Steven Dwyer
Active Member
In another group that I moderate one of the members posted that when he arrived at the albergue in Tui, he was informed that bikers needed to wait until 7pm to check in. With the current traffic on the Central, that meant he wouldn’t be getting a bed. Since he mentioned that he wished someone would have said something in advance, thought I would share his experience here to alert others.
The late check-in policy was explained to me years ago by a wonderful hospitalero. Because bikers have the means to get to the next destination easier than a backpack laden pilgrim, the walker gets preference. Otherwise, the walkers least able to continue on foot are at a severe disadvantage. It was the same philosophy that applied pilgrims who had vehicle support.
I believe earlier versions of the credential may have mentioned this rule. The pilgrim office offers on their English version, “Groups organised with support car or by bicycle are requested to seek alternative shelter to the pilgrim hostels.” which doesn’t appear on the Spanish version, nor on the credential I purchased at the pilgrim office last year.
The late check-in policy was explained to me years ago by a wonderful hospitalero. Because bikers have the means to get to the next destination easier than a backpack laden pilgrim, the walker gets preference. Otherwise, the walkers least able to continue on foot are at a severe disadvantage. It was the same philosophy that applied pilgrims who had vehicle support.
I believe earlier versions of the credential may have mentioned this rule. The pilgrim office offers on their English version, “Groups organised with support car or by bicycle are requested to seek alternative shelter to the pilgrim hostels.” which doesn’t appear on the Spanish version, nor on the credential I purchased at the pilgrim office last year.