Sarria to Santiago - October 2019

[spikey]

Hi All,

Having wanted to walk a stretch of the Camino for many years I have finally taken the plunge and made a booking.
I am flying to Santiago from Dublin in October 2019 and will be walking from Sarria to Santiago.
I’m a reasonably fit 57 year old man and plan to start training this week.
This forum seems a great resource and I’m hoping to get loads of tips including footwear, clothing accommodation etc.

Best wishes
Brian

 

[JohnLloyd]

Hi Brian

A few of us who walked the Camino Francés last August/September are reuniting in Dublin in early June for a weekend walking with each other again.

If you want to join us for a beer at some point, you’d be welcome.

Then we can give you a personal seminar on how to prepare for a Camino!

 

[spikey]

Thanks John,

That’s a very kind offer unfortunately I’ll be in Spain at that time not walking though on holidays in Javea.

Brian

 

[nycwalking]

Brian,

Buen camino.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi All,

Having wanted to walk a stretch of the Camino for many years I have finally taken the plunge and made a booking.
I am flying to Santiago from Dublin in October 2019 and will be walking from Sarria to Santiago.
I’m a reasonably fit 57 year old man and plan to start training this week.
This forum seems a great resource and I’m hoping to get loads of tips including footwear, clothing accommodation etc.

Best wishes
Brian

Hi, Brian, and a warm Welcome to the Forum

The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.

My suggestion to start is this:

1. Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
2. Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
3. Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
4. Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
5. If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
6. Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.

 

[Felipe]

Hi, spikey.
I walked this section mid-October a couple of years ago.
Weather was moderately cold, but nights required a good jacket. Some light rains, so be prepared.
Not particularly difficult sections, just a long stage between Palas do Rei and Arzúa (if you choose it).
The path was quite crowded in the mornings, since everybody leaves more or at less the same hours. But in the course of the day, we tended to spread out.
Be watchful of fast cyclists.
You will meet the tour operator groups, with guides explaining things like "this odd thing in the field with four legs is a cow" (well, I exagere...just a bit),
Had problems with lodging just one day and solved it quite easily. As I was with my wife, I decided to make reservations in the morning of every day, just to have peace of mind.
Buen camino!

 

[jcat]

I did Sarria - Santiago in 2016 and had a great time. Here is a link to my post-trip report. I made reservations and stayed in private rooms along the way. The only update is that I hike in Solomon trail runners now instead of hiking shoes.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sarria-santiago-trip-report.38823/

 

[spikey]

I did Sarria - Santiago in 2016 and had a great time. Here is a link to my post-trip report. I made reservations and stayed in private rooms along the way. The only update is that I hike in Solomon trail runners now instead of hiking shoes.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sarria-santiago-trip-report.38823/

Thanks enjoyed reading your report you seemed to have a great experience in spite of being very unlucky with so much rain.

 

[GreenArcher83]

Hi Spikey. Just coming back from my Sarria to Santiago compostela, and it did not disappoint.
I do not know your reasons for your walk, but I did enjoy meeting lots of people and the time to myself. This is just me, I would stay a town or two after the suggested itinerary. You would meet the crowds in the morning and early afternoon. From Sarria, most of them would stop at Portomarin. I went all the way to Gonzar, at least two hours farther and had the trail almost to myself. I loved the serenity of the trails and the wind blowing at the top of the hill after Portomarin.
Buen Camino!

 

[spikey]

Hi
I am doing the walk as part of a petition for my grandson.
Thanks fir the great advice

 

[Tim Floyd]

That ended up being one of my favorite sections. Met lots of great people. The terrain was varied, interesting but not difficult. Many places to eat and sleep. We did it early October as well and there were cool mornings but very comfortable days. By that point the sunrise was much later than when we had started so we left off in the dark, so have a headlamp or torch of some sort. You will have a blast. Coincidentally I was also 57 at the time. Buen Camino!

 

[ozpeacenik]

Hi Brian,

My wife and I are doing the camino from Sarria starting the day before you. We expect to take six days to finish it so we might run in to you along the way.

Buen camino.

 

[spikey]

Hi Brian,

My wife and I are doing the camino from Sarria starting the day before you. We expect to take six days to finish it so we might run in to you along the way.

Buen camino.

Maybe so .
I think we plan to walk 5 days arriving in Santiago on 8th October.
Buen Camino

 

[ozpeacenik]

Maybe so .
I think we plan to walk 5 days arriving in Santiago on 8th October.
Buen Camino

Hi Brian, Getting close now.

We leave for Spain this Friday. From what you have said we will be a day ahead of you all the way. Have a great trip.

 

[spikey]

Indeed, good luck to you both and hopefully weather improves as it seems very wet at the moment.