Roncesvalles to Santiago starting 20 September

[philipc67]

Hello all, this is Philip in Athens. Planning to do the Camino from Roncesvalles to Santiago, arriving Roncesvalles 19 September and starting out the next day. I speak Spanish and French.

Have already done some trekking in Africa and New Zealand.

I have of course read a lot about the Camino and have a couple of practical questions, perhaps someone who has done it before can help:

I am hoping to do the Camino in 30-33 days, is it a realistic goal?

I am currently training for up to 20km a day in a hilly track terrain, walking 4-5 km/h, should I be doing more pre-departure?

Can I get my credencial in Roncesvalles and is this at the pilgrim office or a church?

Is it easy to get a taxi from Pamplona Airport to Roncesvalles, do they have cab companies who do the route?

Weather-wise autumn seems to be unpredictable and I will pack for both heat, cold and rain, is one fleece and/or a GoreTex jacket plus perhaps a poncho enough?

Do farmacias along the way carry Compeed/blister aids? I want to avoid packing too much.

Many thanks!

 

[psheehan]

Hello Philip,

I have walked the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago in September 2006. Yes, it is very realistic to walk all the ways to Santiago in 31-32 days. Walking 20km per day at the moment is more than adequate training. You can get the credencial in Roncesvalles in the pilgrim office which is across the road from the Roncesvalles Albergue. I dont have any information about a taxi from Pamplona, each time I flew into Biarritz. As regards the weather, I had 28 days of sunshine, no need for a goretex jacket, you will not need it. Just carry a fleece and a poncho, if it does rain, the poncho is perfect as it will cover you and your backpack but it will also allow air to circulate, and the poncho is much lighter than a goretex jacket. Compeed is available in all the pharmacies along the camino, as well as any other pharmacy items that you may require along the way.

Have a great Camino.

Paul.

 

[ranthr]

Hello!
About the taxi from Pamplona to Roncesvalles. There will be a bus from the busstation leaving at 16 on a Saturday (19.09), weekdays at 18.There is no bus on Sundays. It takes 70 minutes. You buy a ticket in or outside the bus. There will probably be a lot of pilgrims on the platform.
If you arrive later a taxi will be 80-90 euros I guess. As long as there is not a taxistrike, as there was when I arrived in 2005, it is easy to get a taxi. By the way, I suppose I am climbing over the mountain the same day on my way from Le Puy. Say hello if you see me a Norwegian peregrina.
Randi