You’re asking an interesting question Rev but it’s not clear why. Are you planning “stealth” transfer?
I'm pretty sure that the bag transport companies have arrangements with local businesses to take charge of mochilas (one n, not two
) for those staying in public albergues. You would have to ask the company that you plan to use.
May be you have a reason not to but, since you're going straight through to SdC would it not be possible to get the bag transferred straight there?
I honestly didn't suppose that bag transfer firms would do a transfer as lengthy as Villafranca to SdeC! I'll look and see.
It looks as though Correos can do the job! Which will certainly simplify things for me. Muchisimas gracias!
Glad to learn that the Correos can help! Let's hope that the next months are safer for everyone to travel where/when they wish.
I shipped my bag up to O'Cebreiro. When I checked into the municipal (xunta) albergue. I was told that they do not accept bag deliveries and that my bag would be in one of the restaurants later in the day. Turned out that my bag was in the restaurant closest to the municipal albergue and had been there for several hours. All of the bags were in a pile in the center of the restaurant and that seemed ok with everyone at the restaurant. So, my recommendation is to ship you bag to the municipal albergue. It only takes 5 minutes to check every restaurant in town. I used a private shipper; Correos might be more business like and actually tell you where your bag will be.
Why not ride a horse up with the famous horse guy (Victor at Al Paso)-- It's a nice easy uphill ride at a walk. He does have someone drive people's stuff up upon request. Here is his email. v.vigaray@gmail.com
When I Did my first two Caminos it was never heard that you didn't carry your own Moncilla. people actually rebuked you, now all is different ad even have done it once.
When I did my first Camino in 1977 I didn't know that people were actually still doing it on foot! And very few were! ... I did it by train. By foot is better! Pax.
Remember that the post office may be closed when you get to SdC, maybe for a few days. You might want it sent to Ivar at extra cost (storage and posting).
I think it's OK. I had my mochilla dropped off at Orbigo, arrived to collect it and decided on the spur of the moment to walk on to the next village. There was no one around when I walked into to the bar, which made me think i was lucky it was still there, picked it up and walked on.
Why not just pay a big tip to the hotel for accepting delivery of your bag?
In 2018 I had my suitcase (I had been visiting family in the UK) transferred from Pamplona to Santiago using Jacotrans. It was left at the place we were going to be staying 3 weeks later. Not exactly cheap but better than trying to move it on a daily basis.
The post office may be able to send your bags. I thought I saw an ad for that service. Or we sometimes used a taxi for our bags but we had a lot of people.
Kelley, did you actually ride up? I stayed in Las Herrerias and anticipating the next days walk and saw the sign advertising the horse ride I was so tempted!
When I walked I used a pack transfer company a few times, I have a degenerative back condition and sometimes the pain got too much. On one occasion I found my pack had been obviously opened and searched. Luckily I carried all my valuables with me
Just ask the transfer service. There is a phone number on the envelops. When ever I used a service: 1 fill out the envelop. 2 call the service just to make sure. 3. Take a picture of the completed envelop and your bag. Number three is important. As the day goes on I couldn't remember where I was staying. The names are similar and as you talk to fellow pilgrims I would mix up where I was staying with where they were staying.
I posted a bag from Sarria to SdC and picked it up at the Post Office close to the Cathedral. I don't speak Spanish but had no trouble communicating as I had kept my original receipt.
and they relented and asked me to come back later so that they had time to find it as they had a queue waiting.
Agreed! I believe these services operate on the Spanish equivalent to the principle of “all care and no responsibility”....
Your question is probably one that others will be interested in. Last time I walked, from Ferrol to Santiago in 2019, I did two new things. I booked each night, and I sent on my bag also. It was on the last day, in the last albergue we stayed in before Santiago, that I noticed pilgrims coming from other albergues to pick up their bags, delivered to my albergue by Correos. It seemed to be a normal event, no problem at all for the albergue, nor for the pilgrims. Correos has a very well organised, and also reasonably priced service. The message is that you can sleep in a Xunta albergue, but send your bags to a Correos pickup/set down point in a named private albergue/café.
Does anyone know how Victor and his horses are doing. Has he managed to keep them. I remember that last year he was really worried as he wasn’t making any income from them.
Yes, it was our first camino in 2015. We kept seeing those signs saying you need a horse, and I thought "Damn straight, necesito un caballo." My shoes were too small, I had blisters and had been dreaming about my horse at home. Victor was just opening up for Spring (it was right before Easter), and my son and I helped groom the horses while we waited a Spanish family, friends of Victor's. (The horses were shedding their winter coat and were pretty shaggy looking!) All that was volunteer, it made us feel at home.
We used Victor's pack transfer service, because I honestly couldn't imagine riding up wearing a pack; I am used to being balanced on a horse. So we sent up our stuff in a car. The ride up was uneventful, and my feet were glad of the break. The horses are well trained and just kept a steady walk. Victor trotted along side of the horses on his own two feet.-- Happily, the car bringing our stuff up missed our walking sticks and had to make another trip. While we waiting, the Spanish family invited us to share tapas with them, my 13 yo son got to meet some kids his own age, and we had a wonderful afternoon.
You may be able to use the post office Paq Mochila system to pick up your pack and leave it at a local post office.
Dont use the service myself cause I reckon if I brought it, then I carry it. However, I had some friends who sent their bags on to Pamplona and the bags were left in the lockers at Jesus y Maria albergue. They had asked for them to be sent to their hotel but the carrier left them in the albergue. The hospitaleros had no problem with the bags being left there. on another occasion, I saw pilgrims having their bags delivered to the hotel in Rabanal because Gaucelmo does not accept bag transfers and do not admit pilgrims who do it. The hotel knows what is going on but do not seem to complain about it. It really is down to your own conscience. As I said, I dont transfer my pack as in all conscience, I feel like I would be cheating those pilgrims who carry their own.
It's more likely that a car will hit you on the road at dusk. Some horses startle easily-- these horses go up and down the hill day after day. They know their jobs and have seen pretty much everything.
At 81 years of age I don’t feel at all guilty having my basic bag transferred so that all I need is a small day pack.
Nobody needs a reason or excuse Chris.
I totally agree with you! I just wanted to point out that some travel insurance policies may not cover horse riding unless added as an extra, therefore if someone (in the very unlikely event) should unfortunately take a fall and injure themselves they may not be covered by their inusrance. Hopefully being hit by a car at dusk would be covered by most insurance policies tho
Wouldn't necessarily be a problem. A lot of companies have just one place in each town to drop off backpacks, and that is quite often a café rather than an albergue or hostal. The establishment doesn't have to accept backpacks if they don't want to and I would guess are paid anyway for the service. So relax, just do it and see what happens.
We met a pilgrim who was having his backpack transferred. He was younger, and apparently fitter and stronger than us. We later got chatting to him and his partner, who patiently explained that the backpack contained his medication.
What about the horse?I totally agree with you! I just wanted to point out that some travel insurance policies may not cover horse riding unless added as an extra, therefore if someone (in the very unlikely event) should unfortunately take a fall and injure themselves they may not be covered by their inusrance. Hopefully being hit by a car at dusk would be covered by most insurance policies tho
I kept what was needed on a day's walk. The rest went in the rucksack, along with some things from my companions backpack. that helped both to have an easier walk. I have no compunction about having done that.
Wow, he was trusting. I never let my medication out of my control. Even going out for dinner, I have a day pack to carry my meds in. Suffer with type 2 diabetes and terrified of losing the pills.
Not quite as old, 72, but I just feel guilty, especially when I see older than me carrying packs. Did it once between los arcos and Vianna and I just felt bad especially seeing a lady who seemed older than me carrying a pack that looked heavier than the one I had sent ahead. I am just uncomfortable about doing it. But it is at the end of the day up to everyone's own opinion. I just don't feel happy doing it
Oh in Spring 2002, even thinking taxi-backpack meant a frown of great judgment was visited upon one: "This is not the pilgrim Way! Your Camino will not count unless you walk every inch and suffer!"
Then you can repay the bar/cafe by buying a refreshment there. Or, as someone else suggested, use Correos if they have an office in O Cebreiro.
As I mentioned upthread, you don't need to consider if there is a Correos office as they partner with local businesses.
Carrying your own heavy backpack does not relieve the other person of their load, so feeling "guilty" doesn't make sense!
Maybe it was the other way round. At any rate, I remember feeling about 2 inches tall when I found out his story. It just goes to show you have to be really careful about the judgments you make.
Not exactly heavy. Keep my weight to about 8 kg max. Agree about freedom which is why I also never book albergues in advance. Started out one morning from Mañeru and only got as far as Lorca. Stopped at Albergue bar for a drink and bite to eat. Got chatting with owners and on a whim decided, I like it here, booked in and had a lovely relaxing day. Had I sent pack ahead i would have had to walk on and had i booked would have had to phone up to cancel. However, no matter what, I still had a feeling of guilt the one time I did send my pack on. Its hard to explain, it just didn't sit well with meCarrying your own heavy backpack does not relieve the other person of their load, so feeling "guilty" doesn't make sense!
I prefer to carry my own pack all the way, for the sense of freedom - having everything I need with me. I confess to a bit of pride about it, but would quickly abandon my pride if I weren't able to do it comfortably.
One year my friend and I stayed at Casa Mágica in Villatuerta. As we were relaxing in the pool in the courtyard on a hot July day a woman that we had met the night before in Puente la Reina walked by and saw us. She was rather envious of our surroundings, and would have probably stayed there had she not sent her pack ahead to an albergue in Estella.
I understand. For example, I have set myself a target of walking at least 50 km/week at home, and have faithfully done it for 4 months now. If I walked 60 km one week and then only 49 km the following week, I would feel disappointed in myself. Makes no sense other than pride in my accomplishment of an arbitrary goal. But that is not necessarily a bad thing when applied to life in a sensible way.
