Your Opinion Needed . . .

[Frankybaby66]

Hi fellow wanderers,
I would like a bit of input on this one please.
I have finally decided to revisit the Camino Frances next year. I walked SJPDP to Santiago solo in 2016 and walked from Roncesvalles to Villafranca Montes de Oca (just short of Burgos) the following year with my wife. I've done several Caminos since then - Porto to Santiago twice, Camino Ingles and Santiago to Finisterre, but still have a feeling of 'unfinished business'
My idea is to pick up my 2017 Camino where I left off, and then make a decision at Ponferrada whether to continue on the Camino Frances or switch to the Camino Invierno.
I'm trying to strike that (impossible?) balance between not wanting to be too isolated ( heart history) and not be in a position where I feel overwhelmed with pilgrim numbers.
I'll be setting out on my own and plan on starting sometime between mid-June and early September, and short of tossing a coin, can't make my mind up when to start walking. (the joys of early retirement!)
I'm conscious that it's 8 years since I was on that particular Camino route, and have heard conflicting accounts of numbers of pilgrims there now. (Everything between 'it's absolutely packed - don't do it!' to 'numbers of crowds are overstated'.
I've just been watching the latest vlog from 'The Fast Hiker' who walked this summer and it didn't look to bad to me.
Any insight on when you would set off (given my time frame and starting point) and why, would be really useful .
Thanks in advance,
Frank
Buen Camino

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

With your heart history, I would recommend that you wait for the *end* of September so that you will be arriving in mid-to-late October by the time you are nearing Sarria, and I would stay on the Frances route because of healthcare infrastructure, and generally easier elevation gains.
I know you said *early* September, but it is still very hot then, and if you are retired, I urge you to wait for the cooler weather as well as the more manageable numbers at the end of the month. Early September is a high point for population on the CF.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

As a bonus: end of September means all the gas are ready, and there will be plenty of blackberries lining the trails... and cooler evenings bring more chances to have hearty Galician and Asturias dishes roughly from León forward...

 

[trecile]

I would recommend mid June. It's usually not really hot, though if you do get caught in a heat wave you could take a day or two off or walk short days in the morning only. I like the green fields, wild flowers, and long daylight hours in June. And the Camino Francés is fairly quiet June - September until you get to Galicia.

I expect that the responses to June vs September will be fairly evenly divided.

 

[trecile]

The Camino Weather site could help you decide.

Camino de Santiago - forecast and historical weather

Get a personal daily weather forecast for the Camino de Santiago for the exact dates you're planning to go. Or browse to pick the best time of year.

caminoweather.com

 

[stewinyvr]

As a fellow early retiree I was facing this dilemma earlier this year, and in the end I decided to start at the beginning of September. I walked the Frances from SJPDP to Santiago.

Regarding numbers of pilgrims..there were some challenges with accommodation up as far as Navarette due to numbers, but actually on the walk during the day there was not, in my opinion, an overwhelming number of people. I found it possible to either choose to walk with people or by myself, which for me was ideal.

Numbers ramped up significantly in Sarria, but I stayed off stage until Arzua, so had two days where I saw almost no one as I was a few KM ahead of the pack - granted, one of these was during Hurricane Kirk, so that may have been a factor

The last two days were a constant stream of pilgrims...but even then there were small moments of solitude.

I am a relatively fast walker, which gave the me flexibility to leave late ( i was often the last to leave a dorm in the morning ) or linger when I felt the urge..

Whenever you choose I am sure you will enjoy picking up where you left off.

 

[MCCanada]

Hi fellow wanderers,
I would like a bit of input on this one please.
I have finally decided to revisit the Camino Frances next year. I walked SJPDP to Santiago solo in 2016 and walked from Roncesvalles to Villafranca Montes de Oca (just short of Burgos) the following year with my wife. I've done several Caminos since then - Porto to Santiago twice, Camino Ingles and Santiago to Finisterre, but still have a feeling of 'unfinished business'
My idea is to pick up my 2017 Camino where I left off, and then make a decision at Ponferrada whether to continue on the Camino Frances or switch to the Camino Invierno.
I'm trying to strike that (impossible?) balance between not wanting to be too isolated ( heart history) and not be in a position where I feel overwhelmed with pilgrim numbers.
I'll be setting out on my own and plan on starting sometime between mid-June and early September, and short of tossing a coin, can't make my mind up when to start walking. (the joys of early retirement!)
I'm conscious that it's 8 years since I was on that particular Camino route, and have heard conflicting accounts of numbers of pilgrims there now. (Everything between 'it's absolutely packed - don't do it!' to 'numbers of crowds are overstated'.
I've just been watching the latest vlog from 'The Fast Hiker' who walked this summer and it didn't look to bad to me.
Any insight on when you would set off (given my time frame and starting point) and why, would be really useful .
Thanks in advance,
Frank
Buen Camino

Hi Frank, I walked the Camino de Santiago for the second time this fall Sept 11- Oct 13, and did find it much busier than when I walked it 12 years ago. Mind you, last time I started the last week of September, which may have made a difference. Lots of us wondered why it was so busy- some people said the busiest time period lately is early September. Another comment (from a few people in their 20's and 30's) was that there are many more "old" (retired) people in the fall. Despite the large numbers, I found places to stay in hostels, though I did book ahead a few times- Roncesvalles, Zubiri and Foncebadon are bottlenecks- and many of us walking the whole route worried about accommodation once the extra walkers started in Sarria. I wonder whether you would be better off to leave a bit earlier, perhaps sometime in August.

 

[Bogong]

With your heart history, I would recommend that you wait for the *end* of September so that you will be arriving in mid-to-late October by the time you are nearing Sarria, and I would stay on the Frances route because of healthcare infrastructure, and generally easier elevation gains.
I know you said *early* September, but it is still very hot then, and if you are retired, I urge you to wait for the cooler weather as well as the more manageable numbers at the end of the month. Early September is a high point for population on the CF.

A bit of reassurance. Don’t worry about your heart or health but if you do get your doctor’s opinion. I walked the Frances in 2014 from St J p de P in winter in my 70th year. I had serious open heart surgery in 2010, arthroscopies on both knees (2021 and 2013) and my Dr and specialist just said go for it. Averaged 30k a day including then going on to Fisterre and Muxia. No problems but I was fit. Couldn’t have cared less if I dropped dead - someone else’s problem and the Boss and family half expected it anyway.

De. Colores

Bogong