Dumb question

[dailycamino]

So I began making my way backwards on the CF last year from SdC. My plan was to continue that this year however I haven’t actually walked to Finisterre or Muxia and I’m feeling pulled in that direction. My dumb question is, will any albergue care that my credentials show me hopping around. Should I just get a new credential? Thanks for your input!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

will any albergue care that my credentials show me hopping around

I have never had an objection. The credenial is mostly about you being a pilgrim.

 

[Former member 19626]

So I began making my way backwards on the CF last year from SdC. My plan was to continue that this year however I haven’t actually walked to Finisterre or Muxia and I’m feeling pulled in that direction. My dumb question is, will any albergue care that my credentials show me hopping around. Should I just get a new credential? Thanks for your input!

How far “back” did you get? I’m planning Finesterre to Leon in 2019.

 

[dailycamino]

How far “back” did you get? I’m planning Finesterre to Leon in 2019.

I didn’t have a lot of time last year plus there was (is?) a huge construction project heading out of (into) SdC. I made it to Vega de Valcarce in about 8 days. I’m not trying to make a particular schedule. I ended up using an app to help sometimes bc going backwards is harder than it seems.

 

[dailycamino]

I have never had an objection. The credenial is mostly about you being a pilgrim.

Thank you WineShoppe Guy!

 

[dailycamino]

Thank you WineShoppe Guy!

Haha sorry! Thank you also falcon269!

 

[Mark Barnes]

I do not recall any Alburgue, church or bar even looking at where I had been the day before until I got to Santiago.

 

[dailycamino]

I do not recall any Alburgue, church or bar even looking at where I had been the day before until I got to Santiago.

Haha. Thanks Mark

 

[jeannick]

.Got my credentiale stamped all over in a creative chaos , even got some drawing with color pencils
you can even log it yourself when roughing it under the stars
it doesn't matter , it's only your pilgrim tracks not a thought police document

 

[t2andreo]

A 'higgly-piggly' credencial is only an issue if and when you present it at the Pilgrim Office to try to obtain a Compostela. The staff usually examines a credencial to use the chronological sellos to establish a definite line-of-march in a more or less direct line from somewhere at least 100 km distant, into Santiago.

If you are all over the place with no direct line for the final 100 km into Santiago, and if you want a Compostela, be prepared to explain your route. A paper map with a line drawn on the route to explain would help. But you still must document that you walked the FINAL 100 km on any route to get to Santiago.

As a suggestion, and if you are taking pictures along your travels; data and location-stamped smartphone photos have frequently saved the day for imaginative pilgrims who failed to obtain their sellos either in order, or in enough quantity (two each day for the final 100 km) to qualify the usual way. Most folks do not think of this, but it can help you explain your meandering ways.

Hope this helps.

 

[Aesklepius]

!aiesuS te aiertlU¡ Enjoy your backwards walking. It really is about your journey, however you mix it up. Have you read the related bit of Taras Grescoe’s book?

 

[dailycamino]

.Got my credentiale stamped all over in a creative chaos , even got some drawing with color pencils
you can even log it yourself when roughing it under the stars
it doesn't matter , it's only your pilgrim tracks not a thought police document

I didn’t think it was a thought police document (whatever that is). Just trying to be respectful of people’s need for beds, courtesy to hosts, etc. Thanks for your reply

 

[dailycamino]

A 'higgly-piggly' credencial is only an issue if and when you present it at the Pilgrim Office to try to obtain a Compostela. The staff usually examines a credencial to use the chronological sellos to establish a definite line-of-march in a more or less direct line from somewhere at least 100 km distant, into Santiago.

If you are all over the place with no direct line for the final 100 km into Santiago, and if you want a Compostela, be prepared to explain your route. A paper map with a line drawn on the route to explain would help. But you still must document that you walked the FINAL 100 km on any route to get to Santiago.

As a suggestion, and if you are taking pictures along your travels; data and location-stamped smartphone photos have frequently saved the day for imaginative pilgrims who failed to obtain their sellos either in order, or in enough quantity (two each day for the final 100 km) to qualify the usual way. Most folks do not think of this, but it can help you explain your meandering ways.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, I do have a Compostela. Although I might do other routes I’m not really interested in “getting credit” for them. I also don’t want albergue staff thinking I just hopped out of a cab and showed up.

 

[dailycamino]

!aiesuS te aiertlU¡ Enjoy your backwards walking. It really is about your journey, however you mix it up. Have you read the related bit of Taras Grescoe’s book?
View attachment 46558

Thanks I’ve never heard of this book I’ll check it out

 

[jeannick]

.My credentiale freaked the person giving the compostella , I had so many stamps I had added a second credentiale and stuck it with cello tape , kept it ,stuck a third one and re-used it three years later when doing Vilnius to Vezelay and had stamps on both recto and verso .
that was a great conversation piece

It now looks like my mind , a greatly expanded chaotic jumble

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I walked Santiago to Finisterre and then to Muxia last year (Dec). The municipal albergues in Finisterre and Muxia albergues posted strict conditions for staying. In Finisterre, the reception staff checked my credential to make sure I had at least two stamps from Albergues between Santiago and Finisterre. (I believe they also allowed hikers to check-in earlier than cyclists). In Muxia, they wanted to see a stamp from the town halfway between Finisterre and Muxia. There are other accommodations in both towns if you don't have the required stamps in your credential.
They don't care what kind of jumble the earlier pages of your credential may be in. They only care that you have the requisite stamps to show your progress from Santiago to Finisterre to Muxia (or Santiago to Muxia to Finisterre).

 

[jeannick]

.
Yeeh the last stages after muxia get a lot of wannabe pilgrims who do it on the sly , so it get a bit more inquisitive
also I've found that the closer one get to compostella the less cutlery there is in the kitchen .
I was the lucky possessor of a corkscrew and levied a taxe of half glass for each bottle opened

 

[Aesklepius]

.My credentiale freaked the person giving the compostella , I had so many stamps I had added a second credentiale and stuck it with cello tape , kept it ,stuck a third one and re-used it three years later when doing Vilnius to Vezelay and had stamps on both recto and verso .
that was a great conversation piece

It now looks like my mind , a greatly expanded chaotic jumble

Wonderful!!

 

[Lindy Loo]

So I began making my way backwards on the CF last year from SdC. My plan was to continue that this year however I haven’t actually walked to Finisterre or Muxia and I’m feeling pulled in that direction. My dumb question is, will any albergue care that my credentials show me hopping around. Should I just get a new credential? Thanks for your input!

When I did SdC to Muxi & then Finisterre in late 2014 I used the same passport with no problem. Where I stayed in Muxia the place was unattended & my walkung companion & I were the only 2 pilgrims. It's a lovely walk, a little steep out of SdC but well worth it! Beun Camino

 

[Deleted member 83944]

Private albergues don't care. Some parish / monastery and municipal ones do, especially if it's busy.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

A 'higgly-piggly' credencial is only an issue if and when you present it at the Pilgrim Office to try to obtain a Compostela. The staff usually examines a credencial to use the chronological sellos to establish a definite line-of-march in a more or less direct line from somewhere at least 100 km distant, into Santiago.

If you are all over the place with no direct line for the final 100 km into Santiago, and if you want a Compostela, be prepared to explain your route. A paper map with a line drawn on the route to explain would help. But you still must document that you walked the FINAL 100 km on any route to get to Santiago.

As a suggestion, and if you are taking pictures along your travels; data and location-stamped smartphone photos have frequently saved the day for imaginative pilgrims who failed to obtain their sellos either in order, or in enough quantity (two each day for the final 100 km) to qualify the usual way. Most folks do not think of this, but it can help you explain your meandering ways.

Hope this helps.

We had a guy in last week with a jumble of stamps from about 6 different caminos. He said he was just wandering Spain and thought he'd ask (about a Compostela) and wasn't particularly put out with "NO".

They've been very strict on the two stamps a day rule over the last couple of weeks.

 

[jeannick]

.
the compostella is not that much important ,
it only matter to those who want to get it and would go to extremes to obtain it by hook or crook

the credentiale is the record of the journey , sometimes I got three in the same days
then none for the next ,
it was the record of an experience and I treasure it as such
don't bother with a piece of paper , just enjoy the ride

 

[dailycamino]

Thanks for all your replies, as I said I’m not looking for a Compostela.

 

[Barson]

I walked Camino Frances last year, and this autumn I want to walk from Santiago to Finisterre. Do I need a new credentiale, or I can walk with an old one? If I need to get a new one, maybe someone knows, where I can get it in Santiago?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I walked Camino Frances last year, and this autumn I want to walk from Santiago to Finisterre. Do I need a new credentiale, or I can walk with an old one? If I need to get a new one, maybe someone knows, where I can get it in Santiago?

Once the credential has been stamped by the Pilgrim Office and a Compostela issued it is, in effect, closed down. You can buy another one from them though. You don't need one if you're walking from SdC to Finisterre as they're only required for pilgrimages to Santiago not from there. You might like to have one for souvenir purposes.

Edit: on second thoughts you might like to have one if you're thinking of getting a Finisterre certificate.