Hello, after walking the Norte last autumn, I'm starting to think about doing the Francés. Certainly not this year, but, maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to go next spring. I know it's way too early to plan the thing, but I'd like to hear some insight from the local camino veterans about their experience and get some useful tips I might not otherwise have considered. Here are the things I consider the most important when picking a date:
Weather - This is, of course, the most unpredictable part of it. You can't really plan for weather. But ideally, I'd like to have nice walking conditions, rather cold than hot. I walked the Norte in October/November, and except for a few rainy days in Galicia, the weather was great for me. Im thinking April might be generally similar to October, temperature-wise?
Crowds - Again, a big one for me. I don't really like crowds. That's why I picked the Norte for the first camino, and the moment I walked into Arzúa where the two caminos join, I saw I made the right choice. I know that the last 100 kilometres are very different from the rest of the camino, but it was quite a shock anyway. That's why I'd rather start a few weeks before the main season starts. I'm more than willing to get rained on a bit more in exchange for a bit quieter camino
From what I gathered around here, it seems to me that an early April start should pretty much be my best bet - a bit colder at the beginning, but a potentially very pleasant May weather when reaching Santiago, and a more relaxed experience in the first part.
I know that it seems I'm trying to find the holy grail of a perfect date for a camino. It's more of a "Am I missing something really obvious" kind of question. But yeah, a perfect date for a sunny camino without too many people and temperatures it the low twenties would be nice, indeed
I'd be grateful for any insight and experiences,
thanks,
Michal