Hello
I walked a first Camino this year 2024 on the Camino Francis.
Male Australian 64 years of age
Prepared since January 1 2024 with walks a couple of time a week reaching 20Plus KM with backpack by the few weeks before April 10
I started April 10. A Wednesday in SJPDP. I took 40 days with rest days each Sunday.
I arrived Santiago de Compostela Saturday May 18 and rested Sunday May 19 with a pilgrim mass.
I allowed an extra day in SJPDP. Travelled via Paris and Bayonne Monday April 8 rested Tuesday April 9 in SJPDP with the option of splitting the first day Tuesday/Wednesday.
The initial concern was the unseasonal cold weather for Early Spring. Heavy snow and rain meant that the Napoléon route was advised not to walk by the pilgrim office. So I took one day Wednesday April 10 went via Valcarlos and arrived at Roncesvalles safely.
Certainly splitting this day with a stop half way makes sense. I originally wanted to do it that way
I wanted to stop and rest in smaller places and have the opportunity to live like a local for a day, church service, lunch at the plaza mayor, stroll with the locals, that type of rest. Not tour and walk 10 or 20 Kms in a place that was bigger.
My rest days meant
Puente La Reina, that would avoid busy Easter in Pamplona
Later rest days, each one a Sunday
Belorado
Carrion de Los Condes
Astorga (the biggest place I took a rest day)
Triacastela (avoiding busy Sarria)
Santiago
I agree that a place like Navarrete would be great for a rest day
Granon later on is also a place you may consider a stop
I have updated the 10 short videos (average 6 minutes each) and finished a summary video (60 minutes) I posted yesterday
See
Youtube
AndrewwalkwithHim
for the summary video
Regards
Andrew