LIVE from the Camino Starting in Bilbao - a six week Camino

[MilenaS]

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto.

I did the first 200 km of the Frances totally untrained, fat and not a walker back in 2016. Started really slow and got hooked. Now I have walked on the camino 4 times. Still fat and slow, but now a walker

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

 

[Suzanne S.]

Buen Camino!

 

[Vacajoe]

Enjoy!

 

[CWBuff]

Buen Camino @MilenaS

 

[MilenaS]

Oh, and I have to add the "art work" I made after inspiration from my previous Caminos - looking forward to the new inspiration I get from this one.


Tufted rug
Inspiration from my Camino 2017

 

[nycwalking]

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto.

I did the first 200 km of the Frances totally untrained, fat and not a walker back in 2016. Started really slow and got hooked. Now I have walked on the camino 4 times. Still fat and slow, but now a walker

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

Fat girls rule!

Have the best time you possibly can.

Do keep us posted with text and pics.

Buen Camino.

 

[NancyZ]

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto.

I did the first 200 km of the Frances totally untrained, fat and not a walker back in 2016. Started really slow and got hooked. Now I have walked on the camino 4 times. Still fat and slow, but now a walker

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

Buen camino

 

[Walks2way]

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

I too am thinking of starting in Bilbao, probably this fall, and am looking at the various routes. The Norte to the Olvidado looks interesting to me. What is your plan?

 

[MilenaS]

I too am thinking of starting in Bilbao, probably this fall, and am looking at the various routes. The Norte to the Olvidado looks interesting to me. What is your plan?

My plan is Bilbao - Santiago on the Norte. But I have not thought to much about alternatives. Will take it as I go. Some shorter days to start with for sure!

 

[MilenaS]

Day 1 - Bilbao to Portugalete
Let’s see if i can get the video to upload. One short and slow day along the river. Not the beautiful boardwalks I remember from the Portuguese. But the “bridge” in the end was worth it. Easing myself into it.
View attachment 2098393521.mov

 

[MilenaS]

Day 2 - Portugalete to Onton
Really nice day. The costal route was closed of by some fences. No match for this tired pilgrim who did not feel for going back…

View attachment 1622978021.mov

 

[Marianne Hansen]

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto.

I did the first 200 km of the Frances totally untrained, fat and not a walker back in 2016. Started really slow and got hooked. Now I have walked on the camino 4 times. Still fat and slow, but now a walker

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

Buen Camino

 

[Vacajoe]

Did you walk the route blocked by the fences? Why was it closed? I’m walking behind you next week!

 

[MilenaS]

Did you walk the route blocked by the fences? Why was it closed? I’m walking behind you next week!

There has been a landslide, as I understand. But it looked fixed for me. I did not see the signs before I started and when I got there I really did not feel like going back. One of the fences I crawled through, and on the other side it was possible to go over the railing. Stressful but doable.

These where the signs on the fence when I got there:

 

[Vacajoe]

There has been a landslide, as I understand. But it looked fixed for me. I did not see the signs before I started and when I got there I really did not feel like going back. One of the fences I crawled through, and on the other side it was possible to go over the railing. Stressful but doable.

These where the signs on the fence when I got there:

View attachment 168804

Thanks. We encountered similar on a previous Camino and discovered what you did: an obviously fixed trail with no issues EXCEPT the fences in the way

 

[MilenaS]

Day 3 - Onton to Islares
Beautiful day! Even some paths rather then asphalt (not much, but anything counts). I am staying in the camping in Islares, a cabin of my own (for now) with a heater. After last nights freezing in Onton, I am looking forward to turning on the heat.

I am pushing myself tomorrow (I think) with 22 km to Laredo, but I have a feeling it will work out ok.

View attachment -660468789.mov

 

[Vacajoe]

Thanks for the updates and Relive videos! I’m walking from Bilbao next week and it’s great seeing the path from someone currently walking it.

 

[MilenaS]

Day 4 - Islares to Laredo
Being a long day for me I decided to do the road walk and save some km. Wanted to do the coastal walk into Laredo but with no services I was afraid of running out of water, I hadn’t had my first coffee jet and no food. But as out of the blue, a restaurant appeared and I could refuel. The costal was gorgeous

View attachment -1171678878.mov

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Hope you got down to the beach, it looks beautiful. Enjoying your quick videos, thanks for posting

 

[Kathrina72]

Love seeing the route, thanks for sharing. Would you say that the surface is mostly tarmac/asphalt? I will be doing this route in July and wondering about best shoe options

 

[Simperegrina]

Thanks for posting your Relive videos. Am hoping to hit the Norte next month

 

[Marianne Hansen]

I'm also hoping to hit the Norte next month after the Aragonese

 

[MilenaS]

Love seeing the route, thanks for sharing. Would you say that the surface is mostly tarmac/asphalt? I will be doing this route in July and wondering about best shoe options

Mostly tarmac! But there are options. Yesterday I did the non-tarmac option and loved it. Today I stuck to the road, and it was hard and boring

 

[MilenaS]

Day 5 - Laredo to Noja
Lovely stay with the nuns last night. I cried like a baby when I got the blessing. Still don’t know why, but it did good.

A nice start out of Laredo and a quick boat ride later it was tarmac all the way to Noja.
Will be doing the costal towards Somo tomorrow and staying somewhere along that way.

View attachment 1089605094.mov

 

[MilenaS]

Day 6 - Noja to Langre
A lot of road walking today. Almost nothing open along the way. And then suddenly the coastal way to Somo makes it all worth it!

View attachment 707136607.mov

 

[MilenaS]

Day 7 - Langre to Santander
The beauty of this costal alternative is just wow. Low effort high reward. Definitely a must! After Guemes - go costal!

View attachment 1507806201.mov

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Have you been taking most of the coastal variants, or just picking and choosing?

 

[MilenaS]

@Peterexpatkiwi
Just three since I started in Bilbao - don’t remember if there are more:
- La Arena to Onton - can’t recommend since it involves climbing through fences
- Mollaneda to Laredo - gorgeous, but wouldn’t recommend in bad weather
- Guemes to Somo - think is great no matter what

 

[BeMi]

Thank you so much for sharing your videos, very inspiring! I am also planning to start in Bilbao in the beginning of June. Did you get a pilgrim passport somewhere in Bilbao and if so - where?

Buen Camino!

 

[KiwiJohn]

Thank you, Milena for your videos. Impressive!
That will be me in late August '25.
Go well!

 

[MilenaS]

Thank you so much for sharing your videos, very inspiring! I am also planning to start in Bilbao in the beginning of June. Did you get a pilgrim passport somewhere in Bilbao and if so - where?

Buen Camino!

I ordered it beforehand from my local pilgrim organization. But you can probably get it in Bilbao. You can also order it from Ivar’s store.

 

[Kirkie]

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto.

I did the first 200 km of the Frances totally untrained, fat and not a walker back in 2016. Started really slow and got hooked. Now I have walked on the camino 4 times. Still fat and slow, but now a walker

Now I have 6 weeks (+ some days) to walk from Bilbao to Santiago. My backpack is 7.3 kg. I am giddy as a kid. I see that the weather is a bit unpredictable But I have enough days to make the rainy days short.

You have six weeks, lucky you! I know I am late in responding, but looking again at your posts, I am reminded of a pilgrim who did a much longer pilgrimage from his home in Ireland a year or so ago. The high speed videos and photos are excellent for informing prospective pilgrims about what to expect.
The Norte appealed to me when I saw its call in 2006, but it was then and is now beyond my capabilities. I can simply say: enjoy, make the most of it, and thank you for sharing your experience to help other pilgrims looking at planning for their own Norte pilgrimage.

 

[MilenaS]

Day 8 - Mogro to Santillana
I took a train out of Santander.
Today was long, boring, and hard on feet And i ran out of water in the last couple of kilometers.
View attachment -576704907.mp4

 

[BeMi]

I ordered it beforehand from my local pilgrim organization. But you can probably get it in Bilbao. You can also order it from Ivar’s store.

Oh, thank you, very good advice, did not know. Very new to this forum .

 

[Flog]

There has been a landslide, as I understand. But it looked fixed for me. I did not see the signs before I started and when I got there I really did not feel like going back.

Nice videos, and thank you for posting!

This is the short section just after Pobeña as you approach the old mines? Just to point out.. the path is still closed because ongoing buttressing/underpinning work is continuing. The gates are locked and the corner of the fence that was forced open, has been firmly secured with steel mesh.

 

[MilenaS]

Day 9 - Santillana to Comillas

No video today since Relive decided to stop tracking… but lovely walk! But long, and warm, and asphalt! So short day for me tomorrow!

 

[sps1221]

How is the weather?? Is it still rainy and cold?!

 

[MilenaS]

How is the weather?? Is it still rainy and cold?!

The weather has been nice. Just one day with rain. It’s pretty cold at night and I have had some bad sleeps because of that. Especially in old buildings. I have a thermal liner and sleep in wool leggings and long sleeves. But still cold sometimes. Even with blankets. The day temperatures have been pretty perfect hiking temperatures.

 

[Vacajoe]

How’s the crowds were you are? Out of Bilbao tonight was very busy. Many accommodations are “completo” which is shocking for this route this early. Not sure if it’s just a bubble or it’s the same all along the Norte.

 

[Flog]

How’s the crowds were you are? Out of Bilbao tonight was very busy. Many accommodations are “completo” which is shocking for this route this early. Not sure if it’s just a bubble or it’s the same all along the Norte.

It seems quite busy, at least around me and I'm 3two days out of Bilbao.. and supply is much more limited than you would find on the Frances or Portugués. Are you already walking? Pobeña has a lovely municipal (donativo) albergue, about 24km or 30km from Bilbao, depending on the route you walk..