Will I have to do the Frances?

[Kiwi-family]

I'm plotting again.
Still waiting to hear if my husband's friend can be in Spain at the right time for them to do the Frances together on bikes (long held dream). The excuse I'll give is hubby's 50th birthday - but if it comes off it will be a surprise present.
I got to thinking that seeing as I turn 50 as well at the end of the year I could also do a camino. Obvious conclusion yes?
I was hankering after the Ruta de la Lana and on to Santiago, dipping down to the Invierno. But if we were all to arrive in Santiago at the same time I'd need to leave six weeks before the bikers and as fabulous as my husband is, he might point out that this is a very long time for my kids to be completely self-directed in their home education when I am meant to be their teacher;-) It would be a fair comment. So I looked at which routes would allow me to slip away just three weeks before him. Norte doesn't call to me. Portuguese is not an option as I want to practise Spanish. I've just done the Primitivo for a second time. Meeting together in Santiago would be a priority so it seems to leave the Frances. In some ways I'd quite like to do it - I haven't done it from Saint Jean to Santiago in one bite so in some ways I wouldn't mind. But I really would have preferred a non-English camino. Maybe I could just refuse to speak English;-) Wouldn't that be better than NO camino? Or is there another option I have missed? (On the other hand, it would be handy to look back on 2019 as the year we both did the Frances for our fiftieths rather than separate ones)

 

[nycwalking]

Frances.

Enjoy.

49 to 50: Nice!

Buen camino

 

[KinkyOne]

1.) Invierno
2.) Frances
3.) Ingles with extension to Fisterra/Muxia (or vice versa) and back to SdC

Hava a ball!

 

[LTfit]

Nine years after my first Camino Francés I returned at the end of October to walk from SJPdP once again. Although I had walked various sections from Burgos on in the ensuing years (plus about 12 other Caminos), leaving from SJPdP was calling me again.

It doesn't have to be an "English" experience. I often walked with Spanish (or French) speaking pilgrims and of course used my Spanish in cafés, albergues, supermercados and generally with locals. You might need to make an extra effort but it can be done.

I have spent a lot of time on the Francés this past year so am looking forward to a new Camino. The Lana or Olvidado/Invierno are possibilities I'm looking at.

 

[Athena Atterdag]

Maybe Francés + Invierno or Via de la Plata + Francés + Invierno or Via de la Plata + Sanabrés?
I've just walked part of the Francés and the Invierno, and it was absolutely marvellous, the Invierno is just so breathtakingly beautiful!

The time of the year when you're walking is important, too: in late December, I encountered no English speakers even on the Francés. The pilgrims I met were almost all Spanish and Italian, one Hungarian.