Frances or change of plan?

[Cristofero]

Hi, my first post after following for some time.
I arrive in Santander on Wednesday and planned to bus to Burgos to pick up from where I ended earlier this year.
However, the reports of covid and crowds have added to my pre camino nerves and I’m wondering if I should try the Del Norte instead?
Am I over reacting?
I walk shorter days and the level of infrastructure on the Frances suits me , but…Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for all the advice and information on the forum, Cristofero

 

[Former member 102963]

Hi, my first post after following for some time.
I arrive in Santander on Wednesday and planned to bus to Burgos to pick up from where I ended earlier this year.
However, the reports of covid and crowds have added to my pre camino nerves and I’m wondering if I should try the Del Norte instead?
Am I over reacting?
I walk shorter days and the level of infrastructure on the Frances suits me , but…Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for all the advice and information on the forum, Cristofero

Yes you are over reacting. I sympathise as I have a simple trait! Stick to your plan assuming it’s really what you want to do! You can get a cold, flu, Covid, Pneumonia, twist a knee or ankle, etc on either!

 

[Tincatinker]

‘‘Tis the season to think Covid, tra la la trala etc”

You’ll have to make your own risk assessment based on your own vaccination status, vulnerabilities and your inclination to take sensible precautions: mask, hand gel and the ilk. And of course your ability to afford private rooms if you want to avoid communal sleeping.

I can’t offer advice. I won’t offer opinion other than that Covid is endemic. The odds of an encounter only vary by a little if we all stay home or all hike to Santiago’s bones.
Buen Camino- any Camino

 

[J Willhaus]

I am not sure you will find the Norte less free of illness. As the weather grows cooler, you will find fewer pilgrims on all Caminos and therefore possibly more beds. Do remember that Oct 12 is a National Holiday in Spain and there will likely be more crowds at some popular locations and perhaps fewer beds no matter which Camino you are walking

 

[Cristofero]

Yes you are over reacting. Stick to your plan assuming it’s really what you want to do

Yes you are over reacting. I sympathise as I have a simple trait! Stick to your plan assuming it’s really what you want to do! You can get a cold, flu, Covid, Pneumonia, twist a knee or ankle, etc on either!

Thank you, a good reply!

 

[Cristofero]

‘‘Tis the season to think Covid, tra la la trala etc”

You’ll have to make your own risk assessment based on your own vaccination status, vulnerabilities and your inclination to take sensible precautions: mask, hand gel and the ilk. And of course your ability to afford private rooms if you want to avoid communal sleeping.

I can’t offer advice. I won’t offer opinion other than that Covid is endemic. The odds of an encounter only vary by a little if we all stay home or all hike to Santiago’s bones.
Buen Camino- any Camino

Thank you for your balanced reply. I Needed a reality check!

 

[Cristofero]

I am not sure you will find the Norte less free of illness. As the weather grows cooler, you will find fewer pilgrims on all Caminos and therefore possibly more beds. Do remember that Oct 12 is a National Holiday in Spain and there will likely be more crowds at some popular locations and perhaps fewer beds no matter which Camino you are walking

Thank you for your reply, some how I’d got the idea that there was a wave of covid as well as a wave of people on the Frances.
I didn’t know about the 12th so thanks for that too.

 

[Former member 92300]

Hi, my first post after following for some time.
I arrive in Santander on Wednesday and planned to bus to Burgos to pick up from where I ended earlier this year.
However, the reports of covid and crowds have added to my pre camino nerves and I’m wondering if I should try the Del Norte instead?
Am I over reacting?
I walk shorter days and the level of infrastructure on the Frances suits me , but…Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for all the advice and information on the forum, Cristofero

You know - I walked the Frances last summer (2021) as soon as the Camino repopened and it was wonderful because there were so few people on the Camino (before Sarria anyway). This past summer (2022) I had planned to go on the Frances again because my daughter was going to do her first Camino and I wanted her to do the Frances first. She changed her plans and postponed until later in summer. Since I was still going on the Camino - I asked myself the same questions. For me - I am glad I decided to switch to the Norte/Primitivo (switched at Oviedo) as we didn't have as many issues with sick people in the albergues as people were reporting on the Frances. But - I had walked the Frances before - so that too affected my decision to move to another route.

Are you over-reacting? Well - that is a personal judgement. If you are fully vaccinated then you can still get sick - but you shouldn't get VERY sick.

As for the rest - if it is a first Camino - I definitely recommend the Frances. The Frances has much better infrastructure and more towns with WAY more albergues to chose from. On the Norte - are all the albergues still open? Not sure when they close for the season so definitely check on that. Frances albergues are often year round. Not all. But more. Towns are closer together and check in times are often earlier on the Frances. And the "Camino Spirit" is strong on the Frances and on the Primitivo. I found it less so on the Norte. I ended up in way more private rooms on the Norte, which is not only more expensive - but also leaves you feeling a bit more isolated. And even though I did a lot of albergues too - I didn't form the same kind of friendships on the Norte as I did on both the Frances and Primitivo. And in town - it was harder to find pilgrims if you aren't in an albergue since you are walking through regular TOURISTY towns.

Anyhow - good luck in deciding! Norte is BEAUTIFUL - but for a first Camino - I think it isn't the best Camino.

 

[StephenHLanark]

Hi, my first post after following for some time.
I arrive in Santander on Wednesday and planned to bus to Burgos to pick up from where I ended earlier this year.
However, the reports of covid and crowds have added to my pre camino nerves and I’m wondering if I should try the Del Norte instead?
Am I over reacting?
I walk shorter days and the level of infrastructure on the Frances suits me , but…Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for all the advice and information on the forum, Cristofero

I’m in Astorga on day 21 in the CF. Not met anyone with Covid nor heard of any reports of Covid Peregrinos. Just my experience.
Enjoy

 

[Marbe2]

Stayin private rooms if possible!

 

[Former member 92300]

The odds of an encounter only vary by a little if we all stay home or all hike to Santiago’s bones.

I disagree here - a little anyway. At home you aren't sleeping in a dorm full of strangers. That does add a little more risk - especially if fellow pilgrims either don't know they are sick - or know they are sick and chose to stay in albergues. Of course - staying in private rooms is always an option. But another option is to at least pick albergues with less bunks per room. That said - COVID is indeed endemic and in general - other than sleeping arrangements - I do agree that the risks are about the same as they would be going about your normal daily routines in your home community. But the dorm rooms do present a greater risk due to prolonged time sleeping in somewhat close quarters that may or may not have good circulation/air flow. But for me - I am fully vaccinated and have now had 3 boosters - AND I have already done 2 Caminos since COVID began - so sleeping in dorm rooms doesn't bother me.

 

[Cristofero]

You know - I walked the Frances last summer (2021) as soon as the Camino repopened and it was wonderful because there were so few people on the Camino (before Sarria anyway). This past summer (2022) I had planned to go on the Frances again because my daughter was going to do her first Camino and I wanted her to do the Frances first. She changed her plans and postponed until later in summer. Since I was still going on the Camino - I asked myself the same questions. For me - I am glad I decided to switch to the Norte/Primitivo (switched at Oviedo) as we didn't have as many issues with sick people in the albergues as people were reporting on the Frances. But - I had walked the Frances before - so that too affected my decision to move to another route.

Are you over-reacting? Well - that is a personal judgement. If you are fully vaccinated then you can still get sick - but you shouldn't get VERY sick.

As for the rest - if it is a first Camino - I definitely recommend the Frances. The Frances has much better infrastructure and more towns with WAY more albergues to chose from. On the Norte - are all the albergues still open? Not sure when they close for the season so definitely check on that. Frances albergues are often year round. Not all. But more. Towns are closer together and check in times are often earlier on the Frances. And the "Camino Spirit" is strong on the Frances and on the Primitivo. I found it less so on the Norte. I ended up in way more private rooms on the Norte, which is not only more expensive - but also leaves you feeling a bit more isolated. And even though I did a lot of albergues too - I didn't form the same kind of friendships on the Norte as I did on both the Frances and Primitivo. And in town - it was harder to find pilgrims if you aren't in an albergue since you are walking through regular TOURISTY towns.

Anyhow - good luck in deciding! Norte is BEAUTIFUL - but for a first Camino - I think it isn't the best Camino.

Thank you for your kind reply. I will be taking a bus to Burgos tomorrow afternoon! I’d stopped in Burgos late June after walking almost all the way from Oloron(sp?) St. Marie. It was just too hot and I was too tired!

 

[Cristofero]

I’m in Astorga on day 21 in the CF. Not met anyone with Covid nor heard of any reports of Covid Peregrinos. Just my experience.
Enjoy

Thank you for your ‘live’ reply.

 

[Cristofero]

Stayin private rooms if possible!

Thanks, I will stay in some private rooms, but have an albergue budget!

 

[BiggBlue]

I’m currently on the Norte it is way busier than I had anticipated- but is a wholly different experience from CF. The infrastructure is very slim compared to CF. As for Covid if you are vaccinated I’d be less inclined to stress.
At my albergue tonight one pilgrim was sneezing so took a test and was fine.
Plus so far short days not an option as many albergues simple gone out of business. Walked 20 km today between facilities!!

 

[Cristofero]

I’m currently on the Norte it is way busier than I had anticipated- but is a wholly different experience from CF. The infrastructure is very slim compared to CF. As for Covid if you are vaccinated I’d be less inclined to stress.
At my albergue tonight one pilgrim was sneezing so took a test and was fine.
Plus so far short days not an option as many albergues simple gone out of business. Walked 20 km today between facilities!!

Thank you! I guess I

I’m currently on the Norte it is way busier than I had anticipated- but is a wholly different experience from CF. The infrastructure is very slim compared to CF. As for Covid if you are vaccinated I’d be less inclined to stress.
At my albergue tonight one pilgrim was sneezing so took a test and was fine.
Plus so far short days not an option as many albergues simple gone out of business. Walked 20 km today between facilities!!

Thanks for the update on the Del Norte. I’m happy I stuck with my plan!