- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017 CF
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Hi Joe. I didn't plan rest days in other than to sightsee, but if was dragging (as it seems most find themselves at some points), would hike a shorter day, rest longer at cafe stops, or send my pack ahead on a few of the more physically demanding stretches. As far as planned sightseeing, I did the same as you have thought of, and made a detour at Azofra to Canas and then reconnected at Ciruena as well. I would not have wanted to miss Pamplona and was able to spend the first evening there after taking the ALSA from the airport in Madrid. Then I had another evening in Pamplona on the way back through from SJPP, which was nice because by then I'd scouted out the town and was able to have dinner at Cafe Iruna on Plaza del Castillo. I planned a day in Burgos and was very glad I did because the Cathedral is beautiful and so was the Cartuja de Miraflores (out the riverwalk to the east). Then there's Las Huelgas, another interesting church compound to visit there. I had an afternoon in Leon both times, which was enough. The Cathedral is kind of dark and brooding with wonderful stained glass (there a museum there too) whereas the one in Burgos is very light and airy and has an especially good museum. Then both times, I planned at least one extra day in Santiago because it's a great town with several museums and wonderful food. Happy planning!I've a few questions about rest days on the CF, and am curious to hear people's experiences
Thanks!
- If you took rest days, were they on any kind of schedule (say, every 6th day)? Based on how your body was feeling? Driven by how much you liked a town? Or did you plan beforehand to spend extra time in particular towns?
- If I do want to plan on particular stops, what suggestions do you have on places you loved? My initial thoughts would include Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, but my only certainty is how much I don't know now
I have penciled in two rest days - one in Burgos and the other in Leon. The Burgos one should be around day 12 and Leon day 20. There's nothing special about when you take a rest day (if you even take a rest day) - its just that I have been to both of these cities and would like to spend a day in each. Plus it gives me a chance to spend more than one night in a room by myself. About Pamplona - I sort of have planned a half day here - get in around 2.00 pm and leave around lunch time with a plan to overnight at Zariquiegui - as a way to get off the Brierley schedules. CheersI've a few questions about rest days on the CF, and am curious to hear people's experiences
Thanks!
- If you took rest days, were they on any kind of schedule (say, every 6th day)? Based on how your body was feeling? Driven by how much you liked a town? Or did you plan beforehand to spend extra time in particular towns?
- If I do want to plan on particular stops, what suggestions do you have on places you loved? My initial thoughts would include Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, but my only certainty is how much I don't know now
No night in the Parador at Leon is decadent - for me its almost a Camino requirement. Where else can you actually stay in an "albergue" that was there 500 years ago??.... Our last rest day was in Leon, where we ate too much meat at the Ren Fair, bought new shoes, and spent a decadent night at the Parador. Rest days are like the rest of the Camino, they just kind of occur at exactly the right time. Buen Camino!
thankyou for posting this.... please clarify ...from canas there is a well marked road to ciruena or does one have to backtrack to Azofra? my map does not show this and it has been a main ? that I needed an answer to...Hi Joe. I didn't plan rest days in other than to sightsee, but if was dragging (as it seems most find themselves at some points), would hike a shorter day, rest longer at cafe stops, or send my pack ahead on a few of the more physically demanding stretches. As far as planned sightseeing, I did the same as you have thought of, and made a detour at Azofra to Canas and then reconnected at Ciruena as well. I would not have wanted to miss Pamplona and was able to spend the first evening there after taking the ALSA from the airport in Madrid. Then I had another evening in Pamplona on the way back through from SJPP, which was nice because by then I'd scouted out the town and was able to have dinner at Cafe Iruna on Plaza del Castillo. I planned a day in Burgos and was very glad I did because the Cathedral is beautiful and so was the Cartuja de Miraflores (out the riverwalk to the east). Then there's Las Huelgas, another interesting church compound to visit there. I had an afternoon in Leon both times, which was enough. The Cathedral is kind of dark and brooding with wonderful stained glass (there a museum there too) whereas the one in Burgos is very light and airy and has an especially good museum. Then both times, I planned at least one extra day in Santiago because it's a great town with several museums and wonderful food. Happy planning!
thankyou for posting this.... please clarify ...from canas there is a well marked road to ciruena or does one have to backtrack to Azofra? my map does not show this and it has been a main ? that I needed an answer to...
Duly noted and muchas gracias for all info.....now in my map book!No, you don't have to go back to Azofra, but the road is more public and populated between Azofra and Canas, so it might be a good idea to just do it that way if you're hiking alone.
Just so you know what to expect on the way TO Canas, pass through Azofra on the Camino and continue to the far edge of the little town to a paved road running perpendicular. There are signs there (LR-206). Make a left and follow the roadside (it's not bad - not much traffic, out in the open) through a small collection of businesses and housing (Alesanco) and continue on to Canas. On the road, there's a large pink/fuschia sign for the monastery/abbey, but you can't miss it. It's a nice visit.
When you leave Canas (I think there is some lodging available there), follow the town's Calle Real westward onto LR-327 (straight on). Eventually the road forks, but stay to the right on LR-327 and in a couple of km, it will take you out to a main road into Ciruena. Make a right there (LR-204). The hike between Canas to Ciruena is lovely, but I'm not sure I'd do it alone because those roads are much more isolated. I was hiking on LR-327 and a van stopped for no discernible reason about 50 ft ahead on this deserted road (I'm a female) and seemed to be waiting for me to pass. I got on my cell phone and started pointing it toward them as if taking a picture and pushing in numbers, and they took off quickly.
I remember waking up in the middle of the night of my second night in a hostel in León. I was so confused, because I had been there the night before, and wasn't used to sleeping in the same place two nights in a row. It seemed to take me a few minutes to figure out what was going on.I did the rest day thing a couple of times, and it was okay, but now I'm more an advocate for a short day. Say 10-12 k. You can start out a bit later, still get to the town early, find yourself a bed, and relax. Gives your body a chance to recover a bit, yet you are still moving. I found it odd to stop while on the Camino. ha ha
Hi Joecamino. I walked from Lourdes to Santiago. It took me 40 days, including 1 day rest in Burgos because of shin splints. All the cities you mentioned are worthy of another day exploring them. I particularly liked Pamplona and Burgos, but it is a matter of personal choice, time availability and your physical situation as well as weather conditions I guess...I've a few questions about rest days on the CF, and am curious to hear people's experiences
Thanks!
- If you took rest days, were they on any kind of schedule (say, every 6th day)? Based on how your body was feeling? Driven by how much you liked a town? Or did you plan beforehand to spend extra time in particular towns?
- If I do want to plan on particular stops, what suggestions do you have on places you loved? My initial thoughts would include Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, but my only certainty is how much I don't know now
Wonderfully said! And, there are plenty of roses to smell, plenty of rocks, hay bales and grassy fields to lay on and see the clouds go by, plenty of beers, wines and tapas to be savoured and plenty of new and old Camino friends to talk to about the little and big things of LIFE!Well... I might go a bit contrarian again and suggest that the term "rest-day" seems to falsely connote weakness, when after-all, the Camino is all about slowing down and enjoying life as it occurs. I can totally get behind the "short-day" concept, as some cities are too big to absorb in one day, and some are so quaint they deserve more time than the "roll-in, roll-out" mentality allows.
Sadly, however, some people are so driven to knock off the designated stages, or to log 40-50K days, that they don't seem able to stop and smell the roses. But what is the point of that? I admit that I am totally anal about the weight of my pack, and scheduling in general, but I am more than willing to pull up short in a little lovely little town that feels right. This means having a little bit of flexibility in one's schedule, ie. rest days. We didn't know how our bodies would respond to our demands, and we conceded that it was quite possible that we just could not walk for 37 days straight. What's more, we decided that we didn't want to walk that far without a break. Sure, we lost folks along the way, but we were also able to meet that many more. Plus, we found that everyone had some stop time built in, and the next thing you knew, long lost friends were sleeping in the next bunk again.
Please don't feel that you must go a certain distance everyday. We met a lady who had 3 months to do the Camino. Her plans for the next day were to walk 4k,. She was also in her 70's, having a great time,. She was also journaling by hand, writing real-life post cards, and she was very happy!!! The Camino is supposed to be a spiritual journey, not a race to Santiago. Sometimes the best way to do the Camino (and yourself) the honor it truly deserves is to stop. For a mass, for a meal, for a quick chat with locals, to kick the soccer ball around with that group of school kids, to take off your shoes and soak your feet in that stream, to dip your head under that fountain, to have a beer with some new friends, to have a beer with some old friends from yesterday. Just occupy a bench in the shade and enjoy the world around you while you munch a bocadillo and air out your feet. It never fails to put a smile on my face, some joy in my heart, and some peace in my soul.
Happy resting!
I've a few questions about rest days on the CF, and am curious to hear people's experiences
Thanks!
- If you took rest days, were they on any kind of schedule (say, every 6th day)? Based on how your body was feeling? Driven by how much you liked a town? Or did you plan beforehand to spend extra time in particular towns?
- If I do want to plan on particular stops, what suggestions do you have on places you loved? My initial thoughts would include Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, but my only certainty is how much I don't know now
How much a night ?No night in the Parador at Leon is decadent - for me its almost a Camino requirement. Where else can you actually stay in an "albergue" that was there 500 years ago??
How much a night ?
In Sep 2015 the pilgrim rate was E107 including breakfast - private room, free wifi, multi channel TV. Best to check with them - say 2 or 3 days before you arrive in Leon to confirm the rate and room availability. Also if you are there after 31 Oct 2017 - gone, closing for a 2 year renovation. CheersHow much a night ?
Take a look at their website. If you become a friend of the Paradores I think you can get a discount and also when your are above a certain age. http://www.parador.es/es/paradores/parador-de-leon
Ha @mspath ...Great minds think alike
Hola MS - yes they really were most hospitable. When I arrived on the bike - cold, very wet (dripping in fact) there was someone to help be store the bike and carry my panniers. He was there again when I left a couple of days later. If I recall correctly - judging by the dress code of those having breakfast at least 30-35% of the guests were pilgrims. Some left with their mid-morning snacks!!! (if you get my drift?)I have never stayed there but did walk in one past winter camino to see the inner courtyard/cloister garden; the very correct concierge was most hospitable! No winter visits will available in the near future since the Leon Parador will soon be closed for major renovations
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