And I'd love to take a zero day in Lugo... so 11 days of walking. I'm fit and have past Camino experience.
Hi,
@soleysoul, Welcome to the forum!
At a younger age, about 15 years ago, I did walk the Primitivo in 11 days. I didn’t plan it that way, it just happened. I fell in with a congenial group, and it felt like the thing to do. It’s always nice to walk alone during the day, run into people as you go, and then meet up at night at the pre-arranged place.
Since then, I’ve been back several times, and I find that the 12-14 day range is perfect. I am a planner, and I always have my less traveled caminos plotted out, but for the Primitivo, it just seems to work out that no plan is necessary and things fall into place. There are two “bottlenecks” - Grado and Berducedo. In Grado, there are several good private options, and I either reserve a few days before or walk further on to the great albergue in San Juan de Villapañada. Berducedo comes after the two variants (Pola de Allande vs. Hospitales) merge, so it’s a good idea to have something lined up there. Or walk a few kms further on to La Mesa where there is a large private albergue/pensión.
I think you should just start out and see how you feel - since you are fit and have camino experience, I think you can adjust on the fly and be fairly confident about getting to Santiago in 12 days total. With or without a rest day depending on how things go.
One possibility instead of a rest day is to walk a long day before Lugo. Assuming you will sleep in Fonsagrada, it’s about 32-33 to Castroverde, where there is an albergue and a pensión. Then the next day you have only about 20 to walk into Lugo. With an early start, that will give you most of the day there. Kind of a “half rest day.”
Buen camino, and let us know what you decide.