Backpack Transport

Alto Perdon sculpture showing the many (valid) ways
Pilgrims travel the Camino.

You may have heard someone say 

if you want to do the Camino and be a “real” pilgrim, 

you must carry your backpack 

every step of the way.

Don't be hooked by this.  

Pilgrims have hired pack transport for various reasons 

since the beginning of the pilgrimage. 

Some were too ill to carry all they needed on their backs, 

some used beasts of burden, such as donkeys and horses,

and some just had the money to pay for it, 

so they did!

Think about the most famous pilgrimage of all, 

the one by the Three Kings to see the newborn Baby Jesus. 

They didn't carry their goods on their back, 

but packed everything, 

including themselves, 

by camel!

Were the 3 Kings not 'real" pilgrims?

The notion that using pack transport 

makes you less than a pilgrim is just silly. 

If you are physically unable 

or simply do not want to carry your backpack, 

there are wonderful companies 

who will transport your belongings each day.

I rarely carry my pack on the Camino Frances anymore. 

I did it the first time, because I wanted to 

and because I'd been told it was mandatory.

I'm older now, 

can afford to stay in private lodging,

and I love the freedom of walking without the extra weight. 

My feet and back are much happier when I walk unencumbered.

Pack transport is not that expensive. 

It generally runs between €6-€8 per pack, 

depending on where you begin your Camino 

and which route you are walking.

If you have pre-booked your lodging, 

you can sometimes get a bit of a break on the cost 

by submitting your schedule to the company 

and asking what it will cost. 

 If you have a group traveling, 

it can be less expensive, 

because in general, the more packs going, 

the less each individual pack will cost.

You may have heard of pilgrim albergues 

that will not allow pilgrims to stay 

unless they have carried their packs. 

Often, they WILL allow you to stay,

but you are put at the end of the line,

behind those who have carried heavy packs.

This is only fair, really.

The Albergue Guacelmo in Rabanal del Camino 

is one example
of an albergue who will not allow you to stay
if you have used pack transport. 

So there are some and you should do your homework.

However, if you are booking private lodging, 

it is not an issue. 

If you are unsure, ask when you book the lodging.

If you are not on the Camino Frances, 

it may be a little more difficult to find bag transport, 

but not impossible if you’re willing to pay. 

 Often, local taxis will transfer your backpack for a few euro. 

 Ask at the hotel or at a bar if they can recommend a reliable taxi.

Here are a few of the services that I am familiar with. 

I'm sure there are others. 

One way to find out is to ask the host of the lodging 

where you have booked if they know of a taxi 

or transport company that works the route you're walking.

I will post a note saying whether or not I have used the service

FRANCE

Express Bourricot

Caroline has sold Express Bourricot!
The new owner's name is Maialen!
They will carry pilgrims and luggage 

from St Jean pied de Port to Orisson or to Roncesvalles. 

The company operates in France only. 

http://www.expressbourricot.com/

All of the albergues in St. Jean will have a contact number

 for the taxi service. 

They speaks English and is very trustworthy. 

The cost for a taxi from SJPP to Roncesvalles is not inexpensive. 
You can find current prices on the website.

The cost is per TAXI, 

so if you have a group of people going, 

you can split up the price.

 They will also transport bicycles. 

Price to transport bags from SJPP-Roncesvalles
at the time I wrote this blog is €8 per bag. 

Services begin in March. 

I use this company every year.

Le Puy Route

Spain

Camino Frances:

Caminofacil

http://www.caminofacil.net/en/

Prices for bag transport begins at €6

The more bags, the less the cost.

Also, if you are prebooking your lodging 
and you know where you are staying, 
you might get a better price by booking your entire Camino 
with them up front.

I use this service every year. 

I have found them to be dependable and trustworthy.

Sarria to Santiago

Xacotrans

Tel. 608.581.206

I'm not sure what Xacotrans costs, 

but I do know bag transport is about half the price

once you reach Sarria.

Last I saw, Sarria to Santiago was running €3 per stage.

Camino Aragones

taxijavi@yahoo.es

Jaca, Huesca Tel: 637 503 920 

Camino Norte

Le P'tit Bag 

Transports bags from Bilbao to Irun.

http://greencartrans.webcindario.com/

Jacotrans

http://www.caminodesantiago2010.com.es/indexingl.html

The Peregrine Express 

Camino Norte between Irun and Santander.

Email: christel.langeveld@gmail.com

Contact number: 0034644589217

http://theperegrineexpress.blogspot.com/

Camino Primitivo

Taxi Camino

http://www.taxicamino.com/

Jacotrans

http://www.caminodesantiago2010.com.es/indexingl.html

Camino Portugues

http://www.caminodesantiago2010.com.es/indexingl.html

Camino Ingles

http://www.caminodesantiago2010.com.es/indexingl.html

How does it work?

In general, you simply call ahead and book the day before. 

You must call before 8pm and

 I suggest you call before 5 pm if possible.

With Caminofacil, you can also book via internet on their website, 
which is convenient and less expensive than calling.

The company charges per etapa, or per stage. 

A stage is usually considered a trip between two villages 

with a distance less than 30 km. 

If your stage is more than 30km, 

you may be charged for 2 stages.

If you are bicycling and/or your stage is more than 60km, 

contact them and get a quote.

Not all companies allow online order, 
but some do.
With Caminofacil, when you place an online order, 

you can also register on their website. 

Registering allows you to change 

or cancel your reservations later, if you need so. 

Please read their rules,
which they have posted on their website.

Tags

Once you have place your order with Caminofacil

 you’ll be able to download a set of printable luggage tags 

with the information of each stage on your route, 

so that you can print them and add them to your bags. 

If you are ON the Camino, and decide you need transport, 

and do not have internet access, 

most (not all but most) lodgings will have information available 

and tags available for local pack transport. 

Just ask your host.

Bag Transport Envelope is used with some companies

On the outside of a bag transport envelope
 is a form you fill out 
with your name and your destination for the day. 

You pop the cash into the envelope 

and attach it to your pack with the rubber band or string that is supplied.

In addition to the tag provided by the transport company, 

I suggest you put a sturdy luggage tag on your backpack 

with your name, your email address, and your telephone number.

Ask your host where the bags for transport should be placed. 

Generally, you will put your bag back 

where you picked it up the night before.

Most companies ask that your bags be ready to go by 8 am. 

This does not mean they will pick them up at 8 am. 

IF YOU MISS THE PICKUP THEN YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. 

You will have to call and make private arrangements 

and most likely pay a much higher price.

THE DREADED BEDBUG ISSUE

With the Camino so busy, 

bedbugs have been a persistent problem in albergues. 

(Not so much in private lodgings.)

If you are using bag transport, or riding buses,

 I strongly advise you to spray the outside of your pack 

with permethrin before leaving home. 

Your pack will be riding touching many other backpacks

 who may or may not have been exposed to bedbugs 

where they stayed the night before. 

 A little precaution can save a lot of tears later on.

* * * 

If you'd like to walk the Camino

but prefer walking with a small group,

take a look at my website:

Anniewalkers Camino

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Price INCLUDES: 

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-Transport from Orisson - SJPP - Orisson

-Taxi from Villafranca to O Cebreiro to Samos

- Buffet Breakfast in Santiago

(several other breakfasts are included)

 -50+ Pages of Preparatory Newsletters

-Detailed Packing List

-List of Hotels with Contact Info for Family/Friends

- Escort to Pilgrim Office in SJPP

- Pilgrim Mass at Roncesvalles

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-Pilgrim Shell

- Pilgrim Credential

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Anniewalkers Camino

Patty Moak - Pilgrim Photographer

In Fall 2012, Joe and I led a group of pilgrims 

on a 3 week walk on the Camino de Santiago. 

This trip is nice for people who don't have an entire 6 weeks to walk,

 and who might be more comfortable

 walking with an experienced pilgrim. 

One of my walkers was Patty Moak, 

 from my home town, Portland, Oregon.

Patty with her friend Ponferrada

Patty was a delight to have on this trip! 

Always positive and up-beat, 

her great attitude was a boon to her fellow pilgrims.    

When we returned home, 

some of the pilgrims shared photos they'd taken along the Way, 

and I really enjoyed the photos Patty had taken. 

I asked about her photography experience.  

Here is what I learned.

Patty Moak was born in Sacramento, California in 1942. 

Like many pilgrims, 

Patty decided to do the Camino to honor her birthday

 - her 70th birthday!  

Until that point, she had never been East of Colorado 

or on plane for more than 4 hours. 

Patty says the thought of traveling alone to a foreign country 

whose language she didn't speak was overwhelming at first. 

She says, "I heard about you, Annie, through a friend

and signed up. 

It was the most extraordinary experience of my life 

and the hardest, most challenging one. 

Harder even than the longest backpacking trip at 10,000 feet elevation. 

That being said, I'm going back in Spring 2014 to do the whole 500 miles."

Patty's interest in photography began in 1980 

while on a sailing boat on San Francisco Bay with friends. 

She had a small camera and took some really good photos with it. 

She got her first SLR in 1981 and her first digital SLR in 2005. 

She now has a Cannon T4i and a Cannon S100. 

The S100 went to Spain with her. 

Patty enjoys shooting mostly nature,

landscapes and old buildings. 

Spain was paradise for her!. 

Everywhere she turned, there was a superb photo op!

Once returning to Portland, Patty

 began taking photography classes at PCC. 

She belongs  to a photography group. 

At the moment, they are attending a lot of workshops, 

because the Portland winter weather isn't conducive to outdoor photo shoots. 

Patty says she loves being in the wilderness. 

She says, "I like old buildings and houses 

and ghost towns because they tell a story in some way."

I'm encouraging Patty to put up a Flickr account and to share her photos.

 But for now, following are some of my favorite photos Patty took 

while walking the Camino Santiago with our group in the Fall of 2012. 

I've chosen these photos because they show 

some of the varied landscapes you'll be walking, 

and some of the things you'll become familiar with as a pilgrim.

Pulpo, or fresh octopus, is a common sight on some sections of The Way.

 In O Cebreiro and in Melide, 

pulpo is a very popular dish.

I suggest you get a group together 

and order a dish of pulpo.

That way, if you don't care for it,

you can order something more to your taste.

But please, 

give it a try!

You may be pleasantly surprised.

Which way will you go?

 Monjarin is a well-known place along the Camino.

It is run by Tomas, 

a self-described modern Templar Knight.

The Templars were wonderful friends 

to the pilgrims,

protecting them along The Way.

Tomas does a great job

keeping the tradition alive.

There is no running water, however, 

at Monjarin.

The latrine, which used to be a simple hole in the ground

has been improved!

It now has walls and a seat!

Sunbreaks like this one make for magical morning walking!

People often ask me what the weather will be like in Spring, Summer, or Fall.

If I could predict the weather in Spain, I'd be rich!

But even when it rains, 

the pilgrim is blessed with sunbreaks and rainbows

that make the walking worthwhile.

Just do it!

You will see many interesting sculptures and fountains.

There are some fantastic sculptures and fountains along the Way.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for these.

Sometimes they're so realistic, it's difficult to tell if they're flesh or stone.

Foggy beginnings.

 Walking up and over the Pyrenees

will often take you through clouds.

Once you are above the clouds, 

the sun will shine,

and you will feel like you're staring at islands

when you see the mountaintops through the mist.

Other times, the Way will be flat and dry.

 Some days you will have rain and wind,

and the very next day it can be hot and dry.

Be prepared for both.

My shoes, close to the end of the Camino.

 Patty got this photo of my shoes,

which had been walking for nearly 3 months straight.

They were held together, literally,

with duct tape.

Three cheers for duct tape!

And yes, you can find it in Spain!

You will see many shrines along the Camino. 

 This cross is at the top of the Pyrenees

before your descent into Roncesvalles.

Many pilgrims have added ribbons,

stones, and other mementos to the shrine.

There are still a few wildflowers left for Fall pilgrims to enjoy.

 I particularly enjoyed walking in Spring this past year,

mostly because of the wildflowers.

But even in Fall,

there are flowers to be enjoyed!

Plenty of chances to buy a walking stick or a shell!

 If you don't want to bother with bringing trekking poles on the plane,

you can pick them up quite inexpensively in the outdoor shop

in SJPP. Or, you can buy one of these handmade walking sticks

in almost any village along The Way.

The sleeping places are well-marked.

Don't worry, you'll find the albergues.

The signage is clear.

Expect beauty!

Sometimes, you notice things

that you would have walked right past

a week earlier at home.

Waymarks are easy to find, even in the city.

Waymarking continues,

even in the big cities.

Just keep an eye on the ground,

and on buidings and walls.

Those flechas amarillas are difficult to miss!

One of the "dangerous" dogs on the Camino!   Not!

 I hear a lot of "dangerous dog" stories about the Camino.

This guy is probably closer to what you will encounter.

Little beggar! He sure is cute, huh?

Wine and tapas or pinchos after a long walk - a treat!

 All along the route are bars

where you can find beer, wine, soda, bocadillos, 

and lots of other great treats!

Take a load off!

Rest for a bit and get ready to walk another 4 hours!

Just in case you didn't notice...

 The Basques are a proud people!

They do NOT consider themselves to be Spanish.

They are BASQUE!

Theirs is the oldest language known,

and its roots cannot be traced.

You will see signs in both Basque and Spanish

along the Basque portions of the Camino.

Quiet forest walking is lovely.

 Sometimes you will walk with groups of noisy pilgrims.

Other times, you might walk alone.

The choice is yours.

If you tend to love being solitude,

consider beginning mid-week

and walking "between stages"

instead of following the crowds.

There are many "fixer-uppers" along the Way!

 Buildings like these are not beyond repair.

Somebody could very well buy this,

put a new roof on top,

and slap on some siding.

Old buildings are being reclaimed,

all along The Way.

Follow the flechas (arrows).

 Even in the more remote areas,

don't worry,

the flechas persist!

St. Jean Pied du Port is a beautiful village!

This photo should have been first,

since it is of St. Jean.

But that's the way they loaded

so here it is!

This tiny village is such a gem!

Plan on spending an extra day here

and exploring.

Old trees and old stone walls line much of the Camino.

What I enjoy most about the Camino

are the ancient trees

and the awesome stone walls

that line much of the road.

Who built these walls?

How many generations have they stood?

Who planted these trees?

You will see a castle in Ponferrada.

 The castle in Ponferrada is worth seeing,

although the town itself is disappointing these days,

full of grafitti and trash.

I was sad to see this and wonder

if it's an effect of the poor economy?

Sunrise is a special time for the pilgrim.

 Getting up just before dawn so you can see the sun rise

makes for a happy day!

The rain brings rainbows - and they are beautiful!

 And if there's rain?

Well.. there will be RAINBOWS to lighten your steps!

Gathering for dinner with fellow pilgrims is traditional!

Don't hesitate to gather a group for dinner.

Meeting and getting to know other pilgrims along the way,

and sharing a meal 

is a great tradition!

You will pass each other here and there along the road,

and often, getting into Santiago is like

a big old family reunion!

Shrine to a fallen pilgrim - many of these along the path.

Some pilgrims do not make it to Santiago.

They fall along the way.

Shrines are often kept up and added to

by passing pilgrims;

they are becoming a common sight

as more and more pilgrims walk the Camino.

One of the things I love about spiders...

 In the early morning mist,

the spider's webs are beautiful works of art!

Some folks are familiar with the road... this pilgrim has done some traveling!

 You will meet people on their first pilgrimage,

and you will meet people walking for the 

2d, 3d, or even more times!

Some folks just have itchy feet,

like me!

The Camino is addictive,

and often, pilgrims return to walk it again,

this time as seasoned travelers.
Patty's returning to Spain next year,
aren't you Patty?

O Cebreiro with its thatched roofs and stone walkways.

 Don't pass by O Cebreiro.

It's a beautiful village.

If you're there in the Fall,

you can watch the thatch being made in the field

below the stone wall surrounding the village.

This is how bag transport works.

 Bag transport is one option for the pilgrim.

You leave your pack in the pile,

with envelope containing money attached.

A taxi picks up the pack and delivers it to your destination

It's waiting when you arrive.

What could be easier?

Acebo is a beautiful mountain village above Molinaseca.

 I think I'll stay in Acebo my next Camino.

It's such a pretty mountaintop village!

Cervesa con limon - beer with lemonade - a refreshing drink after a long, hot walk!

Cervesa con limon is one of my favorite drinks

along the Camino.

It is refreshing and really quenches the thirst.

It is a half/half of beer and lemon soda.

In the UK, this is called a Shandy.

Try one!

You find flechas in surprising places!

These are but a few of Patty's photos.

I hope they've given you a better idea 

of what you can expect while walking the Camino.

Unless you are a photography bug like Patty,

I suggest you take a small but good camera,

like the Cannon ELPH - which takes excellent photos

and isn't too expensive.

You never know when a photo-op will appear!

Thanks, Patty, for sharing your photos!

Buen Camino!