Walking in August/September 2023--Concerns about Drought

[RunnerGirl]

This will be my and my husband's first Camino. We are planning to start around mid-August in St. Jean and take about six weeks. However, we have been following the drought situation. All signs seems to point to this extreme drought continuing and so I am wondering if anyone who walked around the same time last year can offer any advice or information. Thank you!!

 

[CWBuff]

Hello, Welcome and Buen Camino
I sincerely doubt that it will ever get to the point where you will not be able to find a potable source of water to fill-up in the morning and be able to refresh while walking.
After all - Frances is not exactly a Gobi Desert. With 6 weeks you have plenty of time to take it 'reasonably nice and slow' without overly exerting yourself....
Truly - no worries! Enjoy your 1st walk
(P.S> If everything else fails - Kaz Lemon or Radler will surely help to quench the thirst for a 'few Euros more' )

 

[EricJR]

You might find this link useful, to the "European Drought Observatory." I include a picture showing their latest map of current drought.

It looks like southern and northeast Spain do have some serious drought conditions, accompanied by the usual lurid headline news. But the CF runs through central northern Spain where the conditions are not so serious. Last September, I did see a lot of scorched sunflower fields, which had probably suffered from the summer heatwave, but I didn't notice any unusual water restrictions - fountains flowing freely etc.

https://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/php/index.php?id=1052

 

[Flatlander]

This will be my and my husband's first Camino. We are planning to start around mid-August in St. Jean and take about six weeks. However, we have been following the drought situation. All signs seems to point to this extreme drought continuing and so I am wondering if anyone who walked around the same time last year can offer any advice or information. Thank you!!

What exactly is your fear?

This is the third year, officially, of drought.

Read up on the usual advice about walking in extreme heat such as avoiding direct sunlight as much as possible (a hat), drinking frequently, resting. etc. If sweating a lot you may like to consider some magnesium/potassium supplements, available in any farmacia, either as a powder to mix with water or in tablet form. The powder can make warm water less unpleasant to drink but requires more cleaning of bottles and nozzles. I travel by bike so weight is less of an issue but juicy fruit like oranges can be a godsend on hot days.

You may find that some fountains are dry but there are normally other sources of water. It would be no harm to budget for some extra rest days, shorter days or the occasional bus or taxi.
Probably the most important thing is to pay attention to your body. Dehydration can lead to dizzyness, loss of balance and other medical problems. In the past, when I was not drinking enough I set a regular alarm on my phone to remind me to drink every hour.

There is little reason to be anxious (unless you are a farmer) and pack just a modicum of common sense.

Buen Camino

 

[naplesdon]

I just returned home to Estoril after a long weekend in the Algarve. The wind is blowing a fairly steady 15 to 20 mph out of the north in both locations. It is kicking up quite a bit of dust, and almost every car you see on the road has a fairly heavy coating of dust and you hear lots of sneezing going on. If you are an asthmatic I think I would follow the trend over the summer. It might be another reason to wear a mask.

 

[RunnerGirl]

Thank you for your replies! The map is very helpful. I appreciate it. We are committed to doing this.

 

[K_Lynn]

I just returned home to Estoril after a long weekend in the Algarve. The wind is blowing a fairly steady 15 to 20 mph out of the north in both locations. It is kicking up quite a bit of dust, and almost every car you see on the road has a fairly heavy coating of dust and you hear lots of sneezing going on. If you are an asthmatic I think I would follow the trend over the summer. It might be another reason to wear a mask.

I'll be in that neighbourhood in September. Thank you for the reminder to pack proper masks.
I'm having a fire smoke day here in Western Canada and joked to a friend that it was N99 weather.

 

[Rolotom]

This will be my and my husband's first Camino. We are planning to start around mid-August in St. Jean and take about six weeks. However, we have been following the drought situation. All signs seems to point to this extreme drought continuing and so I am wondering if anyone who walked around the same time last year can offer any advice or information. Thank you!!

I started August 8 2021....some days were hot but you are done walking for the worst of it. We had no rain until the last 2 days....which I loved! I'm going again this year leaving SJPP on August 13.....maybe I'll run into you!!!