys!

 

[JP]

My friend might not be able to get the planned six weeks of vacation we need for walking the Camino. So I am thinking of leaving in late March walking the first 3 weeks alone and meeting up in Leon to finish the Camino together. Probably means I will have to go through the Valcarlos Route instead of the planned Route Napoleon because of probable snow. Should I bring a set of Winter clothing if I start this early?

 

[dougfitz]

Having clothing that can be layered is a better approach than bringing specialised winter clothing, even at this time of the year.

While there might still be snow on Route Napoleon, that alone shouldn't deter you. It is the weather that is the main issue, and you won't really know what that is like until much closer to your departure. Make your choice between the two routes then.

Regards

 

[julie]

It's such fun to do all the research and make a plan so you know exactly where you're heading each day. Like you, JP I have a tendency to micro manage. I spent hours and hours on my plan for my first pilgrimage. It was terribly reassuring to have it all under control.

I even followed the plan ... for the first three days. I met some other pilgrims and it suddenly didn't seem important that I stay where I had intended. Oh, the sense of freedom that came from tearing it up and throwing my plan in the bin.

Lesson number 1, learnt very quickly and held on to when I parted from my new-found friends. There is an immense sense of liberation is not knowing with any certitude where you are going to end up at the end of the day.

 

[JP]

Original plan was wear these items as needed depending on the weather.

- Marino long sleeved shirt
- Fleece jacket
- Lightweight synthetic down vest
- Topped off by a light nylon shell
* Wool cap, gloves, gaiters when needed.

We have also used a lined Goretex jacket in 0 Celsius weather instead of the nylon shell. Quite waterproof/snow proof, but a bit heavy to carry on the pack once the weather warms up later on during the trip. Would be probably fool-proof in spanish March/April weather.

 

[Kathy F.]

I walked from SJPdP to Santiago in 40 days. I had two-day stay overs in Estella, Burgos and Leon. I never pushed, never left the albergue at the crack of dawn. I had a vague plan and was very flexible. I figured, what was the point of going if I wasn't going to leave myself open for unexpected adventures??!!
The weather was terrible starting out, very cold, very windy, VERY muddy and wet - and this was in late May! I walked the whole way and carried everything on my back the whole way.
Check out my blog below.
Be ready to adjust your plan as you go along. Conditions, and people, will impact on your journey. You will meet some wonderful people on the way.
The Camino will guide you, don't try to guide the Camino (I encountered some people who insisted on sticking to a strict schedule and they were not nice people after a week or two).
Enjoy and Buen Camino.

 

[codecables]

Fully concur with al the granon comments; you also might want to consider the route from o'cebreiro via samos...
Buen camino, whichever stops you do

 

[Anniesantiago]

Honestly, I suggest you just walk 6 hours and don't worry too much about a schedule.
The Camino has a mind of its own and may have other plans for you.
Don't have expectations and you won't be disappointed.
Just go, one foot in front of the other.
I know it's easier said than done - I've been there - but try.
Buen Camino.

 

[luisalovespaul]

I agree, we just walked too. No plans and it was the best holiday ever.

 

[Dan]

I say, plans are great, just don't feel you need to stick to them

Never a truer word !

 

[Franpio]

I walked from SJPdP to Santiago in 40 days. I had two-day stay overs in Estella, Burgos and Leon. I never pushed, never left the albergue at the crack of dawn. I had a vague plan and was very flexible. I figured, what was the point of going if I wasn't going to leave myself open for unexpected adventures??!!
The weather was terrible starting out, very cold, very windy, VERY muddy and wet - and this was in late May! I walked the whole way and carried everything on my back the whole way.
Check out my blog below.
Be ready to adjust your plan as you go along. Conditions, and people, will impact on your journey. You will meet some wonderful people on the way.
The Camino will guide you, don't try to guide the Camino (I encountered some people who insisted on sticking to a strict schedule and they were not nice people after a week or two).
Enjoy and Buen Camino.

Hi Footex
Could you please put up your information on your blog as it didn't show at the end of your comment.

Thanks and looking forward to reading it.

Frances

 

[jmcarp]

Never a truer word !

Terrific photos, Dan. We walked the CF in the fall, so it was quite a contrast seeing the green countryside in the spring. Thanks for posting the links to your galleries.
Jim

 

[Dan]

Jim, thank you. It's a pleasure.
Right now I'm sitting looking out at the Pacific ocean, thumbing through the forum section on the Le Puy to St Jean PdP trek, which we will start in late April 2014. Some great advice and blogs.

 

[Kathy F.]

Hi Footex
Could you please put up your information on your blog as it didn't show at the end of your comment.

Thanks and looking forward to reading it.

Frances

Frances - Delighted!!!
My blog can be found at : http://kathyfootenotes.wordpress.com

You should be able to see it in light lettering at the end of my message here, as part of my signature. If not, let me know so I can get it fixed. Hope you enjoy my blog.