jenrush said:
Hi, this is my first message so forgive me if it's already been answered somewhere! I'm planning to do the camino de frances in October - does anyone know what the weather is like at that time of year? I had wanted to avoid the intense summer heat, being Irish and all, but I don't really want to be walking in the rain every day. Any ideas?
You want walk in rain every day. I left SJpdP about October 5 or 6 in 2005 and finished in Finisterre about mid November and I, being from the warmer latitudes, just walked in shorts every day, only cold (light morning snow) around O'Cebreiro and the last evening in Finisterre. There was some cold rain occasionally though, sometimes for a few of days on end but often I just walked in tee shirt and shorts.
There is one oft overlooked advantage to this time of year that will occur to you at the beginning of your Camino as you walk into Navarra and Rioja amidst those huge vineyards of plump grapes dangling from the vines. You will soon find your face covered with their sweetness-the finest breakfasts you will ever have-and you will find yourself missing them when you walk out of the wine producing areas and into the wheat producing ones next with those huge empty fields of already cultivated wheat,. Just choose your breakfast, lunch or snack bunches from those dangling from the lower part of the plant as those grapes are usually just discarded anyway because of their lower potential alcohol content. But i could never tell the difference of taste between the two sides. I am remembering now with fondness those sumptuous cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo grapes and the young wines-especially my favorite, the tempranillo, served alongside those pilgrim menus. Enjoy!!