what time is recomended to start walk in the mornings?

[PepeMadrid]

Hi everybody. I will do the camino the next 18 of july with another 10 friends from UK.
We have some discrepancies about at what time we should wake up every days and start to walk' My opinion is to wake up as son as possible, around 6:00, because we need to arrive at the end of the day ASAP too, because we are 11 people and will be sometimes complicate to find enought beds or acomodation for all of us.
Can somebody give me any advise?
Thanks.
Pepe

 

[William Marques]

You are right but not only for that reason. It is much more pleasant in July to walk in the cool of early morning rather than the heat of the midday sun (actually it gets really hot in the early afternoon). An early start also means that you can stop for a "café con leche" and toast after a few hours at a roadside cafe for breakfast.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you can stay in bed until 6:00 am, good for you! There will be many rising at 5:00 am to be on the road by 6:00 am. Many albergues want everyone gone by 8:00 am, so if your group has some slow starters, do not be surprised when the hospitalero pushes them out the door! Sunrise is a good time to start walking. By "start walking," I mean "out the door to the nearest open bar for cafe con leche and tostada."

 

[micbook]

Hi Pepe,
I thought 6am was, as an average, a good time to get up. Though there were days I stayed in bed longer...and there were days I was up earlier...walking in July, the heat is definitely a factor. I personally liked the Spanish sun and didn't mind walking even at the warmest hour of the day. However, most pilgrims do find it too hot and prefer to rise early so that they can get a good chunk of the walk before mid day, and then take a siesta until it cools down a bit. Another factor to consider is how far you plan to walk each day. If you're walking shorter distances/4-5 hours, the days look quite different than if you walk long distances/7-8 hours...or something in between. And no matter what wake-up time you all agree on, I'd take the first couple of days to see how it feels. Walking for a few days will teach you all what's best for you and, given the size of the group, you might even find yourselves walking during the day at different pace and just setting a meeting town for lunch or overnight.

Buen Camino!
Michal
--
http://michalrinkevich.wordpress.com/tag/camino-de-santiago/

 

[scruffy1]

One should never criticize or disparage other pilgrims or the Camino itself in any way at any time. The only habit which may upset others are very early risers – those people banging around in the dark falling over and dropping things are bad enough but can be ignored by a sleepy pilgrim simply turning over. The worst but absolutely worst incidents are caused by those who utilize a "headlamp" in order to get there gear together and leave. The more modern varieties are now very efficient, very very bright, very strong, and with every turn or nod of the head flash about, illuminate every corner and generally cause more mischief and despair then actually assisting the user and awaken all those around. One last word, the Camino is not a race, it is not a list of places to be chalked off as done today and gone tomorrow. Allow the Camino to exert its own influence its own peace its own timelessness, something very difficult to achieve by rising in the dark and rushing about all day long in oder to make kilometerage or to maintain a plan. One may take more time to finish or if that is not an option, split the course and come back next year. The Compostela document is not why we are walking.

 

[zammy]

your main problem is finding accomodatios for 11 people
I suggets you book ahead beds in private albergues, it's not that expansive, it is much more comfortable, roomy, good food, quiet, less people, less snoring, better beds, you can start when ever you wish and you can go slower and longer till 1600 every day without worrying about finding beds for 11.
I found out that the best time on the camino is after 1300 after the big rush, when the camino is almost empty and the trail is quiet.

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

you know it is time to get up when someone turns on the main lights in the albergue and everyone then gets up and you have no chance of rolling over and going back to sleep.

with 11 of you there is a possibility that some of the smaller albergues will not accomodate you all under their roof, though the private albergues will probably be happy to do so.

get a couple of guidebooks, including the 2012 Guide for the Camino Frances from the CSJ bookshop and plan ahead. doing so will make your pilgrimage that much easier.

 

[corrigan]

The bag rustlers will start at 5-30, you'll turn over and try to get some more sleep, forget it, get up and watch the dawn break, the best part of the day. Join the stampede to get a bed.

 

[alexwalker]

This is an interesting question, and I will try to put some effort into answering you :wink:

I am a B-person: I love lazy mornings. I was shocked by being awakened 4.00 in the morning in Pamplona; my first night in an albergue. It took me quite a few days to learn and understand the machine of the Camino...

I was angry several mornings, being wakened up by those stupid early walkers. Some are actually true idiots, seriously... But: There is a big advantage to be on the road at 6.30/7.00 in the morning; stop and look back at the sun rising above the horizon, enjoying a coffee at 10.00 AM after 10 kms., arriving at the albergue at 1.00 PM, get your bed, fix lunch, sleep a little, start to think about dinner, go to the local bar and have a pint of beer, relax and talk with other pilgrims...

All in all, I am able to convert from a B person to an A person when on the Camino, and it does me good, too.

You will need two tools with you: Ear plugs to avoid the snoring of others at night; and eye blinds to avoid the 4.00 AM idiots running around with their strong head lamps inside the dormitory... And you might need nose plugs as well: Some pilgrims are just literally full of shit... :lol:

So the answer is: Protect yourself at night; get up early and start walking; finish before the heat sets in in the early afternoon, and enjoy the new place you have arrived at... And above all: ENJOY the Way, and the fact that you are right now a part of it!!!

But corrigan has a good point, as well.

 

[dazzamac]

I tried to avoid leaving before sunrise if at all possible because part of the reason for me walking the Camino was taking photographs along the way and photos need light. So it seemed pointless for me to leave in the dark when I couldn't see anything. That said, leaving in the pre-dawn light let me search for a suitable location to catch the sunrise and admire the view.

As many others have said, you will find yourself awakened by the early risers with their clumsy feet, rustling bags and bright lights. You may fall asleep again or you may decide to join with them and greet the day early. The decision of when to walk will remain yours but when you wake may be out of your hands.

 

[camino77]

Ear plugs and eye blinds guarantee sleep and comfort while staying at the albergues. Always have them with me while traveling. Its essential. Great value with minimum weight and volume. Being equipped with such, i won't be disturbed by the early risers.

Buen Camino!

 

[SkyWalker]

I would hate to have my mornings dictated by other pilgrims, I feel like if I want to get up at 5:30 I should but I feel like sleeping until 8 I should as well. :|

 

[Deleted member 3000]

but I feel like sleeping until 8

Some albergues will insist that you be gone by 8. Virtually all will want you out by 9.

 

[markss]

I would hate to have my mornings dictated by other pilgrims, I feel like if I want to get up at 5:30 I should but I feel like sleeping until 8 I should as well. :|

Good luck with that! If you are staying in the communal environment of albergues, to some extent conditions are dictated by those around you. The solution is to go with the flow (it's really not that bad) or include the cost of private accommodations in your budget.

 

[na2than]

your start time will vary accoeding to each and every day...when the etap is long start early....when less than 25 kms have a lay in and start at 7.30.On the measetre during summer months start as early as you can the walking day is short because of the heat

 

[dougfitz]

I would hate to have my mornings dictated by other pilgrims, I feel like if I want to get up at 5:30 I should but I feel like sleeping until 8 I should as well. :|

Of course you can achieve this level of self-determination - in your private hotel room. It is unrealistic not to expect that one would have to make some compromises in the much cheaper shared accommodation albergues offer.

Regards

 

[SkyWalker]

Well, I feel we're subject to follow the rules of the albergue offering us a place to stay, not of the people sharing the same enviroment as us. People get up, rustle around, flashlights on and out of a sudden you feel obligated to follow along...it's my walk, my journey. But Im still going with a good attitude even if it means spending some extra cash or carrying along a still debatable tent.

 

[dougfitz]

Well, I feel we're subject to follow the rules of the albergue offering us a place to stay, not of the people sharing the same enviroment as us. People get up, rustle around, flashlights on and out of a sudden you feel obligated to follow along...it's my walk, my journey. But Im still going with a good attitude even if it means spending some extra cash or carrying along a still debatable tent.

I know from experience how hard it can be once one has been woken by the early risers not to add to the noise and light show by getting oneself ready to go. I generally resisted, but even earplugs and an eye mask were not always sufficient to prevent being woken.

 

[markss]

From your profile SkyWalker, you say that you are planning on taking the Camino Norte Route in October/November. At that time of year the albergues should not be very crowded, in fact you might even find yourself the only person in one or two or them. People may be less interested in getting an early start both because of a later sunrise and because there is no rush to get out early to beat the daytime heat as would occur in summer.

Understand that we like to vent on this forum. It seems that any negatives are really never as bad as they may sound, and the good is always better than we can describe.

Buen Camino ... you selected a good time of year!

 

[daesdaemar]

Usually whole it's still dark - almost always before 7 AM.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Sunrise on October 15, 2012 in Bilbao will be 0825, and will be about two minutes later each day until December 21. It is always a bit strange to be escorted out the door before sunrise, but that is what often happens in albergues!

 

[SkyWalker]

Adaptability will be the key, I will probably be making my way to a nice breakfast by the time the sun is up.