TracyBatonRouge
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances June 2016
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Missing any stage means possibly missing something unforgettable. That being said I think Sarah is spot on with skipping those 3 days. Between Leon and Hospital de Orbigo is not the most inspiring landscape but Tio Pepe's is great stop. Between O'Cebreiro and Triacastela is an interesting mountain trek mostly downhill but if you've walked mountains they all start to blend into one milieu, the morning mist is lovely coming down the hill but I've done it twice in a driving rainstorm, thus my aversion. Is there transport from O'Cebreiro? From Triacastela to Sarria there is lots of walking along a highway.You've just walked the days you should have skipped!
But what's done is done! What can you skip from Leon? - I would skip right to Hospital del Orbigo from Leon for a start and walk from there, that saves you a day, outskirts of Leon are not enjoyable and the scenery until HdO is pretty Meseta like too and none of the towns are interesting either - so bus to HdO.
If you need more time that's difficult - the walk from here as far as O'Cebreiro is all interesting but guess you could skip O'Cebreiro right up to Sarria to save another two days or O'Cebreiro to Triacastella to save another one day.
So skip ...
Day 1 - Leon-Hospital del Orbigo
Day 2 - O-Cebreiro to Triacastella
Day 3 - Triacastella to Sarria
Olivares, love your parsing and editorial comments. I hope you are doing well.After Leon, I would had skipped:
- Leon to Hospital de Orbigo.
- San Martin del Camino- Hospital de Orbigo
- The 8kms Molinaseca to Ponferrada (bus/taxi ahead).
-Cacabelos to Villafranca del Bierzo (bus/taxi ahead)
- The 12 Kms Villafranca del Bierzo-Vega de Valcarcel (bus/taxi ahead)
- Sarria to Portomarin
-Portomarin to Palas de Rei
-OPedruezo-Monte de Gozo
Not the biggest fan of the last 100 kms. Rudest locals, most commercial. I would not and hope not to ever walked them again. The crowds did not bother me at all, but the cyclists turned into real maniacs; walked 400+miles not a problem with one bicyclist; during the last 100 kms almost got ran over several times. Leave options open, I guess.
Olivares (if I read your response correctly) you are indicating skipping sections west of Sarria? Well that is not correct - you need to WALK those last 100 km if you wish to qualify for a Compostela.After Leon, I would had skipped:
- Leon to Hospital de Orbigo.
- San Martin del Camino- Hospital de Orbigo
- The 8kms Molinaseca to Ponferrada (bus/taxi ahead).
-Cacabelos to Villafranca del Bierzo (bus/taxi ahead)
- The 12 Kms Villafranca del Bierzo-Vega de Valcarcel (bus/taxi ahead)
- Sarria to Portomarin
-Portomarin to Palas de Rei
-OPedruezo-Monte de Gozo Not the biggest fan of the last 100 kms. Rudest locals, most commercial. I would not and hope not to ever walked them again. The crowds did not bother me at all, but the cyclists turned into real maniacs; walked 400+miles not a problem with one bicyclist; during the last 100 kms almost got ran over several times. Leave options open, I guess.
many well-intentioned responses were given .... may we really be sometimes too helpful (as was said in one reflection recently) and somewhere here, between the mighty acts advices lose the essenceIf you're a pilgrim, just keep walking til your time runs out. You will return someday later and pick up where you left off.
If you're on the camino to see pretty sights, go ahead and skip past the boring/urban/messy bits. Enjoy your highlights tour! Be sure to walk the last 100 km., so you can have your complimentary souvenir Compostela certificate at the end.
I have been walking for 6 days now. I started in Burgos, and I'm now in Villarente. I'm going to take tomorrow off to sightsee and rest in Leon. After that, I only have 11 days. I realize I need to walk the entire way from Sarria to obtain my compostella, but I'll need to skip a few stages. 20km seems to be the best per day in terms of my fitness level and comfort.
I'd love insight ...
Did not miss the Crruz de Ferro. Thanks for your feedback!It would be a shame to miss any of the remaining 3oo km to Santiago, but if timing is critical then maybe walk as far as Ponferrada and then take a bus to O'Cebreiro or Triacastela - but that would still leave you 6 stages - so assuming 4 days to Ponferrada (from Leon) then that gives you one day up your sleeve. You can not miss the Cruz de Ferro (between Rabanal and Molinaseca.
Hope this helps. Buen Camino
Hospital de Orbigo to Molinaseca was stunning! Thanks for your feedback.When you're relaxing in Leon, it would be a good idea to look at your guidebook and consider your options. You need to think about the places between Leon and Sarria and what you are willing, or not willing to skip. Also, does your 11-day timeframe allow for spending some time in Santiago?
Personally, I would hate to miss anything between Leon and Molinaseca, although I know that a lot of people take a bus for the few kms between Leon and la Vergen del Camino.
Given your preference for about 20kms/day, Sarria to Santiago will take you 5 or 6 days. Add on another 2-3 days if you decide to include O'Cebreiro. This (plus provision for a couple of days in Santiago) will allow you to work backwards and calculate how many days you can walk from Leon before you need to take a bus. There are buses from Molinaseca to Ponferrada and from Ponferrada to many other places.
Good luck and Buen Camino
I know so many hate the Meseta, but I happened to start there and also happened to be there during beautiful poppies and nice weather. I didn't know any different and loved my first six days, even though I got terrible blisters!!! Thanks for the feedback.You've just walked the days you should have skipped!
But what's done is done! What can you skip from Leon? - I would skip right to Hospital del Orbigo from Leon for a start and walk from there, that saves you a day, outskirts of Leon are not enjoyable and the scenery until HdO is pretty Meseta like too and none of the towns are interesting either - so bus to HdO.
If you need more time that's difficult - the walk from here as far as O'Cebreiro is all interesting but guess you could skip O'Cebreiro right up to Sarria to save another two days or O'Cebreiro to Triacastella to save another one day.
So skip ...
Day 1 - Leon-Hospital del Orbigo
Day 2 - O-Cebreiro to Triacastella
Day 3 - Triacastella to Sarria
Thanks everyone! I met a great couple in Leon who'd done several Caminos. They gave great advice, and I made the most of my last 11 days. I wound up walking Villadangos del Parmo to Molinaseca in four days, spent a day getting to and walking around Sarria, then took six days from Sarria to Santiago (could have done it in five). It was a wonderful first Camino (I'm still primarily dreaming of the Camino while I sleep 14 days later), and with what I know now, I can't wait to return to do the first part of the CF to Burgos and also Molinaseca to Sarria. I had problems with feet (blisters/pain), but that seems par for the course. I discovered (with 6 days left) that Tevas were the way to go for me. Though many complain about so many pilgrims, I walked alone most of the time. It was beautiful, and the time for contemplation was just what I needed. (I walked the Camino to mourn/honor my father who passed away recently, and I arrived in Santiago on his birthday.) At first, I found myself wishing I had the time to complete the entire CF in one year, but an insight gained is that I am blessed to have limited time -- my family is my greatest blessing. I share all of this here because I've learned that the pilgrim family is kind and that we all walk our own caminos.
Buen Camino!
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