Bridget and Peter
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Home to Reims 2007
Reims to Limoges 2008
Camino Ingles 2009
Limoges to Gernica 2009
Gernica to San Vicente de la Barquera 2010
San Vicente to La Isla 2012
La Isla to Santiago Sept/Oct 2014
In a weeks time we will be on our way to Paris by train, to travel on to Limoges and thence to cycle to Santander on the next stage of our segmented pilgrimage.
As always, as we get nearer previously unconsidered queries pop up. So does anyone have anything helpful to say about the following....?
1. Might we need sleeping mats on the Norte in late Sept? We are taking sleeping bags (old, down, light and squashable) and sheet sleeping bags and sarongs to wrap around pillows or clothes if necessary, to be ready for most bedding needs, but have been assuming we would at least find a mattress.
2. I am humming and hawing about how to join up the Via Lemocivencis and the del Norte.
First option: at Orthez turn right and cycle along the river into Bayonne (I have 1:100000 map which shows possible quiet roads among the motorway and other main roads). But I bet there'll be the noise of motorway all along.
Second option: cycle on down the Chemin/Vezelay route at least to St Palais, then make our way to Hendaye avoiding Bayonne completely, maybe through Hasparren, Cambo-les-Bains, St-Pee-sur-Nivelle (I know I should learn how to find accents on the keyboard) and Ascain. Obviously there'd be no pilgrim gites, but probably gites rurals or roadside hotel/restaurants.
3. We have about 3 or 4 hours spare in Paris on Saturday afternoon, when we have to make our way from Gare du Nord to Gare d'Austerlitz. We know the way, roughly, because we did it the other way coming home last year. But, given that we will have laden bikes to protect, does anyone have a good idea about where we could go to amuse ourselves, or sit in beautiful surroundings, or eat a proper meal. As we don't arrive in Limoges until 9.30 and will be probably be ready for bed after an early start, if we don't eat a meal in Paris it will be picnic food all day, which gets a bit boring!
As always, as we get nearer previously unconsidered queries pop up. So does anyone have anything helpful to say about the following....?
1. Might we need sleeping mats on the Norte in late Sept? We are taking sleeping bags (old, down, light and squashable) and sheet sleeping bags and sarongs to wrap around pillows or clothes if necessary, to be ready for most bedding needs, but have been assuming we would at least find a mattress.
2. I am humming and hawing about how to join up the Via Lemocivencis and the del Norte.
First option: at Orthez turn right and cycle along the river into Bayonne (I have 1:100000 map which shows possible quiet roads among the motorway and other main roads). But I bet there'll be the noise of motorway all along.
Second option: cycle on down the Chemin/Vezelay route at least to St Palais, then make our way to Hendaye avoiding Bayonne completely, maybe through Hasparren, Cambo-les-Bains, St-Pee-sur-Nivelle (I know I should learn how to find accents on the keyboard) and Ascain. Obviously there'd be no pilgrim gites, but probably gites rurals or roadside hotel/restaurants.
3. We have about 3 or 4 hours spare in Paris on Saturday afternoon, when we have to make our way from Gare du Nord to Gare d'Austerlitz. We know the way, roughly, because we did it the other way coming home last year. But, given that we will have laden bikes to protect, does anyone have a good idea about where we could go to amuse ourselves, or sit in beautiful surroundings, or eat a proper meal. As we don't arrive in Limoges until 9.30 and will be probably be ready for bed after an early start, if we don't eat a meal in Paris it will be picnic food all day, which gets a bit boring!
