Where to Start

[don88]

Hi All, I have been a lurker for a couple of years and now have my passage to Spain. Arriving Barcelona May 1 and only have 3 weeks. I am 66 and up until 3 weeks ago a couch potato with a history of bad knees and shin splints. I know I will not be able to do distances, and will be content to walk only as far as my body allows. Been thinking starting in Sarria and continuing on to Finisterra and Muxia. Is that doable? Would I be better to walk another section? Thank you in advance for any advice. Don

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi All, I have been a lurker for a couple of years and now have my passage to Spain. Arriving Barcelona May 1 and only have 3 weeks. I am 66 and up until 3 weeks ago a couch potato with a history of bad knees and shin splints. I know I will not be able to do distances, and will be content to walk only as far as my body allows. Been thinking starting in Sarria and continuing on to Finisterra and Muxia. Is that doable? Would I be better to walk another section? Thank you in advance for any advice. Don

Hy , from Sarria to Finiterra is about 220 km. So 3 weeks is duable i think .

 

[tyrrek]

That sounds like a good plan. There are options to extend or shorten your Camino if you wish, and lots of accommodation for short stages. Maybe you can take in a few other Camino towns on the journey across from Barcelona? Buen Camino!

 

[SYates]

Sarria to Santiago is ~120km (75mi) AND has a lot of albergues/other accommodation offers every few km/mi, so it should work out well for you. Take your time and when you are in Santiago either enjoy this fascinating city or, if you feel like it, continue to Finisterre/Muxia. Buen Camino! SY

 

[Al the optimist]

I am 66 and up until 3 weeks ago a couch potato with a history of bad knees and shin splints. I know I will not be able to do distances, and will be content to walk only as far as my body allows.

Keep that "and will be content to walk only as far as my body allows" attitude every day and you will be starting with one huge advantage over many who fall by the wayside. The wisdom of age often means that the seemingly impossible is after all possible as many of us "old uns" will testify. Buen Camino buddy

 

[Kathy F.]

Maybe focus on doing the Meseta? Flat, easy, lush at that time of year. Take public transportation to get you where you want to go. I'm just thinking that the Camino gets a bit hilly towards the end. Any of it will be GREAT with a good attitude. I wouldn't want you to get physically uncomfortable on what should be a good experience. Buen Camino, whatever you decide!!

 

[DowtyCamino]

It really depends on what you are looking for. Sarria to Finestera is probably a good distance, but the scenery will all be Galician. It is beautiful, don't get me wrong, but not as varied as some other 3 week portions of Camino and you may find it a bit too short if you end up walking faster/farther than you expect - not that I'd recommend that.
If you aren't fixated in seeing Santiago itself (on your first Camino - many do this in stages) you might want to consider Roncevalles to Burgos (~256km). The experience will quite varied and if you find yourself in better shape than you expect, you could continue a bit past Burgos and into the Maseta for a totally different experience.

 

[Dutch]

Idea: Leon-Santiago. And you never know, you might have time to walk to Finisterre. It could be done.

 

[don88]

Thank you all for the solid advice. I have decided to walk Sarria to SDC,and then on to Finisterra if my body and time allow . I know there are luggage forwarding firms. Can I forward a suitcase from Sarria to Ivar in SDC? The Camino starts after 2 weeks traveling so I need two sets of clothes. My original plan was to fly from Barcelona to SDC, drop my suitcase with Ivar and bus to Sarria. The train directly to Sarria from Barcelona would give me an extra day on Camino. Thank you again. Buen Camino.
Don

 

[don88]

I was able to E-mail Xacotrans for luggage forwarding directly to SDC from Sarria. They will charge 12E as long as you don't need it their on the same day. Same day is 105E. They provided a map of Sarria with the path to the drop-off and the address clearly marked. Very responsive to my inquiry.