Surfing the Camino

wisepilgrim said:

Now feels like an opportune time to remind everyone that the crowds on the Caminos travel in great big waves. For every panicked pilgrim riding the crest and worrying about beds, there is another down in the trough wondering what all the huff is about.

They start in certain places, at certain times. Those places are the common starting points, and those times are generally Fridays or Saturdays but can also be long holiday weekends for Spaniards or their neighbors to the West.

To avoid the crest pick a common starting point and start in the middle of the week. Or start on a Friday but 60km away from a common starting point.

The one NEW phenomenon that I found recently is that along the last 100km there is a very large tour company from the South of Spain that brings massive groups to the camino from Sarria. They arrive on a Sunday night in order to arrive in Santiago on a Friday. So keep this in mind when you’re surfing the camino in Galicia, Monday nights in Portomarín will be hit by a big wave.

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. -- some famous surfer who would have made a great pilgrim.

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Goyo said:

I’d love to know who that “some famous surfer” is…

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wisepilgrim said:

Now feels like an opportune time to remind everyone that the crowds on the Caminos travel in great big waves. For every panicked pilgrim riding the crest and worrying about beds, there is another down in the trough wondering what all the huff is about.

They start in certain places, at certain times. Those places are the common starting points, and those times are generally Fridays or Saturdays but can also be long holiday weekends for Spaniards or their neighbors to the West.

To avoid the crest pick a common starting point and start in the middle of the week. Or start on a Friday but 60km away from a common starting point.

The one NEW phenomenon that I found recently is that along the last 100km there is a very large tour company from the South of Spain that brings massive groups to the camino from Sarria. They arrive on a Sunday night in order to arrive in Santiago on a Friday. So keep this in mind when you’re surfing the camino in Galicia, Monday nights in Portomarín will be hit by a big wave.

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. -- some famous surfer who would have made a great pilgrim.

Click to expand...

FriendsoftheNHW said:

You can surf on the North Highland Way... www.friendsofthenorthhighlandway.com

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Goyo said:

Bodysurfing, boogie boarding, surfing, surf kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing…”different strokes for different folks”. They’re all good, and all involve a “special relationship” with the water (for me, preferably the ocean) and wind, albeit using different means, toys, to attain that feeling of “stoke”. Getting wet, taking what you’re given, flowing with, not trying to dominate nature’s power (which often results in a “put you in your place” slapdown ) is, in my opinion, what surfing is all about. And yeah, kinda like my approach to my Camino and that feeling of “stoke” ( at you, wisepilgrim)

As for the Irishman escaping Libya on his windsurfer, that’s pretty radical . Do u happen to know the title of the book?

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Goyo said:

Bodysurfing, boogie boarding, surfing, surf kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing…”different strokes for different folks”. They’re all good, and all involve a “special relationship” with the water (for me, preferably the ocean) and wind, albeit using different means, toys, to attain that feeling of “stoke”. Getting wet, taking what you’re given, flowing with, not trying to dominate nature’s power (which often results in a “put you in your place” slapdown ) is, in my opinion, what surfing is all about. And yeah, kinda like my approach to my Camino and that feeling of “stoke” ( at you, wisepilgrim)

As for the Irishman escaping Libya on his windsurfer, that’s pretty radical . Do u happen to know the title of the book?

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FriendsoftheNHW said:

the book is Walking on Water by Adrian Keane. You will find it on Amazon. Here is a picture of me on the beach in Benghazi.

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Goyo said:

Thanks for the info on the book.

I guess Libya is a bit more welcoming to foreigners, in bikinis no less, than under certain former leaders?

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VNwalking said:

Ummm. The thread's about avoiding peak walking days on the Francés, not actually surfing on a board on walls of water. If you want that, go to Nazaré. Otherwise please read beyond the thread title.

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wisepilgrim said:

They start in certain places, at certain times. Those places are the common starting points, and those times are generally Fridays or Saturdays but can also be long holiday weekends for Spaniards or their neighbors to the West.

Click to expand...