I'm a week into this, frick boys I'm out of shape. I'm stopping to sleep every 7-8 miles or so, about half the distance these 'stages' list. At this rate I should finish by mid April. It's winter so anything useful is closed, how the frick do people live out here with no services. So far the weather is good, only one snowstorm but I got lucky and found shelter 20 minutes after it started. I should have brought better shoes, maybe I'll get some at the next Decathlon.
This is a reminder that even us lethargic types can get up and walk a little each day. But frick these hills, is this whole fricking trip uphill? I swear I walk up 80% of the time. I got poles which are helping for sure but I still have to stop midway even on the smallest of hills. I'd rather be at home ordering UberEats but I'm hoping that feeling passes eventually.
Good on you anon. QRD of your mission?
QRD?
Yeah I've been working in a low walking / rest day every 4-5 days now.
I'm in Burgos now, pack is about 15lbs, I need to cut some weight from it but now sure what else to lose. I feel I've cut all I can and still be comfy. Water and gummy bears are heavy.
You sound like a moron who doesn't leave their bedroom.
Yeah, I'm starting to realize that but it was lurking this board for a year that made me finally get up so I want to be here for others. If I can do it then seriously anyone can. I'm a 300lb fatass who didn't move more than a few feet each day before this.
I'm good, but hungry every moment and my legs hurt. The orange flavored Aquarius seems to help.
I think I have about 4 weeks left at this pace, splurging on hotels in larger towns helps a lot. Not a lot of other people out here, I see maybe 3-4 others a day at most. I assume this will pick up in a few weeks as I get closer.
>orange flavored Aquarius
Patrician choice brother.
It's natural that there aren't many people there since you started early in the season, how is the weather treating you?
Are you finishing at Santiago or continuing to Finisterre/Muxia?
I'm not sure on Finisterre/Muxia yet. I'll see how I'm feeling as I get closer. Think it's worth it?
The weather has been good for the most part, one bad snow day, some rain on and off but nothing too heavy or long. Cold as frick at times but my fat seems to keep me warm.
>Think it's worth it?
I very much enjoyed it but I did it with a mate during summer, we were just hiking our own hike and often finished the day at 21:00 or later and arrived at albergues when they were about to close. Hiking down from the top of the hill, seeing the beach, getting a beer and going for a swim was pretty memorable.
Finisterre is a cosy little town.
ill never forget this moment. I did 46km that day and felt good enough to continue but it was already getting dark so called it
hey I recognize that place, it's ferrol!
nope, it's Cee, last town before Finisterre
QRD means Quick RunDown, like a short explanation
God bless you on your travels, Anon.
Please post pics as regularly as possible.
Ah inseparabile
d'amore il Dio
Stringeva, o vergine, tuo fato al mio!
*stabs radio *
A little at a time friend. After a bit you’ll be surprised how far you can go. Don’t forget to work in a few rest days occasionally.
>he's actually doing it
Madlad. Buen Camino, amigo. Keep going and you'll make it. Ultreya.
>how the frick do people live out here with no services
That's just how normal life is in the rural parts of the world anon.
>I'd rather be at home ordering UberEats
You need to keep fighting the good fight and steer yourself towards a better life, reject cooonsumerism, stay healthy and enjoy the process.
Good luck anon, remember to take care of blisters immediately. The more you ignore them the more they're going to be a b***h to take care of later
I was wondering if you were on your way after the last thread archived.
Good job getting started. It'll get easier bit by bit. How far did you get in that week and how much does your pack weight? Definitely upgrade your shoes if they suck. Makes a big difference
Enjoy the chemical resistant bedbugs!
It's so funny to see morons such as yourself that never set a foot on the Camino talking nonsense.
Lol. How do you think I know? I was in Spain last year (not doing the Camino, but just sightseeing.) One of the alburgues had africkton of bedbugs. I didn't even put my stuff down. Late last year in Paris 1 in 10 houses had bedbugs. It's beyond filthy over there right now. Especially if you're jumping from hostel to hostel on a multiperson bunk situation.
I see. Maybe I'm lucky having slept 40 to 50 nights in different albergues and never getting a single bite besides mosquitoes.
Not to mention they give you those those throw away sheets so I find it hard to believe it's really a issue. Anyway I did this before covid so maybe cooof tourists are more susceptible to bugs. Safe and effective.
I ran into bedbugs on two nights in a row (or maybe it was two nights in three -- it has been a while) when I was on Camino in '21. I will say that I only met one or two other people who got bedbugs though. I think it's pretty unusual, but you definitely do see it.
Finisterre was 110% worth it for me, but I had some people I wasn't ready to say goodbye to yet, and we took it as kind of a cool-down walk after finishing the Camino, shipped our bags ahead and everything on those days.
Proud of you anon, looking forward to seeing that pic from SdC. You're making me want to walk it again myself.
Good on you friend. Good on you.
Leave this board, OP. If you actually go outside then this isn't the place for you.
Op, are you alright?
Fackin legend. Don't post here too often, focus on the journey.
>7-8 miles
I’m pretty sure I replied in your original post. I’m the Anon who ran a hiking MeetUp group. 10-12 miles is what average people can do in a day. Anything more is generally tough, and anyone claiming more than 15 either hikes a lot or is probably lying. Just being in shape won’t get you more than 15 for days at a time.
Thanks, that makes me feel better. I wonder how so many people are saying they are doing 15-20 miles a day. With these hills and rain 7-8 is really hard. I'm hoping by the end I can do 3-4 without even thinking about it, and 10 with some effort.
This 'Meseta' area isn't bad, the wind can be rough at times but I'll take these long flat walks any day compared to the shit early on. I'm tempted to pick up some swimming or skiing goggles soon just to stop getting my eyes blasted.
How's the way when it gets near Sarria? From what I see most of the bad climbs are over by then and I should be hitting more open bars and cafes.
This might be true for the first week on the camino but your conditioning gets stronger really quickly. All the average guys I walked with found 30km everyday easy by the end of it, even if they normally don't hike. There was a guy with a paralyzed leg walking around 30km a day. Pretty sure he even beat me to Santiago lol
The day you do Cruz the ferro is difficult. highest point of the camino and also pretty difficult rocky terrain going down. Galicia is rolling hills, not that bad. Beautiful views
>15 either hikes a lot or is probably lying
Different people have different baselines of fitness and there's nothing wrong with doing 8 or 6 mile days but if you're otherwise active 15 miles is really not that much.
>20 miles a day
That's around my average when I did the Camino but I had a couple days doing over 30. I think the longest day I did a little over 35 miles.
It really doesn't matter either way, enjoying the time there is much more important than the distance you're doing daily, with the certainty that when you finish the Camino you'll be much stronger than when you started.
Nice photo anon.
>Cruz the ferro is difficult. highest point of the camino
For me it's Collada del Cueto (C. San Salvador) at 1568m
Godspeed brother. Please keep us updated.
keep us updated man.
>no updates
Doing us dirty m8
checking in, i made it halfway today!!! going to get that certificate tomorrow on the way out of town.
i feel like i've lost at least 40lbs out here, but my knees are shot. i think i'll take a few rest days in leon and try to find a knee brace.
i'm still fat though, the only word i've really learned is panadería
godspeed anon, we're proud of you
thank you
i've now been reading about other long hikes, are there some other long walks like this where i dont have to camp? like the AT or PCT sounds cool but i dont want to carry all that gear. is that 88 temple japan one rural or can i get private rooms?
it's a strange feeling, it's like i want to walk the earth now. but i still miss my steam games and ubereats. outside isn't so bad though, people are overall pretty nice to me even when they are disappointed i cant speak spanish.
the 88 temple one you don't even have to walk. people do it by public transport too. Definitly no camping
The Northern bit of the Kungsleden has mountain huts you can stay at. Some have wood saunas. You can get down from Abisko to Kvikkjokk just staying at huts. Beyond there is a 100km stretch where you'll need a tent as there are no shelters.
>i've now been reading about other long hikes, are there some other long walks like this where i dont have to camp?
Look into teahouse treks in Nepal. The classic Annapurna Sanctuary and Circuit treks take about two weeks but there are plenty of ways to extend it if you have time, Everest Base Camp is similar. The Three Passes trek takes about 20 days iirc.
Plenty of teahouses for accommodation and meals. I didn't book anything in advance when I went (although I wasn't there in high season), there was always a room available in whatever village I decided to stop in.
Total cost was about <$15/day for meals+accommodation but this was a fair few years ago.
You are based, anon. May the outdoors favor you, wherever you go.
up
How many km until you finish the camino?
Don't you quit on us, Fats!
You're our guy in the trenches, out there burning lard while we wish we could go for a long walk.
Happy trails broheem. Pain is temporary, keep your chin up.
He's probably chilling in Leon rn, gorging himself on the massive tapas you get with each drink (as he should)
Doesn't Spain use metric like normal people?
They convert their minutes to minutos too.
Fatty here. It's been cold, very cold. I passed Foncebadón a bit ago with a lot of snow. Fricking kids out there playing while I'm nearly dying from cold and exhaustion. I'm going to stop for a day in Ponferrada and enjoy some more papas fritas and cervezas. I would feel bad but I've already had to buy smaller pants because everything I have with me is falling off. I actually feel smaller. And I hear a bar in Ponferrada has a stamp on it with breasts. I want the tit stamp in my passport.
I'm now nervous about reaching Sarria, I hear the crowds will pick up. I am enjoying the peace and quiet of this journey. I can now walk a full 20-25km each day if it's not too steep.
Thank you for all the kind words. I"ll be back in a week or two with a picture from SdC. Anyone out there reading this, you can do it. It was hard at first but giving myself weeks to do this at a slow pace is paying off.
>20-25km
an american getting enlightened on his pilgrimage! bless the camino!
>because everything I have with me is falling off.
Nice
>I want the tit stamp in my passport.
Based
>I can now walk a full 20-25km each day
We told you bro.
You are almost there, may you have a blessed walk to Santiago. Ultreya.
Thanks for the update bruddah, hope you get some warmer weather.
Keep on truckin and keep us posted.
i assume you plan on flying back home from santiago, but if not let me know. if you walk back come through asturias and we can share a beer and see some places etc
You're the life and soul of this place and I find myself looking forward to your posts. Glad to read the distances are getting better for you and you're still having a blast
19 days since the last update. Did we lose him? Maybe he decided to walk on to the ocean. I hope so.
>Maybe he decided to walk on to the ocean
Even then he would have finished by now. Hopefully anon met a party crowd and is having fun on other trails.
I still hope to hear back from him and maybe he can do a full Camino report here.
Yeah I know, I just liked hearing from him and I was holding out hope we'd get a final update. I was reliving my camino vicariously I guess.
Trail runners are the undisputed meta.
>undisputed
lol
I mean, for something like the camino they really are. The distance isn't long enough to blow them out and the terrain isn't crazy rugged. The only area they don't blow everything else out of the water for on a hike like that is (potentially) price.
I might potentially do it this year if I don't make enough money for another travel option I have on higher priority. I'd start late September. How busy is it then? I want to do one of the more well known paths as I want to meet people along the way. I assume September and October are still great time to do it as it isn't summer anymore but it isn't that cold yet. I could also do it later as I have a few months of free time, but this seems like the best compromise.
How much is the accommodation along the way? I want to wild camp but like I said I want to chat up people so ideally I want to visit a hostel every now and then for charging my stuff and socialisation.
What shoes do you recommend? How easy it is to get new footwear along the way? I'm a strong hiker, I can do about 40km per day on mixed ground, but I absolutely wreck my shoes so I'm curious.
What kinds of nationalities you met the most? I'm still in my 20s so I'm curious if the demographics are usually older or nah?
>I'd start late September. How busy is it then?
Pretty damn busy since it's prime hiking season. Expect very hot days still.
>How much is the accommodation along the way?
Pre covid you municipal albergues were 5-6€ but then there was private accommodation varying from 10/12 to whatever luxury you want to pay in the biggest towns and cities.
>What shoes do you recommend?
Trail runners. I've done the Camino wearing Adidas spezials, flip flops(did like 35km and it was an interesting day with lots people starting conversation and asking questions because of it) and cheap jogging shoes. Paths are for the most part very forgiving specially if you go during summer.
>How easy it is to get new footwear along the way?
Pretty easy, offer may very depending on the size of the town but Pamplona, Burgos or Leon has everything you may want. Even small towns often have stacked stores with Lowas, Asolo and all of that if you are into boots.
>What kinds of nationalities you met the most?
Germans are a big group and I met a few of them there, same as Italian. Then Spanish obviously and the Portuguese are also very common.
I don't remember seeing a lot of americans during my time there but according to 2022 data they were there big time.
>demographics are usually older or nah?
Definitely, older people rule the Camino but there's plenty of younger peregrinos and they are very sociable so you'll have that part covered.
That was very informative, thank you
for those who maybe don't know much abou it but maybe want to get a better idea about the Camino there's this unfiltered kino movie.
Let's have a watchalong stream when fattie is done
Excellent flick.
I have a copy on DVD.
Highly recommend.
Lad
yoyoyoy
>hOw dO PeOpLe OuT hErE LiVe WiThOuT sErViCeS
lol, we fricking do without or do it ourselves, fricking city ppl
u ok m8?
>over 10 days since we last got an update from fattybro
He better be partying in Santiago by now.
I really hope so. This thread is the only reason I check this board once a day now haha
I’m starting to get worried, bros.
I’m proud of you Anon. You are doing good for yourself. You will cherish this forever. Keep going and know we are rooting for you.
the bomb has been planted.
Post your thoughts on shoes.
I am planning to go sometime but my heavy hiking boots feel like they are too much but sneakers also seem wrong since I have to cross the pyrenees.
sneakers are fine if you have them, you won't be crossing the pyrenees directly over the mountains. vast majority of terrain will be trails. you should get trail runners though, they are better than sneakers at everything
What's this Camino you're talking about? You got me curious.
Quit bumping the thread homie
go frick yourself, even if he’s samegayging, it’s ostensibly on-topic.
Old school Catholic pilgrimage that starts in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where people believe St James apostle is buried. Most people doing it these days have no religious motive.
What'd I just say
I wonder what happened to op for him to not update us again.
He's walking. Letting the Camino talk to him.
its pretty astounding this guy did this. if he really didn't do jack shit and started with the camino im surprised he didn't tear a ligament or sprain himself and a small chance of dying of exposure in the dead winter
anon, the camino fattie's been silent for few weeks now
i always believed in him
thats awesome, good for you anon. Btw, the victory here is that you did it, not that you met some girl. on trips people make all sorts of wild plans with people they meet and it goes nowhere, id be lying if I told you i didnt fall head over heels with some french sloot i met in a hostel or whatever back in my early traveler days. so if you meet up with her, great. I wouldn't put my money on it.
and also man, im glad you made great memories, don't forget to keep adventuring, and meeting new women on those adventures, now you know you can do it!
cheers
I made it bros. This was the last cafe stop just after the river going into SdC. You won't believe this though, I met a girl. A few days before finishing I met a fellow pilgrim at a cafe and we started chatting, she is a real girl! So we have been hanging out in Madrid but she just left. I am going back home this weekend, but we hope to stay in touch. We talked about doing the Camino Portugues next year.
Thank you all for your advice and support, I can't believe I made it bros. We're all gonna make it...
Hell yes, dude. Way to go!!!
Very based.
What country was she from?
I'm proud of you. Too many people are scared to even take basic risks these days. The world is your oyster for those who are willing to get off their asses and go get it.
For anyone reading this get up and go do whatever it is. Some of the best memories of my life were backpacking through europe and asia. no one fondly remembers their day job on their death bed.
oh shit, I was about to embark on a rescue mission, good you're alive.
also
>meet a girl
>stop coming to 4chin
>girl leaves
>immediately start posting again
I laughed, welcome home.
Doubles verified.
Very well done anon.
You're a man now.
Very based. Go forth and conquer, anon.
Based fatass
You're an inspiration to us all
wholesome thread