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What's the best day of the week to leave St Jean to avoid the congestion at the start.

Normt

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: Sept-Oct 2015. SJDP - Santiago
I'm planning on starting my Camino from St Jean in the first week of September and was wondering what day of the week is likely to have the least traffic so the scamble for beds during the first few days is kept to the minimum. Any thoughts?
 
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Most pilgrims leave on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That creates a hump in the numbers, though the first three days winnow out a few who slip back a day or two!
 
Normt said:
I'm planning on starting my Camino from St Jean in the first week of September and was wondering what day of the week is likely to have the least traffic so the scamble for beds during the first few days is kept to the minimum. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Hi, in the weekends the most pilgrims leave SJPDP. Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.
 
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I left on September 20th and really had no issues finding a bed to mention at any point.
(I did however make a reservation at Orission, and was very glad I did.
Be fearless and keep putting one foot in front of the other......all things will work out.
Buen Camino.
C
 
Last edited:
Normt said:
I'm planning on starting my Camino from St Jean in the first week of September and was wondering what day of the week is likely to have the least traffic so the scamble for beds during the first few days is kept to the minimum. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Hi Normt if you check out my 2015 SEPTEMBER PILGRIMS thread you can see how many Forum members are starting in the first week of September. Let me know when you decide your date and if you wish I can add you to the list?
Buen camino
Sarah
 
Normt said:
I'm planning on starting my Camino from St Jean in the first week of September and was wondering what day of the week is likely to have the least traffic so the scamble for beds during the first few days is kept to the minimum. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Buen Camino Normt! Maybe you will leave on Monday September 7th, if so I will see you on the way!
 
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The weekend is correct, but I'd also wager that Monday has more than the other weekdays. I'd leave Tuesday through Thursday if this was my biggest concern. Most people leave home at (or near) the end of a work week, so thursday night, friday night, or saturday morning.......most get straight to Santiago....some are slower.....but by Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday you should be at the lowest.
 
Although more pilgrims leave St Jean in the month of May there is a peak week in September with the highest numbers of pilgrims leaving St Jean, week 36, end of August/beginning of September - - (the numbers on this chart are calendar week numbers)

here are the monthly and weekly charts for those leaving St Jean


 
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Siom said:
Because of this thread, now weekends will be the least people starting.
Click to expand...
This forum affects maybe 4% of peregrinos? It's only for English speakers (so already well under 50% of pilgrims)....minus those who don't research online.....minus those who use other, less popular forums, minus those who follow this forum but don't read this thread, minus those who do read it but it doesn't effect what day they want to leave......., you get my point.
 
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What statistic or number would be used to determine the number leaving St Jean on any given day..
I am not aware of anyone keeping track.
What am I missing?
Not everyone goes to the SJPP Pilgrim Office so that would not be very accurate.
 
I think the original question was which day of the week is the busiest for leaving SJPP. I couldn't find that addressed in John's 2013 blog entry

My question is what information could be used to generate numbers for people leaving on any given day.
 
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Normt said:
I'm planning on starting my Camino from St Jean in the first week of September and was wondering what day of the week is likely to have the least traffic so the scamble for beds during the first few days is kept to the minimum. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

This is what we did Norm just recently in mid July.
We had started in middle France , arrived @ StJean on a saturday around lunch time after 20km and temp 30c.
We walked a side road in shade to Valcarlos [ the original way ] and stayed in this lovely village in a beautiful Casa Rural.
There were many, many pilgrims having dinner that night in the town.
Next morning , being a sunday we walked along the road until the top then headed into the forest in the mist.
The only cars on this deserted road were taxis taking pilgrims or luggage TO and FROM STJ & Ronscavalles
On Sunday mornings the road is deserted.
We skipped Ronscavalles and continued a further 4 km to Burgette.
Accommodation and places to eat were plentiful from Casa Rurals, Pensions to Hostels

We found whilst there that everyone who went over the top saw nothing with the mist .
Keep your options open mate,
D
PS
We have now gone over the top or by Valcarlos on two occasions each ,
dead heat which one we prefer but to avoid the stampede the above is a very good way in beautiful country side.
If anyone tells you the country roads are bad then remind them of the stone paths on water ways on the following day.
I know which ones we enjoy the most.
 
Good point by Thornley re mist on the Route Napoleon - I experienced some last year but when it lifts - it's heavenly! Weather forecast is a must to check before crossing the mountains - haven't tried the Valcarlos route yet as a little put off by guidebook! I'm starting from StJean on Friday, 4th Sept so may see some of you guys! Buen Camino
 
Hi Gerry, I arrive in Madrid/Pamplona/St. Jean on the 3rd and will begin my walk on the 4th. Hope to see you there.
 
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="waveprof, post: 330900, member: 23444"]This forum affects maybe 4% of peregrinos? It's only for English speakers (so already well under 50% of pilgrims)....minus those who don't research online.....minus those who use other, less popular forums, minus those who follow this forum but don't read this thread, minus those who do read it but it doesn't effect what day they want to leave......., you get my point.[/QUOTE]
I start out from STJPDP on August 27, a Thursday, guess this doesn't affect me.. Buen Camino..
 
Donna Mosello said:
Hi Gerry, I arrive in Madrid/Pamplona/St. Jean on the 3rd and will begin my walk on the 4th. Hope to see you there.
Click to expand...
Sounds good Donna - look forward to meeting you 'en route'!
 

Gosh - these numbers are surprising for me - I had heard that up to 150 pilgrims a day can leave SJPP but the chart for September indicates that there will be over 2000 in week 36 - over 300 a day and probably concentrated at the week-ends ....

I'm starting from SJPP on Saturday 29th & am hesitating over the Frances or del Norte caminos .... I don't like all the roads on the del Norte but it sounds like the start of the Frances in week 36 could be as crowded as the last 100km leading to Santiago ...

Any opinions ?
 
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Norm, my advice is to leave mid-week, and then play it by ear.
If you get into a "wave" of pilgrims, hang back a bit.
Stay BETWEEN Brierley's stages instead of sticking to the guidebook.
 
grayland said:
What statistic or number would be used to determine the number leaving St Jean on any given day..
I am not aware of anyone keeping track.
What am I missing?
Not everyone goes to the SJPP Pilgrim Office so that would not be very accurate.
Click to expand...

You could consider that the number of people who do not go to the Pilgrim office as a roughly equal percentage per day.

Say for example that 5% of pilgrims don't go to the pilgrim office. You could then add 5% to the weekly statistics ... and end up with roughly the same information about which weeks are the busiest. The graph provided by David would look the same.
 
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