How many days should I schedule to walk the Camino

[Channing Thieme]

Having replied to Jim's inquiry privately, I am forwarding it to the entire list as the response, esp. about Iberia Airlines, may be of interest to others.  Channing

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Channing Thieme 
To: jtw1111aearthlink.net 
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: How many days should I schedule to walk the Camino?


Jim, if you have 7 weeks I urge you to allow for at least 6!  The entire "French Route" certainly can be walked in well under 40 (even 30) days, but if you have the time, take the time!  Enjoy days in the cities along the way - esp. Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and Astorga, and days of rest.  Take side trips by bus to the likes of Bilbao, Lugo and even La-Coruna.  We walked from Pamplona to Santiago (taking the bus from Burgos to Leon) in 30 days, which was well paced, allowing for days off.  One day, however, we will return to walk the entire stretch beginning at St. Jean with open-ended timing.  Every town along the way has a history.  There is much to explore, not to mention the opportunity for solitude.  Sometimes you will want to keep stride with fellow pilgrims.  How grand it would have been to be able to pause wherever and whenever.

If possible, avoid flying with Iberia Airlines to Spain as they have a well earned reputation for losing luggage.  The reason we began in Pamplona is because we were stranded there for four days waiting for a lost backpack ... which was found at *Air France* in Madrid after we had finally bought all new supplies.  This was a Saturday and the airport in Pamplona was closed on Sundays in September.  Unwilling to wait another two days to hopefully link up with the bag, we asked them to return it to our US address.  After much hassle with letter exchanges Iberia agreed to refund a mere portion of the cost of the new supplies.  Apparently this is not an uncommon story.

Buen Camino!
Channing
ChanningTarcn.com 
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