Hi! I'm new!

Wed Jun 19 13:39:05 PDT 2002

Thanks Ed!  For your detail - it's very helpful!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed" <ed_maddenaLINEONE.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: Hi! I'm new!

> Anne,
>
> I have annotated your original mail with my responses.  If you want
further
> details you can mail me off-list if you wish and I will be happy to help
out
> further if I can.
>
> Ed
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dr. Anne M. Jensen
> To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 11:11 PM
> Subject: Hi! I'm new!
>
>
> Hi Everyone!
> I'm from Australia, I've just heard about the Camino and am seriously
> considering it very soon!  But I want to learn more about it... It sounds
> like you all are veterans!  So can people help me with these questions:
>
> 1. Obviously, summer would be the "best" time to walk it, but is it then
> that it's the crowdest?  When do you guys think it's best time of year to
do
> it?   (Keep in mind I'm from the tropics...)
>
> Reply:
> I have recently returned from having started from SJPP on May 1st.  For
me,
> this was the best time of year to go as the countryside all along the way
> was at its best and so beautiful.  Sure, there were days  when it snowed,
> sleeted, hailed, rained  or blew a gale and there were other days when the
> sun was blisteringly hot (about 35C).  But for the most part, the early
> mornings (i.e. before 0800) were fresh and after that there was good
walking
> weather.  At this time of year, everything is in full growth  (crops in
the
> fields, wild flowers, young animals, birds, frogs etc) all of which
> contributed to a great richness of colour, sounds and smell.
>
> Whilst the first few days of May were very crowded in SJPP and
Roncesvalles
> (a lot of people seem to have set out at the beginning of that month!)
> things thinned out, and after about 3 days of walking, I was easily able
to
> walk alone if I chose with hardly another peregrino in sight.   I usually
> walked slowly for most of the day and checked into a refugio by about 5 or
> 6pm and rarely had a problem with finding a space.
>
> Later in the year (i.e. summer and autumn), I understand that things are
> very different, but I have no personal experience of that.  If I were to
go
> again, I would still make the journey in April/May/June time for the above
> reasons.
>
> 2. How long will it take for a rather fit individual?  I like to run,
etc.,
> but haven't done much "hiking"...
>
> Reply:
> >From SJPP, I arrived in Santiago after 30 days.  After a couple of nights
> there, I then walked to Finisterre in 3 days.  I am not what you would
> describe as 'fit'.  At first I was doing about 20km or less per day but
> after some weeks I found I was easily doing around 30 or 35km without even
> realising it.  I think you just get fitter as you make the Camino and this
> appeared to be the same for most people I met.
>
> Now, I was very lucky in that I had absolutely no problems whatsoever with
> my feet, legs or back so I was not held up by any injuries and could just
> walk at my own natural rhythm.  On the other hand, I came across many
'fit'
> people who did suffer severe problems with blisters, tendonitis,
infections,
> gastro-intestinal problems, backpain etc and this did cause them to rest
up
> for days along the way.  So you should allow for this.
>
> All told, I took 38 days.  30 days from SJPP to Santiago (including a 2
> night stopover in Burgos on the way), a 2 night stop on arrival in
Santiago,
> 3 days to Finesterre, another 2 nights in Santiago on return, and then
> another day to make it back to Biarritz to catch the plane home.
>
> Of course, you could run the journey!  I did see a 70 year old guy doing
> this - and this was the 3rd time he had done it!!!
>
> 3. How much gear do you REALLY need?  Is there a recommended "must have"
> list anywhere?
>
> Reply:
> The 70 year old guy that I saw running only had a very lightweight nylon
> day-pack on his back, so you can go with virtually nothing!  Me, I used my
> 70 litre rucksack which, together with contents, weighed about 13 kg.  But
> it fitted me really well and after a few days I hardly noticed the weight.
> As regards a 'must have' list, there are a number in the archives of this
> mailing list.
>
> 4. Please comment of "safety" for a lone female...
>
> Reply:
> None of the women I met on the SJPP to Santiago stage of the journey felt
> any concern about their safety.  However on the Santiago to Finesterre
leg,
> which is much more remote and isolated, I did come across a young woman
> walking alone who, earlier that day, had been confronted by a very
> persistent guy cruising along in his car and this did cause her concern.
> Eventually he got the message from her that she did not want a lift and
sped
> off;  but she was shaken by this bad experience.  The problem on this
> stretch  is that there are so, so few walkers in comparison with the
Camino
> Frances itself  and  you cannot rely on assistance arriving if you get
into
> any difficulties.  Same applies if you suffer an accident.
>
>
> 5. Getting lost... is it easy to get lost?  And find your way back? Where
> can I get a good map, etc?
>
> Reply:
> It is almost impossible to get lost on the way to Santiago.  You don't
need
> a map.  Just follow the yellow arrows that point all along the way.  Or
> follow the crowd in the busy months!
>
> Santiago to Finesterre is very different.  At times you can easily loose
> your way and you do need directions for this.
>
> 6. Is Spanish necessary? Recommended?  I have a working knowledge, no
"good"
> but "okay"...
>
> Reply:
> A working knowledge is more than enough to get by - but not necessary as I
> met many peregrinos who managed quite well without knowing the lingo.
There
> is almost always some other person who can help out when a problem arises.
>
>
>
>
>
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