your body in santiago...

[buena!]

i am wondering how your body feels after completing the camino. Of course, you experience a huge surge of joy and accomplishment. But how are your legs?? Your stamina? your blistered feet? Have you grown stronger from the daily walking or do you need a week to chill out?

I have 6 weeks and hope to get from St. Jean to Finestre. after the pilgrimage i head to italy for a cycling tour. i'm wondering if i should consider shortening my route now in order plan some mandatory chill out time, or if i'll be strong and ready to go.

also, any chance i'll be able to find a bike in santiago (perhaps from a biking peregrino) and borrow it to do a little riding to get my legs to remember what a bicycle is?

 

[Magnara]

Hola Buena!
We just got stronger and fitter the further we went, although in the middle when we were having foot and leg aches we stopped for two days to let it recover, not a twinge after that. No blisters either, after one the first day I took some advice Sillydoll put on the website and wore knee - hi stockings (although for more comfort I bought ankle hi ones) and also Vaseline, in the morning and again when I stopped for lunch and changed my socks. Would also like to sing the praises of Bridgedale wool walking socks. My feet loved all of this and walked me all the way, I could have gone another month. Just listen to your body and stop etc when you need to.
Magnara

 

[Terry]

How do you feel after the walk

Hi, I walk from St Jean Pied de Port in just under four weeks, as I wanted
to arrive in Santiago on my 60th birtday. I felt great and only had one bad
day, and that really was my own fault (felt rough in the morning about half way,but did not rest) at my age should have known better.
Wish you a wonderful time,

 

[sillydoll]

St Jean to Finisterre

You can comfortably walk from St Jean to Santiago in 5 weeks. If you need to do a bit of biking why not hire a bike from Tour 'n Ride and ride to Finisterre and back?
You will find them at: http://www.tournride.com/

 

[William Marques]

You'll want a few days to look around the town and meet up with everyone you've walked with but fitness wise unless you've picked up an injury on the way you will be fitter than ever and will be zooming ahead of the rest in Italy.

Bike shops in Santiago include:

Victor at BICICLETAS VELOCIPEDO who has had good press from the cyclists on the Santiago Bicicleta group.
Email: vjsuarez@latinmail.com
Telephone 981-580260
Bicicletas Velocipedo,
Rúa de San Pedro 23
Santiago de Compostela

Tour'n'Ride is another possibility:
http://www.tournride.com/portal/index.php?&idioma=2

Buen Camino
William