Episode 1: Days 1-7 (Camino Francés, 2023)

[@lvp7696]

Ok, I've watched hundreds of Camino videos by now. This is by far THE best one. 0% blah blah blah, 100% essence of the experience you had. Thank you for this!

[@friendsthathike5729]

Nothing compares to being there in person but my goal was to try and capture my experience as best as I could. So I'm really happy to have read your comment. I was actually contemplating adding more dialogue but glad I didn't. Thank you so much for watching!

[@lequimper]

Really reminded me of my time waking here in May 2023. You really caught the feel of the Camino. Thank you.

[@friendsthathike5729]

I'd love to go back and walk it in the spring. It looks so green and lush. Thank you for watching! 💛

[@storiestellr]

I’ve walked a few times myself, watched (and made) countless videos… but yours is a particularly nice one. Thanks!

[@friendsthathike5729]

Thank you, that means a lot. Buen Camino, my fellow peregrino.

[@tuyasusanna]

Hi! It's funny how many hikers want to start hiking on the very first day of every month. This therefore causes congestion in accommodation. But perhaps it is the easiest to calculate the elapsed time. I'll try to remember this when I plan my next Camino... More people should like your video, it's great! 🫒Buen Camino! 🫒

[@rickhough]

Nice video! Did this route in April and May of this year. Going back in September to do the San Salvador/Primitivo.

[@friendsthathike5729]

Thank you! I'd LOVE to do it again in April or May, it looks so green, and the wildflowers look amazing. Have an excellent walk on the Primitivo. My friend just completed it and he loved it. Next May I'll be doing the Portuguese Route.

[@kerryaguilar1578]

I walked Frances April-June 2023. Your video was like time travel for me. Oh, how I miss the Camino. One of my favorite memories is from Logrono and the tunnel. Such a sacred space. Thank you for sharing your story. Buen Camino 👣

[@friendsthathike5729]

One day I want to walk it again in the spring. It looks sooo green and colorful! Not one day goes by that I don't think about my time on the Way. It's such a life changing experience. Buen Camino, friend.

[@gilbertovalle7315]

Gratidão por compartilhar. Recordando os caminhos que percorri. Ultreya et Suseya|

[@friendsthathike5729]

De nada e obrigado por assistir. Quando você percorreu o Caminho? Bom Caminho!

[@gilbertovalle7315]

@@friendsthathike5729 Percorri o caminho frances em 2001,2004 e 2008. Minha vida mudou para melhor. Abraços.

[@friendsthathike5729]

@@gilbertovalle7315 Asombroso. Aspiro a ser como tú.

[@TrailStrider909]

Wow the production in this video is top notch! Just love it!!!

[@albertusyudhistiro3427]

I am watching your video. And really love it Just wonder, what time did you start walking in the morning?

[@friendsthathike5729]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you found it insightful. For the first two weeks I started walking at 6am every morning, but I found that I was walking in the dark for quite a bit and missing a lot of the views. So the last two weeks I decided to start walking at 7:30am, which I found to be the perfect time because that was around sunrise (which is my favorite time of the day) and I was able to see so much more.

[@susanposton511]

I loved this! I'm starting 9/2 this year, so the timing is perfect. Two questions...what time did you leave each day? What did you use to record your video? :)

[@friendsthathike5729]

Thank you! Your going to have such a life changing experience, as long as you go with an open heart and zero expectations. The first few weeks I left between 5:30am-6am. Mainly because I wanted to get into town a little earlier to rest and explore the villages. However, I did have to walk in the dark for a few hours, and sadly I missed a lot of the views. About halfway through I started leaving a little bit later around 7am, which ended up being the perfect time because 1) there was enough daylight to see the landscape and 2) we were still able to catch those beautiful sunrises, which was my favorite time of the day. I used my iPhone 12! 🤓Ultreia et Suseia!

[@susanposton511]

@@friendsthathike5729 Thank you so much! I can't wait to follow in your footsteps!

[@heatherhoward2513]

Too old and arthritic now to do this, but to watch it was great.

[@friendsthathike5729]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@davclu4581]

If we leave early in the morning each day and put the boots to the trail around 7 am do some albergues or donavitos have food we could purchase for the next morning so we could leave early or do they frown on this?

[@friendsthathike5729]

Most of the municipals and donativos don't sell food, at least the one's I stayed at. Occasionally you'll come across one that has a vending machine. However, some albergues do offer a simple breakfast in the morning, usually a selection of some fruit, pastries, and yogurt that you can take with you before your walk. Some albergues have full on restaurants and cafes as well. If your on a budget like I was, sometimes when I got to a town I'll look for the local grocery store and purchase my breakfast and lunch for the next day. 90% of the time you'll come across a cafe within the first 5ks of walking so food was never an issue. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions just let me know! Ultreia et Suseia

[@rgrossod]

Do you need to steal the grapes?. Why?

[@heatherhoward2513]

Ok, what were the bikes about??

[@friendsthathike5729]

The Camino can be done by foot, bike, and horse. Some of the trails we walked on are shared with cyclists.

[@nela8277]

How many steps did go every day?

[@friendsthathike5729]

I averaged about 35,000 steps per day.

[@HesterCaminoAdventure]

When did you start from SJPDP?

[@friendsthathike5729]

I started Sept 1, 2023

[@iluvturtles0229]

@@friendsthathike5729 Was it super crowded and what was the weather like?

[@friendsthathike5729]

@@iluvturtles0229 The only times I found it crowded was the first three days from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona, and the last 5 days from Sarria to Santiago. But even then we were still able to get beds without reservations. Still had plenty of alone time. However, I do recommend making a reservation in Saint-Jean ahead of time and in Orisson (if you plan to stay there). The weather was actually perfect and hardly used my down jacket. Wore a light jacket in the morning but come afternoon it came off. It was warm but not uncomfortable. Once we got to higher elevations in Galicia it did get a little bit cooler in the mornings and evenings. On our second day Spain got hit with one of the worst rain storms and everyone was soaked down to the skivvies. Not even our rain gear kept us dry. That was only one day luckily. We got rained on maybe twice the whole trip. Hope that helps!