3/28/2024 0 Comments Biking the camino de santiago mapThe path also passes near restaurants-so it isn’t necessary to carry food or a great deal of water (take advantage of this opportunity to keep your pack light). To stay at them, you need a pilgrim passport, available through American Pilgrims on the Camino. These albergues (pilgrim hostels), which provide basic lodging, including access to showers, are run by hospitaleros (the volunteers who care for the pilgrims). And though it covers a great distance, its route is hardly remote, passing by budget-friendly accommodations nearly every five miles. Though some pilgrims complete the trail in as few as 20 days, most walk it in four to six weeks. When you let go of your daily routines, your everyday comforts, and your ‘business as usual,’ you are bound to learn a lot about who you are, and to be greatly influenced by the people and places you find.” “In a way, it’s not so much your fitness level but your willingness to let the Camino affect you. I hiked in Griffith Park in Los Angeles with a backpack of canned goods as my training,” says O’Neil. “The more you can walk with a weighted pack, the better. (FreeCat/Flickr)īoth Smith and her coproducer, Annie O’Neil, a fellow pilgrim whose journey is also documented in the film, advocate training to keep the experience more of an epiphany than an ordeal. Smith, who completed it in 2008, documented a half-dozen travelers’ experiences in Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. The trail has such transformative appeal that director-producer Lydia B. The Camino now beckons all types-from those looking for a 500-mile hike to those seeking spiritual discovery or release. Officially, the route begins wherever the pilgrim does, but the circuit most people follow has often been referred to as Camino Frances. Beginning in the ninth century, religious pilgrims would begin at their doorsteps and trek to the apostle’s resting place, seeking forgiveness for their sins. The Camino is named for Santo Iago (Saint James), an apostle and rumored brother of Jesus said to be buried under what is today the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. UNESCO declared the trail a World Heritage Site the European Union named the Camino its first European Cultural Route in 1987. The journey takes hikers over the Pyrenees Mountains, past vineyards, and through lush eucalyptus forests. James) begins at Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, and travels 500 miles through four of Spain’s 15 regions, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Example: Going over the Pyrennes to Roncesvalles, taking the path up to O’Cebriero to name a few.The commonly agreed-upon route for El Camino de Santiago (a.k.a. There are parts of the Camino that are not accessible by bike so you will be diverted by the roadway for a portion of time until you can meet up with the Camino again. And don’t speed by on a gravel or dirt road where dirt or stones might be thrown at pilgrims on foot. Ring you bell when approaching pilgrims on foot, inform them how you will pass them…”passing on your left”. Sharing the pathway with walkers is not difficult so if you have decided to do the Camino by bike then common courtesy is kind and respectful. There are basics that you will need to know and understand about what to pack for your Camino by bike, water, food, the different types of accommodation, maps and waymarks, laundry, staying connected with family, illness, how to use the bag transports, the postal service, local bus and train services, and repair shops. There will be lots of pleasant surprises that you can revel in while still understanding what the Camino does and doesn’t provide. Most albergues will not accept cyclists until after 4 pm and they do not all have bicycle storage facilities. You will need to bring your own basic repair kit, have a bicycle route map or GPS (the footpath is not the same in some areas along the Camino as it is for a bike) and understand how the albergues receive cyclists. But being prepared while cycling the Camino by bike is wise and prudent. Positive and ready to believe whatever you need will come your way. The Camino provides so many people say, and that’s a good way to think about things. If you plan on doing the Camino by bike we recommend you add a few rest days to enjoy some of the beautiful and historic cities along the Camino such as Burgos and Leon. We recommend you cycle the Camino only if you have some experience as a cyclist and are familiar with essential bike maintenance such as changing a tube, fixing the chain if it comes off or breaks, or reattaching the pedals. At Camino Bound, we also help organize self-guided Camino de Santiago cycling tours. You have decided you’d like to cycle the Camino, you know when you want to go but you are now wondering how to put it all together.
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