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Walk for my birthday or go a month earlier

Sharon Kopil

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
November 18 (2018)
Hi! I turn 50 on November 29th and was planning to be on the Camino to reflect on my life and enjoy the adventure! I usually like to celebrate my birthday the day of... but I’m now wondering if I should put that aside and go in October for better weather instead. I would be walking for only about two weeks and the plan was to start from Ponferadda to possibly Finistère. Does anyone have any opinions as to wether it would be that much better to go in October or wait for my actual birthday and go the last two weeks of November? Thank you so much for any insights!
 
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@Sharon Kopil
I have walked in October/November for the last three years. I find it pleasant to walk in cooler weather and have had very little rain during my walks. However, you might consider the effects of shorter days and closing albergues. As the busy season ends, many of the pilgrim hostels and some restaurants will be closing and it may not be practical to go on walking in dark evenings. Even in Galicia, where the Xunta albergues are supposed to be open all year, I have experienced a closure which made it very difficult to find a bed for my last night short of Santiago. If you don't mind short days and can reserve your beds, you might find it the ideal time to walk, as I do.
 
Thankyou for that insight! I would like to know if October is much much more enjoyable to walk than the last two weeks of November. Did you see a big difference between the two months when you were there?
Thanks!!
 
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Sharon Kopil said:
I usually like to celebrate my birthday the day of... I would like to know if October is much much more enjoyable to walk than the last two weeks of November.
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I have walked several times in October-November. I would recommend late October rather than late November.

These "decade" birthdays become meaningless after 5 or 6 times. I'm coming up to my seventh and consider it to be just another date on the calendar - an opportunity for celebration but not an obligation that I need to plan my life around. Mark your birthday differently, if you want.
 
Thankyou, that helps!
 
Sharon Kopil said:
Thankyou for that insight! I would like to know if October is much much more enjoyable to walk than the last two weeks of November. Did you see a big difference between the two months when you were there?
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
@Sharon Kopil
I have walked into Santiago in late November on all three walks so far, mostly because I was walking a long ways and wished to avoid the heat and crowds in September. I enjoyed all of the walks, but if I were walking a shorter distance I might choose to arrive in Santiago before late November, because of the early sunsets and the closure of various facilities for the season. You may decide for yourself whether being in Santiago on the day is an important way for you to celebrate this special birthday. Maybe you could celebrate with friends and family, after returning home, your accomplishment in walking a pilgrimage route. Whatever you decide, buen camino.
 
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My Birthday is Oct 6, I walked the Camino from SJPD in 2014 for my 60th, arriving in Santiago on my Birthday. My children were there to meet me. What a wonderful experience.
 
I celebrated my birthday on the Camino this past March and the small group of pilgrims at the albergue (none of whom I had met before that night) and the hospitalero in Mansilla de Las Mulas serendipitously threw a party for me! It was my favorite birthday yet.

Whenever you go will be the “right” time to go. It just seems to work out that way.

PS: The candles say 27 (because those were the only candles they could find at such a late hour) but it was my 57th!
 

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I've had wonderful birthdays on the Camino, in fact my 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th and 60th! Last year I left earlier than usual (mid June) so for the first time in years I had it at home although I usually don't make a big deal, just dinner with family.

Two Caminos birthdays stick out. On my first Camino I was in Sahagún on my birthday and I invited a Catalán woman I had been walking with for a drink. When the bar owner heard that it was my birthday she came out with empindada for us and mine had two candles - a 5 and a 4! I still have them 8 years on.

The third one I will remember forever. It was when I was a hospitalera in Grañón. My fellow hospitaleras, Jesús the priest, Suzanna the baker and all the 70+ pilgrims staying the night made the day and evening so special. Can you imagine happy birthday being sung in about 6 different languages! There were ballons and decorations everywhere!

But putting this all aside, in your case I would say walk in October. The weather should be better (I've walked the Norte and Plata/Sanabrés in October and had lovely weather) and you don't have to worry about albergue closures. Xunta albergues in Galicia are known to be open year round but others may close by November.
 
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Hi, I turned 63 while I walked the Frances Walk for your birthday. I celebrated my 63rd on the Frances late September. I had a wonderful rendition of happy birthday from my fellow Pilgrims at dinner.A wonderful way to celebrate any birthday.
The weather was perfect.
 
Pam Scott said:
Walk for your birthday. I celebrated my 63rd on the Frances late September. I had a wonderful rendition of happy birthday from my fellow Pilgrims at dinner.A wonderful way to celebrate any birthday.
The weather was perfect.
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I was in Santiago for my birthday in late September 2016, but I think that if my birthday was the end of November, like @Sharon Kopil , I would go earlier.
 
My son was in Carrion de los Condes for his sixteenth birthday. Unfortunately, he wouldn't let me tell anyone. Fortunately, it was July 25 so he still got a celebration.
 
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