Which section or sections to do?

[WayWalker63]

I want to do the the Camino Frances next September (2013). While I would love to do the whole SJPdP to Santiago trek I will only have 16-17 days of actual trail time (19 if I give up Barcelona at the end of my trip). I do want to receive a Compostela so that means doing at least the Sarria to Santiago portion. The nosy part of me hates missing out on anything even though I know I don't have the time, unless God works a miracle and I am able to retire earlier than I am planning to at this time 8). I will be 63 at the time of my Camino so no 30km days for me. Ideally I would like to keep them at no more than 20.

So the question is where to start? :?

Do I start from somewhere west of Leon and do a straight through walk? I would like to see Ponferrada.

Or do I do the walk in sections, taking a bus along the sections I am not walking. If so where to start, where to stop and take the bus and where to start again?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You could cover the Leon to Santiago stretch comfortably in that amount of time. Leaving Leon, you have several "gradual" days to build your fitness and overcome tiredness and sore muscles.

 

[tyrrek]

You could cover the Leon to Santiago stretch comfortably in that amount of time. Leaving Leon, you have several "gradual" days to build your fitness and overcome tiredness and sore muscles.

Hi Karen! You could start in Leon, Astorga or even Ponferrada.

From Leon you could walk as far as Santiago.
From Ponferrada you could walk on beyond Santiago to Finisterre and Muxia.
Astorga is between the two so you could aim for Santiago, and depending on how things are going you could carry on towards Finisterre, or maybe just stay in Santiago and go to Finisterre as a day trip on the bus. This would be the flexible option, but it still includes some of the most picturesque places and villages after Astorga (Rabanal, Cross of Iron, Acebo, O Cebreiro etc).

Buen Camino!

Edit: I think it was Falcon who noted this on a different thread, but if you walk in sections you lose the group you've been walking with. You can also waste time in buses and train stations etc.

 

[WayWalker63]

Thanks for all your input. Curious me didn't want to miss out on anything but obviously something had to go.
So I will start in Leon or somewhere a bit west of there like Astorga or Ponferrada depending on how much time I end up having.

Is there a good online map of the Camino Frances you all could recommend?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Section by section with the best information on albergues:

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los ... o/frances/

Open it in Chrome, and you get translation.

 

[WayWalker63]

Thanks Falcon!
I use Chrome on my PC most the time although now days I am trying to figure out what a page sys in Spanish first before asking for the translation.

 

[Justdavid]

Greetings from Jacksonville

Greetings WayWalker
I,too, am from Jacksonville, Florida and would very much like to meet you. Please send a reply and let's set up a rendezvous. I am planning on starting in SJPdP next August (2013).I look forward to your reply.
David

 

[wayfarer]

Great link falcon, thank you.