katie@camino
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF, SJPDP-Finisterre 2016;CP (Central) Porto-SdC 2017;CP (Coastal) Porto-SdC 2018;CF Leon-SdC 2019
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I've done the Merida-Aljucen leg several times and always stopped there..its a 16km stroll, next leg is 20kms. I never dreamed of doing it in one go..and never met anyone who had..after all their are 2 albergues there. Looked back at my diary for the 40kms from Carcaboso.."left at 7.30am..cool,few drops of rain.." I did it other times both before and after that and seems with no problems. Of course I'm careful...and if I'm at all apprehensive there's always taxisExtremadura is "the frypan of Europe". And that is the region that is most likely to kill you.
There are hotspots literally where people have gotten into strife. One is the Merida-Aljucen-Alcuescar leg. I totally recommend stopping at Aljucen as people who try to do the whole lot get into strife trying to get into Alcuescar.
The whole northern part has to be carefully done otherwise you will have some very long days and very short ones. Make sure you have phone numbers for all the hostals and albergues in the area especially around Caparra. We almost ran out of water there (200ml left between two was it) and the info centre closed early so we couldn't access the vending machine. Since we had the phone numbers for the Hotel Asturias we were able to get picked up. Take a look at my thread about my June-July 2015 camino. You need to assume that the only guaranteed water is a bar and even they can close unexpectedly. The weather will be even hotter than what I experienced. Read up on heat indexes and heat stress. Water needs vary so much. I just did the Levante and Invierno and rarely went through a litre of carried water because the temp was rarely above 20 degrees. Guaranteed to need to pee behind a bush about an hour after breakfast and usually the same after a bar stop. On the VDLP I was hydrating like crazy and still peeing brown and rarely needed to find a toilet-tree. You would be starting a month later than me so it would be hotter.
Hi! Of course it’s feasible, people have done it.... BUT ... would I recommend it? No.I am wondering about the feasibility of walking the VdlP starting early July? I will have 7-8 weeks holiday at that time of year.
I am Australian so am use to heat, although I don't love walking in it. I'm a pretty fast walker and would aim to start by 6am, finish by 12-1pm each day. I enjoy solitude and, after recently walking the CF in snow, hail and driving rain, I have decided I much prefer a warmer camino, particularly because of the lighter pack a summer Camino allows for.
Given these factors, would a VdlP be feasible?
Thanks in advance for any insight you can share
Maybe that was my mistakeI've done the Merida-Aljucen leg several times and always stopped there..its a 16km stroll, next leg is 20kms. I never dreamed of doing it in one go..and never met anyone who had..
2 easy stages!Maybe that was my mistake
I know but we arrived so early... (Can’t remember exactly but around 10/11 ish? We had a drink in a café , stocked up on water and decided to walk on ... Hmmmm....2 easy stages!
Oh...when it's a short stage I leave at an appropriate hour so I left Merida about 10amI know but we arrived so early... (Can’t remember exactly but around 10/11 ish? We had a drink in a café , stocked up on water and decided to walk on ... Hmmmm....
But you'll get crowds!I would agree pick another Camino to walk. I will walk the VDLP one day but I plan to start around March 1.
It wasn't crowded for me on the Norte last September-October. In fact after about you start leaving the coast and heading south I don't think I saw more then 4 or 5 pilgrims a day tops! I walked Le Puy to Santiago (but it was in 2014 so I am sure it has changed) It was really mellow in September in France. Lots of days I didn't see anyone. I personally would not want to walk in that heat. I don't think it would be a great idea for my health. My friend walked last year and a pilgrim died of either heat stroke or dehydration in October. I agree also about the crowds on the CF. I am walking it this year but I am walking to of SJPP on October 29th!But you'll get crowds!
I did mean the VDLP which some posting now have commented on the numbers. Yes Le Puy was great..can't believe it's 12 years ago. I heartily recommend from Mont St Michel to SJPDP I got to stay in champagne castles and virtually untouched fully stocked refuges etc etcIt wasn't crowded for me on the Norte last September-October. In fact after about you start leaving the coast and heading south I don't think I saw more then 4 or 5 pilgrims a day tops! I walked Le Puy to Santiago (but it was in 2014 so I am sure it has changed) It was really mellow in September in France. Lots of days I didn't see anyone. I personally would not want to walk in that heat. I don't think it would be a great idea for my health. My friend walked last year and a pilgrim died of either heat stroke or dehydration in October. I agree also about the crowds on the CF. I am walking it this year but I am walking to of SJPP on October 29th!
If you mean the crowds on the VDLP in March if I am reading the statistics correctly in March of 2019, 95 people started in Sevilla and finished in Santiago. Not too crowed hahaha
Buen Camino
I would love to do that Camino again. I had some spectacular meals in some of those rural gites, especially. Every vegetable out of the garden. Homemade jams, spectacular dinners and breakfasts and of course that French wine and bread!!! Oh, I want to go back right now!!!!!!I did mean the VDLP which some posting now have commented on the numbers. Yes Le Puy was great..can't believe it's 12 years ago. I heartily recommend from Mont St Michel to SJPDP I got to stay in champagne castles and virtually untouched fully stocked refuges etc etc
There are 2 routes from mont st michel...i had intended doing the r oute i haven't done but decided on spain BUT next year b e ing holy year i will avoid spain and head to spain......by the w a y maybe we should keep mont st michel quiet!I would love to do that Camino again. I had some spectacular meals in some of those rural gites, especially. Every vegetable out of the garden. Homemade jams, spectacular dinners and breakfasts and of course that French wine and bread!!! Oh, I want to go back right now!!!!!!
I am going to check that route out. Is there stuff about it here on the forum? Have you ever walked the CF in winter? Looking forward to it.There are 2 routes from mont st michel...i had intended doing the r oute i haven't done but decided on spain BUT next year b e ing holy year i will avoid spain and head to spain......by the w a y maybe we should keep mont st michel quiet!
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