FKT: Matěj Švec - Camino de Santiago - Camino Francés (Spain) - 2024-05-16

Athletes
Route variation
Standard route
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Male
Style
Self-supported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
9d 6h 48m 30s
Report

It's been in my mind for a while. Maybe since we walked the part from Burgos to Santiago with my wife in November 2018.

On the beginning I have to say it was much more demanding then I expected. After few days the mind start to weaken the previous painful memories. The mirror is the right thing to remind me that it was that hard as I still remember. I loose around 8 kg in that nearly 10 days.

Everything started wrong with the delayed flight. Because of that I was not able to get to the Saint Jean Pied de Port on the evening before the start. I had to take the first train from Bayonne, get the gas canister, get the first stamp and finally, at 08:21 started my journey..

Probably because of the late start I was to fast the first day and it has some bad effects on the body for next days. In a few degrees and easy rain I passed the French border and continued all the way to Pamplona. I finished close to the Zariquiegui and set up my tent.. 

It was not really perfect when it was raining but it was way better than the heat of the following days. It was quite demanding to climb the first uphill but still it was way better than the flats of Meseta. The heat was basically baking me until nine o'clock in the evening which was quite frustrating with the combination of basically no shade at all. I was fighting with my shin pain and with my head to. I didn't win I just didn't stop to walk.

Slowly I get behind the half of the whole way which is always crucial for me. It gets better a bit. At least in my mind game. Also weather was not that bad the sixth day. Actually it was the only day of good weather for me. Last four days I didn't take of the rain clothes. I was challenged with the heavy rain and wind in the highest point of the Camino but I was actually rather freezing than overheating :)

My family was waiting for me in front of the catethral which was very important to me for the whole trip. 

I'm very happy to complete my goal. I do want to be to much pathetic but I also happy for the way itself and what shows to me.

 

Ps: I took all the necessary things for being independent (tent, sleeping bag, stove..) I is getting more difficult with the albergue reservation system and more people on the way. But I also love to have this freedom

Ps 2: I was using my old Fenix 5 with UltraTrac mode which get some stupid dates for same days. The Strava is just for the proofing use. I walked around 780  according to the maps I was using.

Ps 3: I will make a better report after few weeks