Calvin & Hobbes
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2016 SJPP>Santiago
Portugues 2023 Porto>Sa
Hi folks, this is my first post, but I've been reading the forum for several months trying to prepare for my first pilgrimage. There is a wonderful amount of useful info, but there's one point I haven't been able to settle on - when should I begin my Frances pilgrimage?
Should I anticipate difficulty finding beds on the Frances with a mid-August 2016 start from SJPP? I've been searching various threads and have found pros & cons for August regarding crowds and weather.
Recently I saw a thread that mentioned something big going on in Roncesvalles which could mean a bed shortage. Also, I read that there may still be many pilgrims starting in August, which surprised me. I thought the rush would be over by then in SJPP.
From a weather standpoint, I'd rather put up with heat than to be wet & cold, thus my thoughts of starting mid-August (11th or 12th) and ending around the end of September. Would it make more sense to push my schedule back a week or two?
My only schedule limitation will by my airline ticket. Since I'm retired, I plan to allow a lot of time - something like 7 or 8 weeks, including flights. I'm not going to race at 65 years old. I anticipate averaging about 12 miles (20km)/day. I'm fairly fit for an old fogy and have started training, but a man's got ta know his limitations. If I have extra time and my body's up to it, I hope to continue on to Finesterre and then bum around the area and do a little more sight-seeing with any extra days.
Thanks for any advice and insights you may offer.
Should I anticipate difficulty finding beds on the Frances with a mid-August 2016 start from SJPP? I've been searching various threads and have found pros & cons for August regarding crowds and weather.
Recently I saw a thread that mentioned something big going on in Roncesvalles which could mean a bed shortage. Also, I read that there may still be many pilgrims starting in August, which surprised me. I thought the rush would be over by then in SJPP.
From a weather standpoint, I'd rather put up with heat than to be wet & cold, thus my thoughts of starting mid-August (11th or 12th) and ending around the end of September. Would it make more sense to push my schedule back a week or two?
My only schedule limitation will by my airline ticket. Since I'm retired, I plan to allow a lot of time - something like 7 or 8 weeks, including flights. I'm not going to race at 65 years old. I anticipate averaging about 12 miles (20km)/day. I'm fairly fit for an old fogy and have started training, but a man's got ta know his limitations. If I have extra time and my body's up to it, I hope to continue on to Finesterre and then bum around the area and do a little more sight-seeing with any extra days.
Thanks for any advice and insights you may offer.