LIVE from the Camino Daily posts from the Camino del Norte

[Magwood]

I set off from Irun today. I am posting daily to my blog. I will put a link to the daily posts here. Just click the link below or, if you prefer follow to blog directly and receive an email each time I publish a post at http://www.magwood.me

Day 1 - Irun to San Sebastián

 

[domigee]

Will be following your blog, Maggie. Wishing you well, good walking weather and...buen Camino
Dominique

 

[CdnDreamer]

I am looking forward to following your blog. I am in the "dreaming" stage of planning my Norte camino.

Buen Camino!

 

[smj6]

Buen camino @Magwood. I note that you're taking a remote keyboard for your iPad, and would be interested in knowing which one you've chosen.
Suzanne
P.S. I like the idea of using high-viz tape on your cables, etc.

 

[Nanc]

Lovely photos esp the macros of flowers

 

[Al the optimist]

Disfruta Magwood

 

[IngridF]

Buen Camino... so there in spirit...

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

I'll be following too, @Magwood ... This was my original desire for my first Camino.

 

[Kanga]

Great stuff @Magwood and bringing back glorious memories. We walked it a few weeks later, last year. Enjoy! Hope the rain stays away; we had a couple of very uncomfortable days when it absolutely poured, but the rest was good.

 

[Magwood]

Many thanks for the encouraging comments

Weather has been so good so far, contrary to the forecasts

Link to day 2

 

[Ekelund]

Hi Magwood
When you went to The PC I followed your blog eagerly since I went a couple of months after your return.
And in July I'm walking Del Norte so again I'll be reading your daily posts.
Buen camino to you.

 

[MaidinBham]

Magwood blogs are like curling up with a good novel!
Buen Camino
Janice

 

[JennyH94]

I'm loving your blog Maggie - it's all so beautifully put together - an absolute pleasure to read. May each day on the Norte bring you much joy -
Jenny xxx

 

[JennyH94]

Magwood blogs are like curling up with a good novel!
Buen Camino
Janice

I'm with you Janice!
BTW - It's so lovely to see some of the Forum family following the blog - there's at least four or five of us that I know of.
Cheers - Jenny

 

[Tia Valeria]

Enjoying your blog @Magwood - Buen Camino

 

[jprogers]

I agree with Janice...I love this blog..every morning I read it with the first coffee of the day. Such a treat.

 

[soozansings]

The picture of the raindrop!! Oh my!

 

[KinkyOne]

Hola, Maggie,
Always enjoying your blog posts from the first Camino with your daughter on. Could you please tell me which is the app you are using for tracking/recording your walk. I would like to combine Endomondo with another one to compare them on my Camino this year.
Thanks and Ultreia!

 

[Magwood]

Many thanks to everyone for your very kind comments.
@KinkyOne, I am using wikiloc. I have found it to be the most accurate of those that I have tried when compared to a dedicated GPS unit. I also use mapmywalk which overstates the distance as compared to wikiloc, but I like some of the features.

Today I felt the first rain, but not very much. Although it had been raining a lot during the night and the track was very muddy and slippery. It was a relief to walk on the road, even though there was a lot of it today.

Link to Day 3

 

[Kanga]

Wow, I agree about the photo of the raindrop! Photograph of the year.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Thanks for the words and photos. They make the camino come alive.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Many thanks to everyone for your very kind comments.
@KinkyOne, I am using wikiloc. I have found it to be the most accurate of those that I have tried when compared to a dedicated GPS unit. I also use mapmywalk which overstates the distance as compared to wikiloc, but I like some of the features.

Today I felt the first rain, but not very much. Although it had been raining a lot during the night and the track was very muddy and slippery. It was a relief to walk on the road, even though there was a lot of it today.

Link to Day 3

Again great pictures . Love the stories as well I will follow it to the end. It gives me the insight for next year when I will walk the Norte as well.
Wish you well ,Peter.

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 4

 

[MaidinBham]

Glad you see you are getting into the rhythm and enjoying your journey Magwood.
Ultrea!
Janice

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 5

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 6

 

[KinkyOne]

Link to day 6

The last photo, yummy, have to make myself a dinner right now

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

The last photo, yummy, have to make myself a dinner right now

That was hard work.

 

[JohnMcM]

Loving this Maggie.
Enjoy.
Buen Camino

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 7

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 8

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 9

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 10

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 11

 

[alipilgrim]

Great posts, Magwood! What guide are you using?

 

[KatWanderlust]

Great blogging as always Maggie thank you! Your entries are so enjoyable and informative - the weather looks amazing... I can't wait to be there in September

 

[Magwood]

Great posts, Magwood! What guide are you using?

I'm using 'The Northern Caminos' published by cicerone. I have a copy on my iPad.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Link to day 11

The hill you are refering to is the Brusco and I was told it was better to go over it rather than around it by the tourism office in Santona: I think that person has never climbed kt! As beautiful as the views are it can be a dangerous path, with the cliff right behind you should you set a foot wrong and your backpack pulling you backwards. Being short I even had to crawl up a bit on my knees, and sit on my way down. Not for everyone.

Also, since you wondered, mountains shown in your pictures arriving in Santander are notmthe Picos, who are futher West, but the Cordillera cantabrica. They look beautiful with all that snow.

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 12

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Link to day 12

The wooden youke you saw is, I belive, a collera. Basically is cow collar used to tie the cow to its manger or to a stake in the ground to prevent it from eating too much. Why wood (heavy?) vs a lighter more modern material, I don't know.

 

[Magwood]

The wooden youke you saw is, I belive, a collera. Basically is cow collar used to tie the cow to its manger or to a stake in the ground to prevent it from eating too much. Why wood (heavy?) vs a lighter more modern material, I don't know.

Thanks for the info @anemone. I have also been told by a spanish guy that bulls in the north are not used for fighting.

 

[jprogers]

Loving the blog. We walked this path in 2009 and sore feet were always there. We used to walk on the verge of the road to try and walk on soft ground.!! I think you need 2 pairs of shoes on this route...one for the hills and one for the road.
As Australians we too were the only ones from an english speaking country but some of the others also spoke a some english. We had german french polish italian spanish and austrian pilgrims. We often compared our book guides at night ..or during a walk....and sometimes took paths as suggested by those other guides. We often referred to the german guide .....as Dr Joos ...with great respect. Cheers

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 13

 

[alipilgrim]

Maggie, are you on Facebook? There's a young couple from ....well, I don't know but are English-speaking, who are just behind you. They're called "Uncornered Market". They've been posting some fantastic photographs of the Norte. They posted that yesterday they: "Decided to take a small 1km detour from the Camino at Unquera to spend the night at Agritourismo Muriances as we heard the mother there, Elizabeth, cooks up a storm." And they were overawed by the food and views. Perhaps you'll have a chance to meet?

 

[Magwood]

Maggie, are you on Facebook? There's a young couple from ....well, I don't know but are English-speaking, who are just behind you. They're called "Uncornered Market". They've been posting some fantastic photographs of the Norte. They posted that yesterday they: "Decided to take a small 1km detour from the Camino at Unquera to spend the night at Agritourismo Muriances as we heard the mother there, Elizabeth, cooks up a storm." And they were overawed by the food and views. Perhaps you'll have a chance to meet?

I think I did meet them yesterday. An American couple living in Berlin. Really lovely. I met them in the bar as we arrived in Pendueles but they were moving on to the next village. Just checked out the Facebook page, and yes - it was them. Thanks for the link.

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 14

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 15

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 16

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 17

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Link to day 17

Love the stories and the pictures. The stories and the pictures tell that you have a great time.
Wish you well on your journey, Peter.
p.s. The link to day 16 is not working. .

 

[Kaiur]

Link to day 17

The plant is a Lathraea Clandestina (Purple toothwort) originally from
Western Belgium, Western and Central France and Northern Spain, and locally in Central Italy

 

[KinkyOne]

Link to day 16

Yes, it's tru that the link isn't working but you can just click on next day in the link for Day 15.

Maggie, is Marina by any chance from France (Swiss)??? I met a woman in her 40's/50's by the name Marina in 2014 in A Laxe on Sanabres and walked with her and a French boy of 15 years she was with (French program for resocializing youngsters) on and off until Fisterra. She told me about her love for Camino del Norte and a great wish to open albergue there. So I thought she might be the same person. Would love very much to reconnect if you have any additional info or even her address. Thank you in advance!

Enjoying your posts and photos as always

EDIT: I looked into your post once again and saw that you wrote Marina IS French. If she looks somewhat like a hippie that must be her.

 

[Magwood]

Yes, it's tru that the link isn't working but you can just click on next day in the link for Day 15.

Maggie, is Marina by any chance from France (Swiss)??? I met a woman in her 40's/50's by the name Marina in 2014 in A Laxe on Sanabres and walked with her and a French boy of 15 years she was with (French program for resocializing youngsters) on and off until Fisterra. She told me about her love for Camino del Norte and a great wish to open albergue there. So I thought she might be the same person. Would love very much to reconnect if you have any additional info or even her address. Thank you in advance!

Enjoying your posts and photos as always

EDIT: I looked into your post once again and saw that you wrote Marina IS French. If she looks somewhat like a hippie that must be her.

Very much hippyish and with a distinctive lump on her forehead. She is lovely. If you were to contact Sergio at the email address given for the albergue La Ferreria on day 18, I expect he will have contact details for Marina.

 

[Magwood]

The plant is a Lathraea Clandestina (Purple toothwort) originally from
Western Belgium, Western and Central France and Northern Spain, and locally in Central Italy

Thank you for that info - it was very unusual to me, with the flowers growing from a crown at ground level. Someone else suggests they might be insect catching plants.

 

[Magwood]

Love the stories and the pictures. The stories and the pictures tell that you have a great time.
Wish you well on your journey, Peter.
p.s. The link to day 16 is not working. .

I will try to correct it Peter.

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 18

 

[KinkyOne]

Very much hippyish and with a distinctive lump on her forehead. She is lovely. If you were to contact Sergio at the email address given for the albergue La Ferreria on day 18, I expect he will have contact details for Marina.

Hahaha, that's definitely her. Very funny and good person!
Thank you. I sent an e-mail to Sergio.

Bostjan

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 19

 

[SabsP]

Link to day 19

Devouring and savouring your blog! Brilliant writing and pictures.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Link to day 19

Glad that your feet are better now.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[Magwood]

Devouring and savouring your blog! Brilliant writing and pictures.

Thank you so much - I really appreciate your comment

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 20

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Link to day 20

The only thing is, that you need sun classes to look at houses.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 21

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 22

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Maggie,
Your blog is bringing back lots of nice memories, and one or two that aren't so nice. But I think you handled the guy in the red jacket perfectly, and hope you found that you can shake the unease that comes along with these encounters. The sad truth seems to be that as a route gets more popular it attracts the perverts. Another good reason to walk solitary caminos -- these guys are unlikely to hang around all day on the chance that one pilgrim will walk by! In fact, I have only had these incidents on the Frances, but when I walked the Norte it was a lot more untravelled.

Really looking forward to seeing how you go following in Alan's footsteps "around the hump" (I think that's how he described it). Your blog will surely be a great resource for those of us who are tempted by the Ruta del Mar.

Thanks for such great posts, Buen camino! Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

Link to day 21

Wow, a 29km average on del Norte. You're a real trooper!!!

And the picture with white horse and the sea in the distance - simply stunning. Thank you!

 

[KinkyOne]

Another good reason to walk solitary caminos -- these guys are unlikely to hang around all day on the chance that one pilgrim will walk by!

And that one in a day pilgrim would be me

 

[Magwood]

Link to day 23

Last day on el Norte. Should I start a different thread for the Ruta do Mar or continue here?

 

[KinkyOne]

Link to day 23

Last day on el Norte. Should I start a different thread for the Ruta do Mar or continue here?

I would say start a new thread so we that will follow your steps could easily find it. But do continue your blog, please

 

[Magwood]

I would say start a new thread so we that will follow your steps could easily find it. But do continue your blog, please

Ok, have set it up,

 

[Magwood]

New thread for the Ruta do Mar here - please keep reading