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Caserio Pozueta Albergue (5.3 km past Gernika). Great pilgrims meal
Albergue de Peregrinos Zenarruza Monastery (7 km past Markina). Craft beer made by the monks.
Albergue La Cabana Del Abuelo Peuto near Guemes.
The ‘HappyCow’ app will help you in the larger towns. For the Camino Frances there is a ‘The Vegetarian Way’ list that can be found on www. heartofthecamino.com. I am not aware of anything similar on the Norte.
It is Donativo for bed, Dinner and Breakfast. Only 12 beds, but I got the the eleventh at 4:30 PM. There is a Foot washing ceremony by the volunteers ( In Knights Templar cloaks), quite touching. Lots of character in this Albergue, but accommodations are basic.
REI is also excellent, particularly on backpacks. They are knowledgeable about the what packs are typically used on the Camino and carry several brands.
I’m arriving in Paris May 16. Hope to start the Norte on the 17th and continue to the Primitivo. I walked the Camino Frances in 2017.
Ermitage de San Nicholas a 13th Century Knights Templar Refuge/Church is 9km past Castrojeriz. Run by Italian volunteers. Candlelight dinner. Very memorable.
I took non waterproof trail running shoes. I took waterproof socks in case I encountered heavy rain (I only had one day of light rain). I used Wrightsocks and had no blisters. Waterproof socks are going to be hotter and more blister prone than normal socks.
I used trail running shoes (Nike Wildhorse III) when I walked May/June 2017. Shoes did great. Good traction/tread and very little wear (Bought them one size larger than normal). I highly recommend trekking poles for the descents to reduce the forces on your knees. I also used an elastic knee...
Thank you this is very helpful. I didn't think that there was much of a chance. I won't have any checked luggage, but too many unknowns. I'llget to Pamplona after the last bus to St. Jean Jean has departed, take a taxi to St. Jean or spend the night in Pamplona and catcha bus in the morning.
I am arriving at Madrid Airport(Terminal 1) at 9:50 AM on May 17. I hope to catch the 10:45 AM bus to Pamplona. Is this typically enough time? Are these buses typically full? The next bus doesn't leave until 3:15 PM and gets to Pamplona too late to catch the bus to St. Jean.
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