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Carry less, ok - what will you leave behind and why?Carry less.
Walk further.
Walk even slower
I'm starting to realise that a Camino is best not measured in kilometres walked, but in how many times the heart smiles.
Why?
Because it really is all about the journey, not the destination.
That really depends on what you brought the first time!
My gear is only about 6.5 kg + food and water now.
To take a puffer jacket, or not. That is the question?
All three if number two means; the Camino length!Carry less.
Walk further.
Walk even slower
“I start every day by opening my eyes.
Thinking of taking a sign to hang around my neck saying ' I've survived two out-of-hospital cardiac arrests'. ( and still can't stop doing Caminos)
.
Actually, no! I'm starting in Pamplona, have ten weeks and don't expect to make it to Santiago on foot. That gives some perspective of just how short my days need to be! If I do find myself walking out of Sarria onto the Pilgrim Highway I will be DELIGHTED!! It will mean I'm recovering better than I could have hoped and I'll be setting my sights on Almeria for next year!
I suspect that the Disneyland path is Sarria-Santiago? Don't think I ever will walk that way again, did Leon-Santiago in maybe the most crowded weeks, next time STJPDP to Leon (yes, know crowded too... ) SO, after that explore the other routes. Ha, ha, can't stop laughing of that Disneyland-name
I would speak with people, not sit down solo. Spoke 50 words and said a lot of buon caminos during my 315 kilometers from Leon to Santiago.
Interesting question, I haven't read all the responses yet, but plan to. I'm currently planning my next Camino. For me:
Good advice Robo, I met a number of people on my last Camino who had walked the same route multiple times. I don't know if it was a lack of imagination or fear of the unknown, either way, walking the Frances more than once, when there's many other way more interesting walks out there seems a waste to me.
No need to be exclusive, use transport. We all have different views and issues, for me I have a degenerative spinal condition and after a couple of weeks the pain was so bad I could not go on. Thank you Jacotrans et al!
Oh and as far as "do different next time" would use them far sooner and more often
I flew into Paris too (from Australia) then caught the train to Bayonne, then one to SJPDP. Did you start your Camino from Madrid, or travel back to SJPDP and start there? I'd be interested to hear what transport etc you used if you went back to France. Another Aussie I know flew into Barcelona.
What time of year did you go? This is my big question.
I've walked in both spring and summer. Carried my puffer and used it on both caminos. Yes in summer too. You really do never know what the weather is going to do.
I am walking from SJPD starting the end of April. I am warm when walking but tend to run cold otherwise. It’s a super lightweight synthetic puffer, but I know that every piece of what I pack adds up. Currently I am at about 13% of my body weight with water and having no trouble with my pack at up to 10 miles. Will see how it goes as I start adding more miles this week to my training.
At the beginning of April you most definitely need to carry it. It's not unknown to get snow on the Frances during April.
Some people don't understand why people walk the same route again. Some people don't understand why people won't. If hear a great song, I don't say "That was a great song. I never want to hear it again. There are too many other great songs out there and I don't have enough time to hear them all." If I eat a delicious dish, I don't say "That dish was delicious. I will never order it again. I won't have enough meals in my life to eat all the great dishes. I don't want to repeat one, no matter how much I loved it.' That kind of thinking makes no sense to me. I'm not saying that I want to hear only one song or eat one dish for the rest of my life. I'm also very open to walking new routes (as I think last summer shows). But to be determined never to repeat something that you enjoyed very much? That thinking is foreign to me.
I guess I fall into the category of not wanting to walk a route again! Many folks are different and I totally get that and I totally understand that the ‘same’ route can deliver a totally different experience due to having different variables… towns you stay on, people you meet, weather, etc.
They are all experiences. It is a difference of size, rather than kind. I can listen to a song and then a different one. I can go on a Camino and a different one the next year. Few of us on this forum only have two trips in our lives. Many go on trips every year. Certainly doing a repeat will mean that you don't do something else. But if you do repeat, that doesn't prevent you from trying a new route next year. Or so my (privileged) experience has been.
You don't have to fly home from the same airport that you fly into. You can fly to Paris and home from Santiago, Madrid, Porto, etc. Look for "multi-city" tickets. They are generally priced about the same as round trip tickets.
Walk with poles
August 26 to September 26 last year.
I wore mine nearly every morning. Then stripped off all my layers. May/June, September October (twice). This time I will take an umbrella (for the sun)
What is stopping me from exploring new routes?
@MARSKA, I was skittish about the Invierno for 5 years, and when I finally worked up the courage to walk it, I realized what a phantom all that fear was. The reality was very different from what I'd imagined. Part of the angst was about something unique to my own situation, but some was similar - about language, remoteness and lack of information.
I personally wouldn’t let a lack of language skills stop me visiting anywhere in the world and certainly not western Europe. You can always ‘muddle’ ’ through! It’s nice to be bilingual and a friend of mine from UK with a Japanese partner always said ‘if you don’t understand the language you won’t understand the culture’ which I think has merit but you will alway get through.
Thanks David! Enjoy the book.
Almost every time. The only route I have started without the firm intention of reaching Santiago at the end was the Camino Mozarabe branch from Málaga. I set off intending to finish at Melide. I had already walked from Melide to Santiago on a previous visit and felt no great need to walk that part again.
It is interesting that you see the size of investment pushing you to try new trails rather than repeat (yet another Camino). For me, while I initially had great intentions to mix up my Caminos with trips to other parts of the world, it is the size of the investment that holds me back from those trips elsewhere. When it comes down to planning a trip, Caminos are just so much less costly than trips elsewhere, it is hard to justify them on my budget.
I live in the UK and so travel to Spain is usually cheap and convenient. No doubt that makes some difference to costs but USD5,000 is about twice what I would expect to spend walking from SJPDP to Santiago. I do mostly stay in albergues rather than private rooms but otherwise I am not especially tight-fisted.
Thanks, yes I am also from UK albeit nomadic nowadays. Estimate based on USA folks to include airfares! I am dorm only so it rolls in at about £1000 / €1150 ish for a 30 day Camino! I guess only trying to make the point it’s a significant investment in money and time (esp given some of the reported vacation allowances in USA) and many folks may need to trade off versus other activities!
My impression from reading posts here over the years is that time may be a more significant factor than cost for most people. Many from the US seem to be very anxious to find the quickest possible route to their starting point to maximise the limited time at their disposal. I've found it extraordinary when someone asks about one-way car hire from Madrid to SJPDP or Porto to Sarria where time appears to be of the essence despite the enormous costs involved - especially when dropping off the car in a different country from the pick-up point. These posts very rarely come from Europeans.
Darn that's cheap! Ok, I've had a couple of private rooms in my mix but nonetheless my budget is around 50 euros a day. Some of my dorms have cost me €20. And had no cooking facilities.
100% agree! It’s very striking to me too!
Well it’s not exact but it’s almost 40 euros a day. So €20 dorm and €20 food and drink!
Ok, re- reading you asked what WE would do. With 20 days, taking into account your other comments (splitting from friends etc), I’d fly to Oviedo,spend a day there, walk the Primitivo, and on to Finistere. Bus back to Santiago, fly back to Barcelona.
Thank you, that is certainly something to consider
For me, beginning my journey in the US in a city not well connected by air routes, it's about $1800 for the flight to Madrid. Then 40EU ($43) per day for food & lodging. A 30 day Camino will cost me $1300 + 1800 is $3000.oh - transport inside Spain might be another $200. So $3200. And I think one always spends more than estimated. From the US it's not a cheap trip.
OMG love "stop packing our fears"! I think this is one of the biggest lessons of the Camino, what do you really need in life??
Sure. Yes finance plays a part whether walking or contemplating any other travel experience!
Is it toxic?
My primary rule of thumb regarding backpack content:
Well, here are some things - stupidly as you will say - a secondtimer will (over)pack:
I carry my pack on the Camino, but I send a suitcase with pre and post Camino clothes, hair dryer, etc. to Santiago because I do some traveling/sightseeing before and after my Camino.
Ahaa, the mystery is revealed
Toxic to my freedomIs it toxic?
Thanks for this suggestion, I've been reading day and night about Primitivo now and I'm going for it. Scared by the statistics about so many people attending Frances. Went on to Finestierre last time, so there will be some stages at Nortre first I think. Sent you a pm
That's going to make it hard to put on before leaving the albergue in the morning.
Or to get stuff in or out of it.That's going to make it hard to put on before leaving the albergue in the morning.
Well, here are some things - stupidly as you will say - a secondtimer will (over)pack:
A dress for use in evenings and also at nights; when arriving in Santiago at a dinner, all the other women showed up in fancy dresses, I sat there with my old worn-out hiking clothes used for a month.
A big soft nice towel: can't say how much I hate those stamp size awful microfiber.
Don't know if these ladies in nice dresses had their luggage transported, I really don't care and carry my own pack no matter what. So, thats me, happily carrying the extra pounds, and - my primarily rule of thumb, as you say - what I know I will use. But ok, the hairdryer stays at home
Thanks for the support Robo! Good to know. I'll send you a PMDon't be discouraged @MARSKA . It's all too easy to let our fears hold us back.
I was the same, walking the CF three times because it was easy regarding stages and infrastructure, familar and so a 'safe' option.
Last time, I walked the VdlP and the Invierno and loved them.
1. My Spanish is VERY basic, and limited to very basic ordering of food or booking a bed.
2. I max out at 25 kms with a comfortable range being 20-25.
3. I researched a lot, blogs, posts, videos etc. But to a degree, less detailed information merely added to the sense of adventure.
Once I knew that the stages could be broken up to match my capability, and that there would be accommodaton of one type or another I was good to go.
I'll stick mainly to the more remote routes now I think........
I found it liberating!
Women...
I tried turning up in a 'nice dress' in Santiago last September . . .. it all went badly wrong . . . .Well, here are some things - stupidly as you will say - a secondtimer will (over)pack:
A dress for use in evenings and also at nights; when arriving in Santiago at a dinner, all the other women showed up in fancy dresses, I sat there with my old worn-out hiking clothes used for a month.
A big soft nice towel: can't say how much I hate those stamp size awful microfiber.
Don't know if these ladies in nice dresses had their luggage transported, I really don't care and carry my own pack no matter what. So, thats me, happily carrying the extra pounds, and - my primarily rule of thumb, as you say - what I know I will use. But ok, the hairdryer stays at home
well, this I think deserves an explanation... ? tell us please..I tried turning up in a 'nice dress' in Santiago last September . . .. it all went badly wrong . . . .
As should your beauty box, high heel shoes, and other weird female items. Noone will care about your looks anyway. (nor your clothes...). We are too tired in the evenings.....But ok, the hairdryer stays at home
this is a great disappointment, and I who thought that my highest heels would be the most used on such an occasion..As should your beauty box, high heel shoes, and other weird female items. Noone will care about your looks anyway. (nor your clothes...). We are too tired in the evenings...
