the weather at end April

[Reynolds, Laurie]

I have walked twice from Roncesvalles to Santiago, with the start date both
years (2000 and 2002) in very late April or the first of May.  One thing to
try to work around is the fact that the 1st or 2nd of May is a Madrid
province holiday and depending on how it falls, it's likely to produce a big
burst of walkers during the holiday period  (if the holiday falls on a
Thursday, for instance, you can expect that the "puente" phenomenon will
mean that lots of people will be out walking from Thurs-Sun.  The "puente"
means that when the holiday falls on a Thursday or a Tuesday, you just add
the Friday or a Monday as a bridge to make for a four day weekend).
Though we walked during the same month both times, the weather was very
different.  2000 was warm, only one or two days of rain.  2002 was much
cooler with more frequent rain.  But just as wonderful.  One difference we
noticed was not so much the increase in long distance walkers, but there are
many people who, mainly on weekends, walk a certain stretch of the Camino
for a day or two.  They go in groups, and buses drop them off at the start
of a nice stretch and then pick them up at the end of the walk, presumably
to bring them into hotels in the cities.  We saw this going out of Pamplona
and again after Logrono.
Weather lore has it that April is rainy and May is not.  But rely on lore to
your detriment!  With good rain gear, the rain just isn't a problem unless
it turns earth paths into mud holes.
Laurie


-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Leiser [mailto:sarahdoddaEARTHLINK.NET]
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 7:45 PM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: the weather at end April


 I'm thinking of going at the end of April[this year] to get ahead of the
biggest crowds, avoid the heat, and to take advantage of the longer days of
spring. I'm wondering if there's someone out there who has done it then, and
what the weather is like ...like lots of rain and still very cool? I don't
mind a little rain, but lots of clouds through which I can't see the scenery
is a bit short sighted!  Maybe I should go in Sept/Oct? I love all the
interesting info which comes in the letters....thanks much. I have a little
guide book which I bought when in Belgium, and it mentions Felicia; she
sounds quite wonderful; I'm sorry that I won't be able to know her. I've
noted in my book that she has died. Que pena, quelle dommage! Sarah