In November, a stage begins the night before. Knowing where you are going to sleep, where you can stop and how much light you will have at the end of the route helps you decide if the day you have planned is still the right one.
1. Confirm where you are going to sleep
Call the accommodation and check that it is open that day. Ask what time you can enter and if reservations are accepted. If your stage ends in a small town, write down a second option and calculate how far you would have to walk to get there. That distance also counts when you organize the day.
2. Look at the forecast throughout the stage
Check the weather for the departure point, the arrival point and, if there is one, the most exposed section. In Galicia, MeteoGalicia offers forecasts for sections of the Jacobean routes. Leave room for a light finish if wet terrain or stops slow you down.
3. Decide where you can eat and refill water
Locate a refreshment point and check its schedule if you depend on it. Bring water and something to eat for the journey. If the intermediate stop fails, you can continue to the next town with what you have in your backpack.
4. Pack a dry change of clothes for arrival
Put some socks and a spare shirt in a dry bag. Keep your ID and cell phone in another one that you can open without removing all your clothes. This way you will have on hand what you need to stamp or consult the route during the stage.
5. Choose in advance where you could shorten
Find an intermediate town with accommodation or transportation and save your details before leaving. If the weather worsens or you estimate that you will arrive at night, you will already have a concrete alternative. Also bring the downloaded map so you can consult it if you lose coverage.
Before you set off, check three things: where you are going to sleep, where you can make a stop, and what time you want to be indoors.
Cover photo: Eduardo Miyake · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized image.
Sources: Civil Protection Guide for pilgrims of the Xunta de Galicia.
Images: Photo by Simon Burchell · CC BY-SA 4.0.
