Planning to Walk the French Route on the Camino de Santiago in 2024

[francis604]

Hi all,

My partner and I are planning to walk the French route from Pied de Port in either the spring or fall of 2024.
Timing depends on vacation time from work and other mundane realities of life.
I've been reading John Brierly's guidebook a lot and consuming as much Camino de Santiago/Saint James lore as possible lately.
We're from Vancouver, Canada
Excited to meet folks here and on the Way.

Cheers,
Francis

 

[Robo]

Welcome. You'll love that route. Still my favourite.

 

[francis604]

Welcome. You'll love that route. Still my favourite.

Thank you!

 

[Tim Floyd]

Welcome! We did CF both in the fall (2017) and the spring (2023). Both were great. Weather was fantastic both times. Not too hot. Not too cold. Spring was nice because the days were longer and got longer as we went. But either one is a fantastic experience.

Brierly's book is one of the best at helping you prepare. I would not go without it in my pack, and I used it on both trips as a reference. Brierly's book, like all guidebooks for the Camino, are very helpful at giving you some idea how to break up such a journey into manageable pieces. But it is a guidebook, NOT a rulebook. Once you get going you will figure out how long a day is comfortable for you then you can use the guides to plan your stops. Many of the towns and villages in between Brierly stops are wonderful. Prepare, then just let it happen.

I hope you have a wonderful time. Part of the adventure is the preparation so you are well on your way.

Buen Camino

 

[francis604]

Thanks Tim! I'm enjoying the detail in Brierly's book and his suggested quieter routes.

 

[Tim Floyd]

Thanks Tim! I'm enjoying the detail in Brierly's book and his suggested quieter routes.

You are welcome! Camino is such a unique experience I always enjoy talking with people about it. Something else you should think about is how much you want isolation vs the company of other pilgrims. Some people - I think Brierly falls into this category - really emphasize solitude. I, on the other hand, will tell you that what I most enjoy about Camino is the people I meet from all over the world. Even on a "crowded path" you can still get a lot of alone time. You also get more places to stay, places to eat, places to buy supplies, pharmacies, etc. Something to think about as you choose your path.