Enjoy your Winter Camino, Ray. Probably not as much snow on your Camino as we are currently experiencing. Best wishes.
Footek, I started from Pamplona last May 2 and after a leisurely stroll reached Santiago some six weeks later. The weather was great - the only rain I encountered was in Galicia and that was more of a drizzle than a downpour. I was fortunate in this regard because while training, I found that hiking boots wrecked my feet. I therefore decided to take running shoes at the last moment - a good decision because I had no physical problems at all - no blisters, nary a one. Rain was the one condition that running shoes could not stand up to. I did meet some pilgrims who started at St Jean at the end of April who regaled me with tales of wet conditions and sliding in the mud while crossing the Napoleon Way.
I’ll be starting from St Jean late April, early May this year. The cheapest flight I can see from Toronto to Paris with a two month return is around $1,000. It does not seem to make a difference in price whether I book now or in April. However there is a certain psychological satisfaction in booking now - the Rubicon crossed, the die cast and a certain excitement. In addition, it anchors the other variables like booking a train to Bayonne and to St Jean as well as advance booking at Chemin L’Esprit and Orrison.
Thanks for the info. Rob. I’ll be at the Toronto pilgrims meeting on Mar 2.