VdlP in February?

[Sue Blue Mountains]

Hi all, would love to hear comments about possibly doing the VdlP in Feb next year. I'd be interested to know whether Winter/Spring walkers found it difficult to find accommodation.

Also, I wrote to S.Yates a couple of years ago after she did the VdlP (again?) and asked whether it was possible to do it without doing 30km+ days. I seem to recall she said yes. I'm more a 18-25km/day walker. What are people's thoughts about this 2 years on?

 

[André Walker]

Hi all, would love to hear comments about possibly doing the VdlP in Feb next year. I'd be interested to know whether Winter/Spring walkers found it difficult to find accommodation.

Also, I wrote to S.Yates a couple of years ago after she did the VdlP (again?) and asked whether it was possible to do it without doing 30km+ days. I seem to recall she said yes. I'm more a 18-25km/day walker. What are people's thoughts about this 2 years on?

Hi Sue,

I did the VdlP last year. Although my daily distances are a bit longer than what you prefer, I took a quick look. It's possible to walk from Seville to Astorga (assuming you want to do the VdlP and not the Via Sanabres) in 37 days with a daily average of 20 km. As far as I can see, there would be 3 days of 25+ km: 2 of almost 29 km (from Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Almadén de la Plata & from Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to San Pedro de Rosados) and 1 of 33 km (from Carcaboso to Hostal Asturias). It also includes a couple of really short daily distances (11 km), to avoid longer ones.

Hope this helps. Although it's worth checking out some of the VdlP-apps: new albergues are being opened all the time.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hello Sue,
I've no personal experience, but I did follow a blog two years ago of a couple in their early 60's who walked it February into early March. They seemed to manage quite well although it was rather chilly at times. I remember they were often wearing warm hats and puff coats in their photos. I recall they camped out a few times under a tarp, but don't recall why. That's all I know.

 

[Colette Z]

I might walk at that time. I’ve got my walking plan worked out, my 2019 VDLP didn’t happen due to a family illness. Keep in touch.

 

[hotelmedicis]

I was on the VDLP in February/March of 2018 and I experienced some Albergue closures but if you have some extra euros you can usually find a hotel or B and B somewhere, just plan ahead. The real problem we had was extreme torrential rain which is apparently common at that time of year. It was simply raining all the time and everyone got soaked whether you had Gore-Tex head to toe or not. It was quite depressing and more than one person abandoned. If you go, I would opt for quick drying clothing and non-waterproof running shoes that drain well. Gore-Tex type membranes don't drain at all. And bring a dry set of clothing to sleep in at night.

 

[Colette Z]

I was on the VDLP in February/March of 2018 and I experienced some Albergue closures but if you have some extra euros you can usually find a hotel or B and B somewhere, just plan ahead. The real problem we had was extreme torrential rain which is apparently common at that time of year. It was simply raining all the time and everyone got soaked whether you had Gore-Tex head to toe or not. It was quite depressing and more than one person abandoned. If you go, I would opt for quick drying clothing and non-waterproof running shoes that drain well. Gore-Tex type membranes don't drain at all. And bring a dry set of clothing to sleep in at night.

I walked the Norte exactly that same time in 2018 and it rained 80% of the days vs this past spring was quite dry.

 

[tangata hikoi]

I started 1st March just gone and had more or less perfect weather. Think it is just the luck of the draw with the weather. I probably would have liked walking in February too as it was pretty hot in March this year.

It definitely got colder as I went north but not so much that it was unpleasant. Needed gloves in the morning and had some snow on the Sanabres but very good walking weather on the whole.
Megg

 

[Sue Blue Mountains]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's heartening to hear there has been varied weather. I don't mind rain but know how disheartening it can be when it is ALL the time. I'm also playing with the idea of walking the Camino Mozarabe (from either Granada, one of my fave places in Spain or from Almeira and either joining the VDLP or finishing when I reach it. So if anyone has great thoughts on that, happy to hear those as well.
Cheers.
Sue

 

[André Walker]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's heartening to hear there has been varied weather. I don't mind rain but know how disheartening it can be when it is ALL the time. I'm also playing with the idea of walking the Camino Mozarabe (from either Granada, one of my fave places in Spain or from Almeira and either joining the VDLP or finishing when I reach it. So if anyone has great thoughts on that, happy to hear those as well.
Cheers.
Sue

Take a look at these 2 websites for more information about the Mozárabe from either Almería or Granada:

https://caminosantiagoandalucia.org/albergues-y-alojamientos-para-peregrinos-desde-almeria/ http://www.almeriajacobea.es/p/vivencias-del-camino.html

 

[Sue Blue Mountains]

Take a look at these 2 websites for more information about the Mozárabe from either Almería or Granada:

https://caminosantiagoandalucia.org/albergues-y-alojamientos-para-peregrinos-desde-almeria/ http://www.almeriajacobea.es/p/vivencias-del-camino.html

Thank you so much! Much better info than I had otherwise found. Feeling happy now. Was about to toss it all in thinking it was all a bit hard for me to do solo next Feb. But maybe I will now! Muchas gracias!

 

[wcsjms]

We are walking the Via de la Plata January through March 2020. It's very hard to find definitive answers about albergue closures/openings or weather. We are grabbing bits and pieces of info from everywhere and are trying to make it into a cohesive picture of what it will be like. In other words...we are just going to do it. Buen Camino and good fortune in finding the info you need !

 

[Derek Booth]

I started 1st March just gone and had more or less perfect weather. Think it is just the luck of the draw with the weather. I probably would have liked walking in February too as it was pretty hot in March this year.

It definitely got colder as I went north but not so much that it was unpleasant. Needed gloves in the morning and had some snow on the Sanabres but very good walking weather on the whole.
Megg

Hi, I too started on the 1st March but in my case from Pamplona on the Frances.
Anyone want to buy a full length raincoat and overtrousers??? neither of which were worn for the entire Camino.
Day after day of perfect weather.

 

[malingerer]

Hi, I too started on the 1st March but in my case from Pamplona on the Frances.
Anyone want to buy a full length raincoat and overtrousers??? neither of which were worn for the entire Camino.
Day after day of perfect weather.

I am interested in previous remarks ref "tarping". any leads on that? Thankee, the malingerer.

Buen Camino.

 

[Derek Booth]

Hi @malingerer,

'Tarp' is an abbreviation for 'Tarpaulin' which is a waterproof material used in the UK (and elsewhere) as protection from the elements. Its usually associated with the haulage industry of old but has been superceded by modern transport methods and vehicles.
Tarps can be bought in many sizes starting at around 3 x 2 mtrs and with eyelets in the corners can be used, tied between say trees or even a wall to provide shelter out in the wilds.
Modern fabrics mean that a small tarp would weigh very little and could be a good thing to pack when journeying across country uninhabited by villages containing albergues.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sue Blue Mountains]

I walked the Norte exactly that same time in 2018 and it rained 80% of the days vs this past spring was quite dry.

Was the Norte seriously windy too? I thought it might be damned miserable that time of year. Another question - were there other pilgrims doing it then too? I don't mind some solitude but find the company of other pilgrims a major part of the enjoyment of a camino.