I haven't looked hard, but I haven't seen any chatter about the Camino de Santiago. I'm planning a bike trip on the Camino Francés for 2002. I've lived, studied and traveled extensively in Spain, but really haven't paid attention to the Camino itself. I think I'll do some recon work in 2001 when I visit family, but I was wondering if anyone had some information on the PHYSICAL geography of the road. All of the sites I've found only talk about how long it takes from point A to point B. I'm curious for some real-world info from you!

I saw a documentary on it on PBS a few years ago. Maybe you could research their archives to find the sources they used for information - one of the groups they interviewed, I believe was biking it, and trust me, a cycler defintitely wants to know the condition of a road before embarking on a long tour. You could also check out tourist companies that arrange bike or walking tours of the camino.

Hi, CaliBasco,

There is a thread under Favorite Places called Santiago de Compostela that's been archived. You'll definitely want to see it, as someone who cycled the Camino posted on it. Do a search (there's a button above to the right), and perhaps, if you add a post to it, you may want to get it going again!

Eddie mentions the book Off the Road by Jack Hitt in that thread. It's one of my favorite books on Spain. Since you have some time till your trip, do try to read it. It's all about the Camino, and is quite entertaining!

BTW, just what is the Camino Frances? Is that the Camino to Santiago that starts in France?

The Camino Francés is the Road to Santiago that starts in Valcarlos (Luzaide) about 5 km from the French border. You can see some pictures of that on my web site. Check my profile. Anyway, the camino in Spain really starts in Roncesvalles where you get your pilgrim's passport stamped. It's called the Camino Francés because most of the roads from different parts of Europe through France meet up in St. Jean Pied-de-Port, just before the Spanish border. Let me know if you find any good resources on the actual physicality of the trail. Thanks!

your link to your site in your profile isn't working correctly CaliBasco?

Thanks for the heads-up...it should be correct now. I forgot the "tilde". I'll have to check yours out when I get a second...

By the way, MissMadrid98, I thought you had a lot to offer on your site. I haven't taken the time to go all out with a Spain site yet. I have a few pics from our recent trip in 1999, and hope to get the drive (and time) to add more soon. Anyway, great site, and I agree with your feelings on El Escorial. It must have been interesting actually living in such a small pueblo while studying.

thanks calibasco for your comments, they are greatly appreciated! Actually today I uplodaed pictures on to my site and have changed a few things around and changed the URL, it is now complete!

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Spain Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98



[This message has been edited by missmadrid98 (edited 10-20-2000).]

I can't tell you anything about cycling the Camino but here's a URL that might help you http://users.aol.com/Tourism99/index.html
It has a map showing stages (etapas) of the Camino all the way from Roncesvalles to Santiago (copied from an Italian guidebook). In February, '99 I met a group of Bavarian Camino Guides who work out of Pamplona (met one of them again in July, '99 on a return visit there for Santiago).
Happy Trails!

I wanted to get back to my original question, as I've exhausted all of the internet resources on the trip to Santiago itself:

How would you describe the phyiscal makeup of the trail? Is it rocky, single-track, soft dirt, packed clay, paved, all of these? If it is all of these, what's the ratio? Has anyone made this trek on bicycle? How's the upkeep on the trail?

Thanks!!!! I'm a little clueless on the trail itself, even though I know the surrounding countrysides fairly well.