timeline

[MOMAND3KIDS]

I am traveling with 3 of my children the entire 500 miles in July-August. We are all active hikers, runners however we are looking for a "realistic" timeline. Ideally 30 days would work - suggestions?

 

[SYates]

How old are your children? Would be my first question. And which Camino are you speaking about? The second. SY

 

[dougfitz]

You don't say how old your children are. Doing the 800km from SJPP in 30 days is an average of 27 km/day, and there will be a great many days over that to achieve that average. If you want to take two rest days, your average needs to be a bit more - nearly 29 km/day and you will need to contemplate many days doing in excess of 30 km. In general, there will be accommodation options that will support this, but you would need to do more detailed planning yourself to see how either of these patterns might work. Depending on the age of your children, this will be a more or less hard ask.

There are forum members who have travelled with their children who will give you the benefits of their experience.

 

[dougfitz]

@SYates, I had assumed that the reference to travelling 500 miles was an indication that @MOMAND3KIDS was contemplating doing the CF from SJPP.

 

[SYates]

I stopped assuming anything many years ago SY

 

[MOMAND3KIDS]

yes, my children are 22, 20 and 16. If time is a problem (due to return flights) I suppose taking a bus/car ride may help keep us on track?

 

[MOMAND3KIDS]

I stopped assuming anything many years ago SY

good thinking

 

[SYates]

30 days, assuming (yeah, leaving myself here open WIDE for remarks) that is the total number of walking days you have might be a bit of a stretch. What about starting closer to Santiago and having the option for some rest days instead. Or to walk onwards to Finisterre/ spend some days in Santiago if you have leftover days? Unless you start at the door of your own home, there is nothing like an "entire Camino starting point" they are all compromises! Buen Camino, SY

 

[dougfitz]

yes, my children are 22, 20 and 16. If time is a problem (due to return flights) I suppose taking a bus/car ride may help keep us on track?

I contemplated that at one stage in 2010 when I injured myself near Castrojeriz and I was feeling really down. Fortunately, Castrojeriz doesn't have an airport AFAIK, otherwise I might have been tempted to skip the rest completely. I talked myself into walking another day for the next couple of day - and then some longer days, until I was back on track.

There were only one pilgrim around the age of your youngest child on the CF when I did it, and she wasn't having any difficulty. She and her older brothers and had been walking longer stages than I had at the time. I walked in 33 days, or about 25 km/day.

 

[Kitsambler]

Ok, so you're a parent, and one of the factors in planning this trip is to have it be a successful family experience. To my mind, that means building in a time buffer, rather than stretching to the absolute limits. Despite your collective hiking and running experience, unless you're all accustomed to carrying 20 lbs every day, and hiking/running for 6 hours/day on consecutive days for a week, then the Camino will come as something of an unpleasant surprise for one or more of you.

If the 30-day limit is concrete, how about starting in Pamplona or Burgos, rather than SJPP?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I suppose taking a bus/car ride may help keep us on track?

Yes. There are many opportunities for a bus. Four people and packs in a taxi could be a problem. You can cover a day of walking for 2E for a bus! A taxi is about 1E per kilometer.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

yes, my children are 22, 20 and 16. If time is a problem (due to return flights) I suppose taking a bus/car ride may help keep us on track?

If they are that old, perhaps you want to ask about the abilities of a woman you age ;0) Honnestly, just pay attention to the weaker link in the chain and you'll be just fine, but be willing to bus/taxi bits or build in extra days in case one of you (child or elderly parent ;0) ) causes a delay.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

If they are that old, perhaps you want to ask about the abilities of a woman you age ;0) Honnestly, just pay attention to the weaker link in the chain and you'll be just fine, but be willing to bus/taxi bits or build in extra days in case one of you (child or elderly parent ;0) ) causes a delay.

Wow. Calling the beautiful mother of a twenty-something-year-old child an "elderly parent"? You're joking, right??

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Wow. Calling the beautiful mother of a twenty-something-year-old child an "elderly parent"? You're joking, right??

Yes, I am , hence the smiley face ";0)"

 

[Mark Lee]

I am traveling with 3 of my children the entire 500 miles in July-August. We are all active hikers, runners however we are looking for a "realistic" timeline. Ideally 30 days would work - suggestions?

Are you talking about 30 days total, or 30 actual days on the Camino itself? That being day one leaving SJPdP and day thirty happily walking into Santiago. No further walking to Finisterre (kinda anticlimactic, anyway IMHO).
Yeah, sounds like y'all could do it. Lot's of people do. My first Camino I carried a guidebook (non Brierley ) that was based on walking the Camino Frances from SJPdP to Santiago in 30 days. I deviated a bit from it because I had more time than 30 days, but it was plenty doable had I followed it exactly.
Since you have your children with you, you may want to leapfrog over a few places and hang-out a bit more in some of the cooler towns. Maybe an extra day in Santiago as well.

 

[MOMAND3KIDS]

thanks all! We do have flex time 4-6 days and yes Finisterre is a must for us - we are walking with a purpose..like so many - I appreciate all the comments (elderly? not so much - it's a first and won't be the last ) and time. My experience tells me we will work as one body - when one is weak the others will compensate - Blessings to you all

 

[MOMAND3KIDS]

Wow. Calling the beautiful mother of a twenty-something-year-old child an "elderly parent"? You're joking, right??

Thanks for the defense

 

[MOMAND3KIDS]

Are you talking about 30 days total, or 30 actual days on the Camino itself? That being day one leaving SJPdP and day thirty happily walking into Santiago. No further walking to Finisterre (kinda anticlimactic, anyway IMHO).
Yeah, sounds like y'all could do it. Lot's of people do. My first Camino I carried a guidebook (non Brierley ) that was based on walking the Camino Frances from SJPdP to Santiago in 30 days. I deviated a bit from it because I had more time than 30 days, but it was plenty doable had I followed it exactly.
Since you have your children with you, you may want to leapfrog over a few places and hang-out a bit more in some of the cooler towns. Maybe an extra day in Santiago as well.

- good advice to stay a bit in Santiago, thank you

 

[Anniesantiago]

I'd give myself 6 weeks at the minimum.
That way you don't rush and you have time for Finisterra.