I have walked the entire CF twice in the late April - May timeframe. In 2016, I walked the last half (almost) from Leon to Sarria in early to mid-April.
The first time you do a route, there is an element of wonder and surprise as everything you encounter is new and different; the sights, smells, tastes, and the people you meet. The second time around it begins to look familiar. For me, the third time over the stretch of the CF from Leon to Sarria was not as "fun" as I hoped it would be. The weather may have had a role in this reality. It rained for two weeks straight and each day was cold wet and raw. Things that stood out previously now looked drab and uninviting, especially in the rain and fog. I was also off my antidepressant medication , so that may have played a role as well...but I digress...
So, my recommendation for redoing a previous route, especially one as popular as the CF, is to try a different time of year. As the flowers, crops, and farm animals grow through their annual cycles, so too does the entire environment around you. The painting changes it's view. It is truly beautiful.
IMHO, the two "best" seasons for the CF are the end of April (after Easter) to the end of May...before the schools let out across Europe; and the early autumn...say September to October. It is still warm, so winter clothing is not needed, most services are available and albergues are still open, usually through the end of October.
Conversely, early spring is cooler (single degree mornings are common) has more rain and the chance of snow at elevations over about 700 MASL (Meters above sea level) through mid-May. FYI, I have encountered significant snow at Cruz de Ferro on two of my last three passages along this route (2013, 2014, & 2016). This year it was cold, rainy and raw. But, the rain washed the snow away. But it was there before the rain came. I could see it on the distant farm pastures.
Also, after mid-September, all the schools are back in session across Europe, so crowding is reduced. The key is two-fold: (1) stay off the CF from mid-June through the beginning of September, unless you love large and loud crowds of pilgrims; and (2) constrain your Camino to the two "hip" seasons when the views are the most spectacular and weather relatively more kind.
If your personal circumstances do not permit doing a Camino at these times, consider doing a less traveled route than the CF during the summer months. Even on the CF, you can attenuate difficulties by altering your daily pattern and the places you stop each evening to be different than the swarming hordes of fair weather pilgrims... If you walk off-times and to different end-stops daily, as compared to the hordes, you will have less stress and anxiety.
But, you need to plan ahead. Smart phones and Bing or Google Translate are great for this. I am a late (2015) and reluctant convert to the world of smart phones. But, it resulted in an enhanced Camino experience at least for me. So, I encourage judicious use of them for planning and routing purposes. I turn my cellular / voice capability off by choice, using only data all day. I turn messaging and voice on only at day's end.
My next CF will likely be in September - October. But, there are other routes I want to explore first. I have walked the Portuguese coastal route from Porto, but want to try both the full route from north of Lisbon (avoiding the industrial belt around the city), and the newly charted "Spiritual Variant" to the Porto - Santiago route. I tried the Madrid route this past April, but came away unimpressed...too desolate for me...I need other pilgrims around. I also want to do the Ingles from Ferro.
I hope this helps the dialog.
