shortwander
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2024
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Good advice, Life throws up moments when we reflect and hope it gets better. This year has hit me hard.but don't take on to much. Enjoy your time and a big pat on the back for managing what has troubled you.Hi, Buen Camino!
1. Nope, not mental in any way at all - getting up in the middle of the night and booking to go next day is not wildly uncommon. You can 'train' on Camino by starting with short days and building up - ignore the 'day stages' in the guide books and stop when and where you want.
2. Camino Frances (now renamed Camino de Santiago) as this is the most popular route with the best infrastructure and lots of other pilgrims from all over the world.
3. Rough plan? Decide where you will start and go there ... if you will be arriving late then book your first night.
After that? No more planning!!!!!!! Each morning put pack on, step out of door, walk, follow the arrows, stop when tired. If you start booking your night stops you will be fixing yourself into a timetable - not good.
3.b - anxiety is normal for a newbie, you are doing something brand new and the chattering brain is terrified and wants certainty so wants a fixed plan - forget that - just go, all is well - no fixed plans. Within two days all will seem completely normal and you will be fine.
Where to start is down to you but if you may be going back in the future then start somewhere very early along the Camino - even St Jean, so that when you end and go home you can return to that end place and pick up where you left off.
p.s. re anxiety, the desire for certainty, it is a joy destroyer and also can lead to packing lots of 'safety' 'just in case' items which makes your pack heavy. Spain has shops - wear one-pack one - is all you need.
Buen Camino!
I did a portion of the Portuguese coastal to Santiago at the end of February. It was also short notice, was my first solo trip, and my first multi-day hike. I wouldn’t give you advice without knowing you, but will say that I personally pre booked all of my rooms and that made me more comfortable and confident about the trip. I think it also made my husband more comfortable with me going alone. It also probably resulted in me pushing myself physically and mentally (especially with a few very rainy days). That challenge was good for me, but maybe not others.Without divulging my life, I'm having a really bad time and decided last night I want to walk the camino as it's something I have been talking about for years. However, due to my partners deployments and I think it's better for me to do it sooner rather than later, I am looking to start around the 20th of April for 2 weeks. I have a few questions which I'd really appreciate some help on!
1. Am I mental to start in a few short weeks? I am at a relatively good fitness level (although I know it will be hard!) it makes me nervous that I won't be doing much training leading up to it. I think I will be looking to do about 15km a day (give or take).
2. Would you recommend the Porto to Santiago on the Camino Portugues or from Leon to Santiago on the Camino Frances route? The Camino Portugues is shorter but I know the Camino Frances is more traditional.
3. My partner is a very experienced hiker, but this will be the first trip I will be doing by myself. I am planning to sit down and put together a rough plan before I go - would you recommend booking the first few nights? I was going to book all to ease my anxiety but looks like most people suggest against it.
Thank you so much in advance for your response! Even if you can answer a short part of it, it would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking to start around the 20th of April for 2 weeks.
I think I will be looking to do about 15km a day (
Based on these bits if information, if you decide on the Camino Francés You will need to start closer to Santiago than León if you want to reach Santiago in two weeks. León to Santiago is about 312 km, which would take 21 days at 15 km/day.Would you recommend the Porto to Santiago on the Camino Portugues or from Leon to Santiago on the Camino Frances route?
You got plenty of answers on the rest. I would like to add that my first camino was also an experience for me to get my orientation in nature for the first time. Usually I rely on my partner. Well, no worries there. In CF start with your shadow in front of you and keep going west. There are plenty of arrows. It's not like meandering in the Alps. and for the short-term decision I think it is a brillant idea!!3. My partner is a very experienced hiker, but this will be the first trip I will be doing by myself.
1. As I'm sure many will say, you are not mental. Plenty of people have successfully walked with less prep and training.Without divulging my life, I'm having a really bad time and decided last night I want to walk the camino as it's something I have been talking about for years. However, due to my partners deployments and I think it's better for me to do it sooner rather than later, I am looking to start around the 20th of April for 2 weeks. I have a few questions which I'd really appreciate some help on!
1. Am I mental to start in a few short weeks? I am at a relatively good fitness level (although I know it will be hard!) it makes me nervous that I won't be doing much training leading up to it. I think I will be looking to do about 15km a day (give or take).
2. Would you recommend the Porto to Santiago on the Camino Portugues or from Leon to Santiago on the Camino Frances route? The Camino Portugues is shorter but I know the Camino Frances is more traditional.
3. My partner is a very experienced hiker, but this will be the first trip I will be doing by myself. I am planning to sit down and put together a rough plan before I go - would you recommend booking the first few nights? I was going to book all to ease my anxiety but looks like most people suggest against it.
Thank you so much in advance for your response! Even if you can answer a short part of it, it would be greatly appreciated.
This post of yours could be a welcome message to every new pilgrim coming to this forum. So much good info in one place, in a supportive and motivational way!1. As I'm sure many will say, you are not mental. Plenty of people have successfully walked with less prep and training.
2. I'm not sure if 15km/day is what you are counting on for your training or what you are expecting to walk on your Camino. If you are looking at 2 weeks of 15 km/day, that adds up to about 200km, give or take. Leon is just over 300km from Santiago. If you want to walk that sort of distance, with that time frame on the Frances, I would look at starting in Ponferrada or Villafranca del Bierzo. (Coincidentally, Villafranca del Bierzo is where I will be starting on my upcoming Camino with my daughter.) Similarly, if you are looking at the Camino Portugues at 15km/day, I'd look at starting in Barcelos. That will still give you the opportunity to stay at Casa da Fernandanear the start of your Camino, much as the options I mentioned on the Frances will give you the opportunity to stay at Casa Susi .
On the other hand, if you were talking about 15km/day as training distances and are ready to walk a little longer, that would enable a start further away. Personally, for a first Camino with two weeks to spend, I'm more likely to start in Astorga than in Leon on the Frances. But I like a bit of a cushion more than a bit of a stretch for a first Camino. On the Portugues, however, you could quite comfortably start in Porto.
The Frances is more traditional, to be sure. But there is a lot of documented history behind the Portugues, as well, and less of the feeling of starting in the middle (if you start in Porto). Both options have plenty of infrastructure to support a first-time pilgrim, enabling you the flexibility to adapt as your Camino unfolds.
3. I would advise booking the the first night or two but not everything in advance (see above about the flexibility to adapt as your Camino unfolds). If you find yourself getting anxious and want a bit more certainty about where you are heading to each day to ease your anxiety, you can always book a day or two in advance as you walk.
I hope this helps. Buen Camino! Try and worry less. Things on a Camino have a way of working out.
I would add just a couple of things. You can download the Buen Camino and or Wise Pilgrim app and refer to Gronze.com. All three have listings of albergues and hostel/pensions and hotels. Buen Camino and Wise Pilgrim apps have GPS in case you get lost. They will also help with your planning. You absolutely do not have to book. Yes it will be more crowded on the CF from Sarria on. But if you stay off stages and call ahead to where you want to stay for availability. If you don't know Spanish ask someone or use Whatsapp. Neither of these caminos necessitate using hiking boots. Unless you have a strong reason to use boots I think most people would agree that a good pair of trail runners will suit you very well. They are much lighter and have no break in is needed. If you are going to wear new or even pretty new boots you are asking for blisters. Get a half size larger at least as your feet will swell. Planning is fun. I do it before every camino. I write down where I will sleep each night and the name of the albergue. Then when I leave for my camino, I leave the list behind and just walk.Thank you so much everyone for all your wonderful responses!! I am looking at planning it now
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