solo walker

[jim allen]

My son and I walked into the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) in Pamplona, the
building they show when they show the running of the bulls, and asked where
we could get the "Credencial."  They sent us a few blocks away to a church.
No problem, just asked for the credencial and they gave us a form to
complete; no questions, no sponsor needed, no problema, etc.  I carried a
video camera on my bicycle and it got quite heavy, on a bike!  I can't
imagine carrying one in a back pack.  From a biking standpoint, it was quite
flat from Burgos for about 100 or so miles.  Having biked from Pamplona in
Sep 2000, next year I will start in SJPP, walk to Burgos, train to Madrid to
pick up my daughter, go back to Burgos.  We will walk  from Burgos to
Santiago, roughly 300 miles in about three weeks.  Can be done 15 miles a
day in 17 days, if you are rigid.
Most of all, don't worry, it will be great!!!  Oh, and having done it on a
bike, and now planning to walk it, my boots and backpack are number one
concern.  I am planning on 15 to 17 pounds at most.

Jim Allen
Seminole, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Juel M. Dagenais" <juelaVIRGINIA.EDU>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 2:41 PM
Subject: solo walker


> Hi,
> I was wondering if anyone has walked the camino solo(I am a
> 28 yr old female) and if there was any specific advice to
> solo walkers? I noticed that the refugios give preference
> to walkers, but that this preference is for walkers in
> groups of 4 or 5, is this true?  Also, I plan to bring just
> a backpack full of a change of clothes, a few necessities
> (like sunscreen), sleep sheet, digital video camera,
> notebook and instead of a whole guide book just some typed
> up notes.
> I know we have spoken ad nauseam about credentials, and I
> have looked in the archives, but I still have one concern,
> which is I have heard of there being problems getting
> credentialed if not sponsored...is this true and if so how
> is it best remedied?  Did anyone become a member of the
> frat of st.james and get their pilgrim passport through
> them?
> I also have only three weeks and want to get the fullest
> experience possible...well, d'uh right? <grin> I did look
> at the references regarding start points, and which areas
> to intersperse bus rides with if one is short on time, but
> more ideas along this path would be most welcome.  I am
> leaving June 20th and returning July 20th with a could of
> detours....
> As always, most grateful for your wonderful experience.
>
> Juel