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<P>I cannot speak for Spring, for I have walked the Camino in the autumn. I strongly recommend October for a walk, as the weather is generally good and the crowds have gone home. Most of the albergues remain open to the end of October (some are open all year) and there is no problem finding hostals, restaurants, and bars.</P>
<P>It would be possible to walk from Ponferrada to Santiago in 10 days if you are in good condition and able to walk 30 kms per day. It does not allow any slack time for bad weather or sore feet, however, and trying to average 30 km a day is a challenge. It also puts one of the most challenging days on the entire Camino as the second day of walking. With just a week to walk, I would recommend starting at Sarria, the closest place to Santiago with bus and train service that one can start and still receive the Compostela. If you are a really good and fast walker you can be in Santiago 3 days later (most people take 4-5 days from Sarria), but it would give you some slack. If you make it to Santiago rapidly, the slack could be used to enjoy Santiago or to walk onward to Finisterra.</P>
<P>I am a couple of years younger than you. I took the month before starting the Camino (from Somport this past autumn) and tried to walk at least 5 miles a day, stretching that whenever possible. I also started carrying my pack loaded with about the weight I planned to carry on the Camino. Living in the West, I had an opportunity last summer to do a number of long hikes in the nearby mountains. The payoff for the conditioning effort was a most enjoyable Camino with no foot problems and no health problems other than the soreness endemic in walking 10-35 km every day for a month.</P></DIV>
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<P>If you have further questions, contact me</P>
<P><A href="mailto:eldorpaaol.com">eldorpaaol.com</A> or <A href="mailto:eldorpahotmail.com">eldorpahotmail.com</A> <BR><BR>E. O. Pederson</P>
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<DIV>Seattle, WA</DIV>
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