joe g texas aggies
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- SJPdP to Santinago April/May 2015
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Thanks to all of you for taking the time to answer my post and make some very sound suggestions.Hi Joe -- Thought I would offer my experience on 2 of your questions. We walked starting from SJPP on 2 April 2014 arriving Santiago 5 May 2013:
1. Gloves. I have cold hands and wore my gloves a lot -- almost every morning for 2/3 of the trip. My husband only wore his gloves once as we walked over Alto de Perdon in a blizzard! He was glad he had them that particular day! I guess I would say to take some lightweight but warm gloves.
2. Buff. I did not have a buff but did have a washable cotton scarf which I used for all kinds of things -- wind protection, added warmth, a carrying sling, makeshift tablecloth for lunch.... My husband thought a scarf was excess and didn't take one and didn't miss it (although he did not complain that I had one).
Buen Camino,
Liz
Actually, make that a high utility to weight ratio. I'm math challenged.Another vote for the merino wool buff. Very high weight to utility ratio.
Karl
Actually, make that a high utility to weight ratio. I'm math challenged.
Karl
My advice would be very similar. If you are using trekking poles, wear fingerless gloves/bike gloves. I prefer not to have any padding on the palm, and have found a local boating/camping/fishing store that sells these (rather than using padded cycle gloves). I also carried a set of full gloves for colder mornings, which I used regularly in Apr 2010 on the CF, but didn't use at all this year on the CI.I walked last month and used bike gloves. Mostly to prevent blisters as I wasn't used to trekking poles but they also came in handy on some of the cooler mornings.
Buff - didn't use one so I can't comment on it.
Credential - if you have one already just hang on to it until you present it for your first stamp
Hi,
Have four questions for this forum, all of a general nature:
1. Gloves. Will be walking the Camino in April and May, starting from SJPdP. Will I need gloves? What does the forum think if I were to bring bicycle gloves (that leave your fingers exposed)? They have the advantage of being relatively light weight and the disadvantage of not being as warm as other alternatives.
2. Buff. Seems to be a general agreement that buffs are a necessity for certain periods of the year. Saw a post two or three years old in regards to a special Camino buff. Someone was taking orders. Anyone have information where I could obtain one?
3. Beilari. Trying to make reservations for the first night at the Beilari in SJPdP. However, when I go to Beilari's website, I cannot find a link for reservations. Did I miss the window to make reservations until they re-open next year? I saw that Beilari closed about 24 October and will reopen for reservations on 15 February next year.
4. Credencial. I read in one my resources something to the effect that my credencial would have to be processed and that this procedure can take two to three months. I bought my credencial through Ivar. Is the guide book (or my recollection) incorrect? Or have I done all that I need to do until I get to SJPdP?
Thanks in advance for all your help. This forum is a great resource for planning my trip.
Hi Joe -- Thought I would offer my experience on 2 of your questions. We walked starting from SJPP on 2 April 2014 arriving Santiago 5 May 2013:
1. Gloves. I have cold hands and wore my gloves a lot -- almost every morning for 2/3 of the trip. My husband only wore his gloves once as we walked over Alto de Perdon in a blizzard! He was glad he had them that particular day! I guess I would say to take some lightweight but warm gloves.
2. Buff. I did not have a buff but did have a washable cotton scarf which I used for all kinds of things -- wind protection, added warmth, a carrying sling, makeshift tablecloth for lunch.... My husband thought a scarf was excess and didn't take one and didn't miss it (although he did not complain that I had one).
Buen Camino,
Liz
Hi Thengel1 -- you are correct about the dates! And that is cool that we were there at the same time. I wonder if we met. We too were fairly slow but sounds like you were a day behind us at Pamplona. We started on 2 April 2013 and took a rest day in Pamplona on 5 April. Its funny -- the rest day was cold and windy, spitting rain. We were feeling very smug and congratulated ourselves on resting and spending the day in the cathedral and museum. But the Camino humbles us all. We woke on the 6th to giant flakes of snow falling outside! I just double checked our arrival day in Santiago -- It was actually May 8 so the day after you. We somehow passed during our walk! LizAssuming you meant April 2, 2013 (otherwise, kudos on your impressive time-travelling skills) , you left SJPDP on the exact same day I did (and arrived in Santiago a couple of days earlier than I did May 7th for me).
I mention it for a couple of reasons:
1. I think this is first I noticed anyone on the forum who left at the same time, which is oddly neat. and...
2. I started slowly, which means I was probably a day behind you when you crossed Alto de Perdon. I was taking a rest day in Pamplona, and remember there being a light dusting of snow on the ground when I got up that day.
Hi Thengel1 -- you are correct about the dates! And that is cool that we were there at the same time. I wonder if we met. We too were fairly slow but sounds like you were a day behind us at Pamplona. We started on 2 April 2013 and took a rest day in Pamplona on 5 April. Its funny -- the rest day was cold and windy, spitting rain. We were feeling very smug and congratulated ourselves on resting and spending the day in the cathedral and museum. But the Camino humbles us all. We woke on the 6th to giant flakes of snow falling outside! I just double checked our arrival day in Santiago -- It was actually May 8 so the day after you. We somehow passed during our walk! Liz
The weather is a changing, one year a classic Spring warmish days (15C) in April/May mornings evenings (5C) decidedly cool-some years really cold with rain and even snow-do take gloves, the real ones.
Buff is good but won't help if very cold or wet, try a wool/synthetic mix hat which will also keep your ears from turning blue.
Call the hotel from home on your phone and reserve face to face (ear to ear?) the cost will be offset by the peace of mind. If you are not walking straight through, reserve at Orrison by email but call them too to confirm before leaving home for the same reason.
Credential there is a pilgrims office right on the main drag in SJPP with a very lovely stamp do visit for info on the Camino weather etc over the next few days, April before Easter will be crowded after Easter somewhat less.
Poor Aggies, Johnny left and look what happened! Ohh dear.
I will keep this short (for once):
3. I prefer to arrive in St. Jean Pied de Port two nights early to deal with jet lag and have time for last-minute purchases before I start off. Rather than stay in a albergue, I recommend a decent hotel. I have stayed at Hotel Ramuntcho in both 2013 and 2014 and I can highly recommend it. It is centrally located in the center of town and is a 10-minute walk from the train station.
I hope this helps.
The latest report last week was 125E for a taxi from Biarritz to SJPdP. The train is under 10E, and has three or four departures daily to 2110 some dates. If you are planning on sleeping for a couple of days, Bayonne is as good as SJPdP. If you plan on sight seeing in SJPdP, you will be done in an hour. Consider sleeping in Bayonne, taking an early train, visit SJPdP for a couple of hours, then walk to Hounto or Orisson, and sleep there.About how much should the cab fare be?
Thanks, T2. That was a good suggestion to spend two nights in SJPdP rather than spend one night in Biarritz and the second night in SJPdP.
In the case of my son and me, we will be arriving at the BIQ airport at 1950 that night, assuming that easyJet runs on schedule. Should we have any trouble finding a taxi to take us straight to SJPdP? About how much should the cab fare be? I am sure we will be wiped out. I will be coming from LA and my son will be arriving from Tokyo.
Thanks, ladies and gentlemen. You have no idea how much I appreciate your input and suggestions. This is such a good forum and each of you are to be congratulated in helping newbies like me. I am so looking forward to next April.Joe G:
Falcon 269 is spot-on. Given the logistical situation you mention, your "best" bet is to take the bus or a taxi from BIQ to Bayonne and stay the first night at Bayonne. It is not far. There are several hostals (one-star hotels) within a block or two of the SNCF/TER train station.
You can check the forum for recommendations then use www.booking.com to make a reservation. You will find it a very valuable resource all along the Camino Frances.
Do the same for St. Jean. Take the train early the next morning from Bayonne to St. Jean. It takes about 90 minutes and is very scenic during the day. You will have the entire day to explore St. Jean.
Falcon suggests only spending a few hours in St. Jean. I respectfully disagree, as I found plenty to investigate and learn two years running. There is another whole aspect to town on the flats downhill from the rue de Citadelle. It is a wonderful little town. Spend the night there, have a good meal of the local trout in a local Basque restaurant, then start out relaxed for Orisson and Roncesvalles after breakfast the next day.
It will be less expensive to share a double room at Bayonne and take the morning train, than to take the taxi, especially if you are arriving so late the first day. Why exhaust yourselves? The Pyrenees will take care of that on day three.
I hope this helps.
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