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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

LIVE from the Camino Walking Levante in Sept-Oct

BeatriceKarjalainen

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Finished: See post signature.
Doing: C. Levante
Finally I can go back to the Camino. Took a break from the forum as the longing for walking was starting to get me depressed. And reading about your journeys was making it worse.

But August 28 I’ll take the first train of many to get to Valencia. And hopefully I can start walking September 1. I’m a bit nervous as I have a frozen shoulder but did a 2 week euro rail trip in June/July to test the shoulder with backpack.

I have also understood that there are long stages on Levante, and that is not a problem in it self but more in the fact that they are sometimes shorter than I wish to walk during one day but next stage has no in between accommodations. Well well I will have to stop and smell even more roses or the stages will be perfect for managing the pain in the shoulder.

Now I’ll read all newer thread regarding Levante and how it is to be a pilgrim 4 year later than my last Camino.

Is there any specific info you think I should have (like when you told me to use WhatsApp for Mozárabe, invaluable piece of info).

I have missed you all.
 
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Beatrice,
I wish you all the best and I hope your shoulder will not bother you to much.
I planned to walk the Levante too around the same time you are starting now. But unfortunately I suffered a complicated femur fracture in this spring and I’m still not recovered from this. I hope I will regain my former shape to start next year.
Please let us know occasionally how it goes.

¡Ultreia!
 
Finally I can go back to the Camino. Took a break from the forum as the longing for walking was starting to get me depressed. And reading about your journeys was making it worse.
I know what you mean, but I can't keep myself away from the forum. Just like I feel like I'm with "my people" when I'm on the Camino I feel that same connection here on the forum.

I have missed you all
I was excited to see your name pop up on the forum as I have missed your posts.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I sympathize with the pain of the frozen shoulder and the "workarounds" that it entails (front close bra; use of opposite hand to comb hair or do anything above the head or behind the back, etc) as I walked the CF with a frozen shoulder in 2016. I learned to put that arm into the backpack shoulder straps first. And since I had to sleep on my back, I really craved a flat mattress as those with divots created by prior pilgrim usage caused much discomfort. I also believe that the use of trekking poles and the pulling back of the shoulders by the backpack was certainly a help in "thawing" even though it took a further 6 months for range of motion to return.
It may not be easy but will certainly be worthwhile. :) Buen Camino!
 
Beatrice,
I wish you all the best and I hope your shoulder will not bother you to much.
I planned to walk the Levante too around the same time you are starting now. But unfortunately I suffered a complicated femur fracture in this spring and I’m still not recovered from this. I hope I will regain my former shape to start next year.
Please let us know occasionally how it goes.

¡Ultreia!
Sad to hear about the injury. Hope it heals good and you can be on the Camino next year. Will pop in for updates now and then. Will most likely blog as well or at least update on Instagram.
 
I know what you mean, but I can't keep myself away from the forum. Just like I feel like I'm with "my people" when I'm on the Camino I feel that same connection here on the forum.


I was excited to see your name pop up on the forum as I have missed your posts.
I hope to be back for real and enjoy the lovely social and friendly atmosphere here. I’m a bit nervous about doing the Levante as I hate planning my days ahead and it seams like I have to call every accommodation in advance and the stages are more fixed as there are less in between accommodations. For me it means that I some days have to stop way to early. I love the solitude of less traveled roads but it comes with some disadvantages. It was a bit easier on Mozárabe where I got the code for key lockers on WhatsApp when needed. A lovely solution. Now I wish I had used the 4 years of not being on the Camino for studying Spanish.
 
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I sympathize with the pain of the frozen shoulder and the "workarounds" that it entails (front close bra; use of opposite hand to comb hair or do anything above the head or behind the back, etc) as I walked the CF with a frozen shoulder in 2016. I learned to put that arm into the backpack shoulder straps first. And since I had to sleep on my back, I really craved a flat mattress as those with divots created by prior pilgrim usage caused much discomfort. I also believe that the use of trekking poles and the pulling back of the shoulders by the backpack was certainly a help in "thawing" even though it took a further 6 months for range of motion to return.
It may not be easy but will certainly be worthwhile. :) Buen Camino!
Good to hear that it is manageable. I have improved my range of movement quite a lot the last couple of weeks and the night pain is almost gone so I have some hope that I can do this. Will continue do the exercises I have received from the physiotherapist. But I guess I have to pack some painkillers as well.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Hi, @BeatriceKarjalainen, so good to see you back here. I am assuming you have seen the Valencia amigos website, which has a very good online guide to the Levante. If you can arrange it, I think you’d enjoy a visit to their office in Valencia. They are a dedicated bunch of volunteers and have been very helpful to peregrinos. @JLWV is our unofficial “contact” with the association.

I haven’t gone back through all of the stages in my head, but I think that you will be fine. As on any untraveled camino, you will have to bend your desired walking stage to what the reality is on the ground, but I think there are plenty of options for those who want to walk long stages. Buen camino, Laurie
 
Beatrice, I have only recently returned to the forum, having left for the same reasons as you. The Levante was to have been my 2020 walk and I still hope to do it, but there is no leaving NZ on my horizon and I need to recover from an Achilles injury before I can consider long stages (currently can walk only 4km at a time!!) I’m curious enough to follow your blog - even though my quiet hope for the Levante is now 2026!! (And I’d love to get in another one before then)
You’ll find plenty of 30km stages - whether they can be stretched by 10-15 will be an interesting issue. You could take a good book - it would slow you down and give you something to do each day!!
All the best
 
Hi, @BeatriceKarjalainen, so good to see you back here. I am assuming you have seen the Valencia amigos website, which has a very good online guide to the Levante. If you can arrange it, I think you’d enjoy a visit to their office in Valencia. They are a dedicated bunch of volunteers and have been very helpful to peregrinos. @JLWV is our unofficial “contact” with the association.

I haven’t gone back through all of the stages in my head, but I think that you will be fine. As on any untraveled camino, you will have to bend your desired walking stage to what the reality is on the ground, but I think there are plenty of options for those who want to walk long stages. Buen camino, Laurie
Thanks.
Yes I have seen the site and my some web-magic I removed header and footer of each stage page and manage to get my self a printed guide book where I have made annotations etc. Will try to contact them. Arrive in Valencia at 11 and they open in the afternoon so I have to decide if I want to stay and wait or start walking the same day.

I have a frozen shoulder and have had some problems with my knee so some shorter stages might be good for me.
 

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Beatrice, I have only recently returned to the forum, having left for the same reasons as you. The Levante was to have been my 2020 walk and I still hope to do it, but there is no leaving NZ on my horizon and I need to recover from an Achilles injury before I can consider long stages (currently can walk only 4km at a time!!) I’m curious enough to follow your blog - even though my quiet hope for the Levante is now 2026!! (And I’d love to get in another one before then)
You’ll find plenty of 30km stages - whether they can be stretched by 10-15 will be an interesting issue. You could take a good book - it would slow you down and give you something to do each day!!
All the best
Oh no Achilles on a hiker. I feel so sorry for you. I hope you get well soon. I’m thinking of packing my e-book reader.
 
Oh no Achilles on a hiker. I feel so sorry for you. I hope you get well soon. I’m thinking of packing my e-book reader.
Someone will tell you not to take it - just like they tell you it is important to smell the roses which they believe you cannot do if you walk over 40km in a day! For what it’s worth, I have always taken a pair of socks to knit and a journal with watercolours and fountain pens - and every milligram was worth it!!
 
Someone will tell you not to take it - just like they tell you it is important to smell the roses which they believe you cannot do if you walk over 40km in a day! For what it’s worth, I have always taken a pair of socks to knit and a journal with watercolours and fountain pens - and every milligram was worth it!!
I decided against as it says that it is not intended for temperatures over 25 C. And I already carry 1300 g camera equipment as my luxury grams in the backpack. I can read books on the phone as well but I know myself and guess I’ll spend that time on blogging/edit photos instead :)
 
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I decided against as it says that it is not intended for temperatures over 25 C. And I already carry 1300 g camera equipment as my luxury grams in the backpack. I can read books on the phone as well but I know myself and guess I’ll spend that time on blogging/edit photos instead :)
Fabulous! Would you share your blog address?
 
Two french people starting today, may be you meet them those days.
Buen Camino
 
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Two more french people starting tomorrow from Canals.
 
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Mediterranean Sea -Valencia - Silla (as I came late to Valencia)
Silla - La Pobla Llarga
La Pobla Llarga - Valleda made a mistake I Google the hostal here and ended up on Wisepilgrim site, the link to the webpage gave a dead site and when I called the number given it said no such connection. For some reason I didn’t check the number in the guide so I just assumed that they have closed and booked the €50 casa rural instead. I’m lucky that I have savings from 2 non-Caminos during covid restrictions.

One thing I have noticed is that first 2 stages are longer than stated in the guide. You can also see that in the KML-files they provide. Stage 1 40 instead of 38, Stage 2 33 instead of 30. Not much but 2 km can feel as forever in the heat.

Tomorrow I’ll start early and try to catch the opening of one of the supermercados in Moixent so I have something for that 17 km slog of nothing. Will se If I catch up with those French pilgrims.
 
Caught up with the French pilgrims in a not so flattering way. I passed them about 5 km from La Font de la Figuera on a rocky road downhill and I got a rolling stone under my foot that glide into a larger stone that didn’t move so I fell. Now I will have new Camino scars on my leg. Who need Camino tattoos when you have scars to remember. The albergue here is very basic.

I saw that there is a note about calling ahead for the Albergue in Almansa as it is small but how small? We are as far as I know 3 pilgrim on route (I expect the 2 that started in Valencia the day after me are still one day behind. I did call and I think I have a reservation and said I’ll be there around 2 so I hope there will be someone there with the key around that time :) I should have used the pandemic time to study Spanish. Phone calls are hard. They should use text instead. Much easier.

When I reached the albergue today I ate some sandwiches and took a shower then I laid down due to an headache instead of going to the supermarket directly. Stupid stupid choice as it is a fiesta in town and the supermarket closed at 3 PM (I came there 3:05). Asked in a bar where I can eat tonight and he said they are fully reserved but I could ask in the next bar.

I do have some nut bars, gluten-free bread and some marmalade I think. It will be a though 28 km tomorrow then. Wished that the person that gave us the key to albergue could have informed about the closing of the whole town at 3 PM. But I assume it is so normal to them that they don’t think of it. The only info we got was no internet in the albergue and leave the key in the box.
 
Btw I had checked the towns web page for info before arriving as I know it is fiesta season. No info.

I was wandring around the town and asked in every bar that has an open door (they are preparing for the fiesta) and found a small bar that I didn’t see on Google maps. Asked if he did meals and he said minor like sandwiches from 20:30. I asked if I could by just the toppings for a sandwich as I’m gluten tolerant. And he said I have gluten-free bread. So at 20:30 I have a date with a Camino angel.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Checking my options going forward and I see that there are only 2 places in the albergue en Higueruela and we are currently 3 pilgrims on the same stages. And the Hostal Posada is fully booked until the 7th. I don’t know if I’ll walk directly or via Alpera. The full distance is no problem for me but it also depend on the weather.

What do I do if it is full in Higueruela maybe go via Alpera and from there to Goya Gonzalo? That might be good option. Any advice?
 
Checking my options going forward and I see that there are only 2 places in the albergue en Higueruela
I think that may be a very flexible number, unless things have changed. I slept in the Posada, but my two French amigos slept in the albergue and there were lots of mattreses scattered in different places. They said everything was fine except for the fact that the local band practiced upstairs for hours when they were wanting to sleep!

In Almansa, I think that if you are talking about the convent, it’s just that they like to have advance warning. But we did not get a sense that there was a shortage of individual rooms. Could be wrong, though.

The albergue in Alpera was very nice when we stayed there (we were the first pilgrims to sleep there, and the mayor came down to welcome us). If you do sleep in Alpera, though, you will find that there are many kms alongside a road to get to Higueruela unless you backtrack to the spot where the Levante and Sureste split. We did that and were glad to have mainly off-road kms. But if you want to go further than Higueruela, you probably won’t want to add unnecessary kms, unless you have a strong off-asphalt preference like me!

Hope your injury heals well, @BeatriceKarjalainen, and that the heat is not too bad.
 
I think that may be a very flexible number, unless things have changed. I slept in the Posada, but my two French amigos slept in the albergue and there were lots of mattreses scattered in different places. They said everything was fine except for the fact that the local band practiced upstairs for hours when they were wanting to sleep!

In Almansa, I think that if you are talking about the convent, it’s just that they like to have advance warning. But we did not get a sense that there was a shortage of individual rooms. Could be wrong, though.

The albergue in Alpera was very nice when we stayed there (we were the first pilgrims to sleep there, and the mayor came down to welcome us). If you do sleep in Alpera, though, you will find that there are many kms alongside a road to get to Higueruela unless you backtrack to the spot where the Levante and Sureste split. We did that and were glad to have mainly off-road kms. But if you want to go further than Higueruela, you probably won’t want to add unnecessary kms, unless you have a strong off-asphalt preference like me!

Hope your injury heals well, @BeatriceKarjalainen, and that the heat is not too bad.
Thanks. I have your blog as a shortcut on my phone reading your stages as I go. According to the guide it says this about Almansa “call ahead is small” but I should probably check what is says in Spanish as some translations are a bit strange like that there are no mattresses in Canals so bring a jacket. I do prefer non asphalt if I can. Will see how I do. As you says depends on how far. But an extra 4 isn’t so much if it is not over 30 degrees. Yesterday it was 36. I prefer less.
 
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The albergue in Hoya Gonzalo is good. I don't remenber if It has 12 or 16 beds.
Last time I walked Alpera-Hoya Gonzalo (31 km) and next day Hoya-Albacete, other 30.
 
The albergue in Hoya Gonzalo is good. I don't remenber if It has 12 or 16 beds.
Last time I walked Alpera-Hoya Gonzalo (31 km) and next day Hoya-Albacete, other 30.
I think I aim for that even though 31 km on asphalt isn’t the best thing I know but I man always add 4 km to that and backtrack. But it is also quite stressful when there are a long stretch and then a tiny albergue. Will try to communicate with the French people what they will do the upcoming days.

I think I have said this when I did the Mozárabe having to book lodging in advance take away some of what I like with the Camino. Like now I have to decide today where I will go tomorrow instead of doing that decision tomorrow when I know how the body feels and how the weather is halfway to Higueruela. I do understand that it is a different thing when it is a less travelled Camino and the albergues are not open all the time. I did like the getting a code to the key holder on mozárabe. Then I could just skip one stop if I wanted to.
 
I have done some long walks and is now in Villacañas. Doing double and 1,5 stages. Tomorrow will be really short or really long. Either just 19 to Tembleque or 45 to Mora. Depends on the weather. Yesterday was a 48 km walk San Clemente to Toboso but the views were nice and the temperature with some clouds and wind lovely. Todays 38 was a heat wall the last 6 km. Have seen 5 French pilgrims, 2 Spanish walking and 3 Spanish cycling so far.

The guide said €15 for the hostal in El Toboso but they wanted €25.

Today there was some arrows in 2 directions leaving Don Fadrique. I went where the GR-sign was pointing.
 

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I have done some long walks and is now in Villacañas. Doing double and 1,5 stages. Tomorrow will be really short or really long. Either just 19 to Tembleque or 45 to Mora. Depends on the weather. Yesterday was a 48 km walk San Clemente to Toboso but the views were nice and the temperature with some clouds and wind lovely. Todays 38 was a heat wall the last 6 km. Have seen 5 French pilgrims, 2 Spanish walking and 3 Spanish cycling so far.

The guide said €15 for the hostal in El Toboso but they wanted €25.

Today there was some arrows in 2 directions leaving Don Fadrique. I went where the GR-sign was pointing.
You are walking long stages!!!
Thank you for the feedback.
Which guide are you refering to?
 
You are walking long stages!!!
Thank you for the feedback.
Which guide are you refering to?
I always tend to do long stages. I love walking. I use the online guide at http://vieiragrino.com/en I printed it and made a small guide to have in the pocket. The hostal was El Quijote but I now see that I called the youth hostal but they booked me into a room at the hostal instead of a bed in a dorm. Well well it was ok and not expensive. Have to be more clear when I say that I want a bed and ask them to confirm bed, not room.

Now I’m in Mora and trying to plan some what even stages for the upcoming days. Or I go with the guide stages long, medium, short, medium, morning walk. Around 38 is a nice full day of walking.

Arrows out from Tembleque points to Sureste option (was not marked as a waypoint in kml-file). I used the kml-track to find the Levante option and when I had walked on that for a while it had the option between Levante or Sureste as well (see pic). According to the map with towns for the 2 different caminos I have the sureste would not go to Mora but the sign says so and I saw in Lauries blog that they must have gone that way.

I walked the Levante option. Nice walking today.
 

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I’m currently in Almorox after doing Mora - Toledo and Toledo - Torrijos. In Toledo it was raining and I had rain and thunder on my way to Torrijos but both days was nice walking.

Some confusing markings between Toledo and Torrijos. First at Estivel where the GR sign points toward Estivel but the arrows are pointing to the left (which corresponds to the description in the guide). Then at the hermitage there is first GR-lines for a right turn but directly after there is a GR-cross (don’t go here).

On my walk today I missed a right turn before Escalona. It looked like the road was going to an enclosed farm area. And the arrow is really faint, didn’t see it until I 1 km after turned back as I realised I was going away from Escalona. (And I have no clue where the stream was so I was lucky as it must have been dried out :) )

I have really no luck with food on this Camino. Today all stores are closed except for a small shop with a little of this and that. And the restaurants are closed as well. 2 bars with gluten based tapas. I have an apple, some gluten-free bread an bought some crisps, cheese and chorizo so a sandwich dinner it is. Tomorrow will be a short walk to San Martin or a longer to Cebreros, have mailed 2 hotels there to see if they have any available rooms but still no answer. One of them have a double room for €45 on booking.com so I might just book that. But we will see I would like to have my options more open as it is a climb tomorrow and my blood values are going down so I know it will be a bit though. Will try to time so I can have lunch in San Martin at least. At the moment there is nothing at booking.con for San Martin so might start the morning by making some calls I guess.

I miss albergues, the one in Cebreros is closed :-(

As having allergies (not just gluten) food is a huge problem for me and I really miss the opportunity to cook my own meal. Microwaves are good if you can find prepared meals fitting your allergies. The albergue in Torrijos didn’t have any utensils either wax glad I carry a spork.

Love the key box solution in Torrijos. More places should use this. Were common on Mozárabe. I did not like the solution for the donation though. A plate with a cardboard piece over it. I would like to know that what I leave goes to the albergue and not to someone else.

But the walk is fine and that is the reason I’m doing the Camino, I love to walk and hace that time for my self. And well I am alone a lot on this Camino. Haven’t seen any in there pilgrims since El Toboso.
 

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Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

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€60,-
I’m currently in Almorox after doing Mora - Toledo and Toledo - Torrijos. In Toledo it was raining and I had rain and thunder on my way to Torrijos but both days was nice walking.

Some confusing markings between Toledo and Torrijos. First at Estivel where the GR sign points toward Estivel but the arrows are pointing to the left (which corresponds to the description in the guide). Then at the hermitage there is first GR-lines for a right turn but directly after there is a GR-cross (don’t go here).

On my walk today I missed a right turn before Escalona. It looked like the road was going to an enclosed farm area. And the arrow is really faint, didn’t see it until I 1 km after turned back as I realised I was going away from Escalona. (And I have no clue where the stream was so I was lucky as it must have been dried out :) )

I have really no luck with food on this Camino. Today all stores are closed except for a small shop with a little of this and that. And the restaurants are closed as well. 2 bars with gluten based tapas. I have an apple, some gluten-free bread an bought some crisps, cheese and chorizo so a sandwich dinner it is. Tomorrow will be a short walk to San Martin or a longer to Cebreros, have mailed 2 hotels there to see if they have any available rooms but still no answer. One of them have a double room for €45 on booking.com so I might just book that. But we will see I would like to have my options more open as it is a climb tomorrow and my blood values are going down so I know it will be a bit though. Will try to time so I can have lunch in San Martin at least. At the moment there is nothing at booking.con for San Martin so might start the morning by making some calls I guess.

I miss albergues, the one in Cebreros is closed :-(

As having allergies (not just gluten) food is a huge problem for me and I really miss the opportunity to cook my own meal. Microwaves are good if you can find prepared meals fitting your allergies. The albergue in Torrijos didn’t have any utensils either wax glad I carry a spork.

Love the key box solution in Torrijos. More places should use this. Were common on Mozárabe. I did not like the solution for the donation though. A plate with a cardboard piece over it. I would like to know that what I leave goes to the albergue and not to someone else.

But the walk is fine and that is the reason I’m doing the Camino, I love to walk and hace that time for my self. And well I am alone a lot on this Camino. Haven’t seen any in there pilgrims since El Toboso.
Thanks Beatrice for your reports. I have transmited to our association's staff. The stage Cebreros - San Bartolomé was hard for me, but one of the nicest, in my opinión.
 
Hi from Cebreros. Today was a lovely walk. I enjoyed it a lot. Had rain my first 7 km but even that was just nice as it was easy breath when the up started. I loved the views and the surroundings.

There was a little bit sparse of the markings sometimes but the guide helped bit there was one spot I almost ended up in Encinar de Alberche instead. You need to to a left turn (I think that is what I’m the guide is you take the North direction) before coming to M-507. At least I have very little sense for direction without a compass. There were some machines standing in the crossing and it looked like a big tree had been taken downs maybe that used to have GR/arrow?

I totally missed the left turn to go towards the monastery after San Martin so I stayed on the road and got a 3 km shorter walk. One reason was that I had used the KML-file for stage 20 to lead me out of town and that one was not going to the monastery (should probably be noted on the web page with the files).

But the marking after crossing the N-403 gets 11 out of 10. Wow there was arrows everywhere. So you couldn’t miss them at all. And the trail it self was fun to walk.

Today’s walk had a lot of really nice places for a rest. The huge granite blocks was giving a lovely shade when the sun came out.
 

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Hi from Ávila. A glorious walking day with lovely views and perfect weather.

My god that was a long stage. The guide says 37.2 km but to the Albergue (really nice one) I got 44,38 and about 2 km might be my small errors. One navigation error that cost me 500*2 meters as I didn’t understand if I should walk along fence or at the road after the big stone, I started to walk along fence but saw so arrows so went back and out on the road where I found arrows. But later there was arrows both behind the fence and at the road, a bit confusing) and then I sat down on a bench in San Bartolomé and missed a left turn making me doing a whole loop in town before leaving (3 locals on the street saw me going the wrong way but no one said anything.). But even if I take away 2 km and 500 m to the albergue I’m still at almost 42 km.

Tomorrow’s stage is according to the guide 22,4 km but the provided KML-file says 26 km. The info here at the albergue says 24,5 so we will see. Anyhow it will be a very short stage for me but I can’t see where to stop for a more “normal” distance so I will have it as a “rest day” and do laundry :)
 

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Hi Beatrice
Are you in Gotarrendura?
Say hello to Andreea who looks after the albergue there and the bar. I was there on 29th April this year. She speaks very good English.
Have utensils etc been returned to the albergue kitchen yet? In April., Andreea said they had removed them all because of Covid regulations. Even the microwave that had been in the private section was not there then. Still., they fed us pretty well at the bar.
Andreea also arranged with a lady across the courtyard; to take me through the St Teresa areas including the dovecote and gardens. I enjoyed my strolling around this village. ❤️❤️

Buen camino.
I agree with you about the walk ‘into’ Ávila.. it was so special .
 
Hi Beatrice
Are you in Gotarrendura?
Say hello to Andreea who looks after the albergue there and the bar. I was there on 29th April this year. She speaks very good English.
Have utensils etc been returned to the albergue kitchen yet? In April., Andreea said they had removed them all because of Covid regulations. Even the microwave that had been in the private section was not there then. Still., they fed us pretty well at the bar.
Andreea also arranged with a lady across the courtyard; to take me through the St Teresa areas including the dovecote and gardens. I enjoyed my strolling around this village. ❤️❤️

Buen camino.
I agree with you about the walk ‘into’ Ávila.. it was so special .
Yes I’m here now and I came 11:20 so the bar wasn’t even open yet. Should be open around 1:30 (Andrea came by and told us). There are still no utensils in the kitchen but they have in the albegue turístico. One of the Spanish pilgrims decides to stay there instead as he snores a lot. What a kind man. Maybe people are so bad at leaving donations that they try to get people to pay? I don’t understand why the albergues that have people coming and open the door and register you can take payment as well. I do find donotivo as a good idea but most of us can afford to pay but I see so many that doesn’t do that. I forgot in one place (will send it via mail when I get home) and in another i couldn’t find a place to leave the money (I later understood that I could just have dropped it in the mailbox where I left the key so I have done so where there hasn’t been a box). I see people with expensive gears not leaving a cent. In one albergue they had info about more and more pilgrims but less and less donations.

It is a glorious day for walking today so for a split second I actually thought of doing a 50 km stage. This hanging around in a tiny village for a whole day isn’t what I usually do. I’m doing laundry and I’ll use the wifi to update Instagram.

I don’t have many days left on Levante now, so I really have to decide
1 Sanabres one more time.
2 Zanmorano, have GPX-log and hope there is some accommodation info at the tourist office in Zamora
3 Invierno, having to do 2 stages on Francés.
3a Not finishing Levante, skip Zamora and go directly up to Astorga from Medina del Camo
3b Finish Levante in Zamora and go up to Granja de Moreruela and Benavente

Those trade offs between finishing something and see something new.

If I remember it right Zamora to Granja was no fun.

Anyone that has done the Zamorano recently? Or know where to find info? I just found https://www.rayyrosa.com/camino-de-braganza so will read there.
 

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Hi Beatrice
Yes - it would be difficult for you, having to cool your heels in a tiny village. I bet that is the first time you’ve ever put your feet up for a while.

I think Sanabrés would be a good workout for you - but if you’re wanting to walk the Zamorano ., it is now covered by ‘Gronze’


Edit: I just checked it out -
Actually it’s not fully covered on Gronze but there is a little bit of information.

Buen camino
 
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Hi Beatrice
Yes - it would be difficult for you, having to cool your heels in a tiny village. I bet that is the first time you’ve ever put your feet up for a while.

I think Sanabrés would be a good workout for you - but if you’re wanting to walk the Zamorano ., it is now covered by ‘Gronze’


Edit: I just checked it out -
Actually it’s not fully covered on Gronze but there is a little bit of information.

Buen camino
I have been done for the day around 1400 most days but that is at 3 h more walking. Today I have restless legs. Can’t really sit still. So annoying.

I did like Sanabrés but I have done it on my last Camino so it would be nice to do something new.

The albergue is full tonight as 2 other French pilgrims arrived so the other man also moved over to the albergue turístico so we are just ladies in the municipal. The French talked about them as “this one” and the “other where you have to pay”.

The bar had 2 dishes today. Spaghetti with chorizo or Chorizo with patata fritas. I had the latter but will not have it once more tonight. I have GF-pasta in my bag and some tomato sauce so maybe I ask if I can borrow the kitchen from the guys or use some of my GF-bread. Don’t know how much cheese I have left. Should have bought an avocado yesterday but they were not ripe yet.

Tomorrow I have to decide Arévalo or Ataquines. We will se how the weather is. I know that the store in Arévalo is open till 1500.
 
@JLWV Why is there no description of Narillos in Stage 22? http://vieiragrino.com/etapa-22/

I was so surprised when I entered a town (that seams to like the Camino as they had a lot of Camino items). I had seen the name in the topography image but thought it was just a “point” .
 

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Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Yesterday Gotarrendura - San Vicente del Palacio where I avoided a rain storm with 5 minutes. And today in Siete Iglesias de Trabancos. Just arrived. Look what I found when I was looking into the registration book.
 

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Yesterday Gotarrendura - San Vicente del Palacio where I avoided a rain storm with 5 minutes. And today in Siete Iglesias de Trabancos. Just arrived. Look what I found when I was looking into the registration book.
On friday I had a stop in San Vicente with 26 other members of AACS-CV, going to a national meeting of AACS. We miss you for few time!
 
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In Toro and leaving for Zamora this morning. Haven’t decided which way to Santiago yet.

According to the guide you shall pass under the railway and continue up. No arrow by the tunnel instead an arrow pointing to the right where there is a bar or something. I turned around and used the tunnel.

Bar Pensíon Zamora is closed and for sale here in Toro. I’m staying at Alda Hotels €42.
 

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In Toro and leaving for Zamora this morning. Haven’t decided which way to Santiago yet.

According to the guide you shall pass under the railway and continue up. No arrow by the tunnel instead an arrow pointing to the right where there is a bar or something. I turned around and used the tunnel.

Bar Pensíon Zamora is closed and for sale here in Toro. I’m staying at Alda Hotels €42.
Thank you Beatrice.
We update for pensión Zamora, and look for the other data.
 
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According to the guide you shall pass under the railway and continue up. No arrow by the tunnel instead an arrow pointing to the right where there is a bar or something. I turned around and used the tunnel.
OK, we spoke about that this morning.
As described in the guide the way today runs under the tunnel.
The yellow arrow remains from the former way. If you follow it you go to the same place, but by a longer and harder route.
Some of us will be walking next week next to that place, but it is not clear that they can go to clarify it; if they can't we will contact the Association of Castro Nuño asking for approaching and solving the question.
buen camino.
 
@JLWV Why is there no description of Narillos in Stage 22? http://vieiragrino.com/etapa-22/

I was so surprised when I entered a town (that seams to like the Camino as they had a lot of Camino items). I had seen the name in the topography image but thought it was just a “point” .
You are right.
Our web guide is as updated as posible regarding accommodations and route description, but the description of the villages and cities is mainly from the last paper edition, so 2013. At this time, there was not such items in Narrillos, just after Avila.
We note it to mention it at the next revision.
Buen camino.

Post Data: today we received at the Association 3 pilgrims starting Levante tomorrow, a french one (76 old), an irish one from Galway, and other irish from Dublin. Buen Camino
 
So now I have done Camino Levante. I arrived in Zamora yesterday after 22 days.

Yesterday was a nice walk along water. I have 2 comments regarding the route.

When I walked along the river there is a white house with an arrow pointing straight (follow the river) but the GR-poles turns left (and as far as I understand the guide you shall turn left as well walking toward Peleagonzalo) but the KML-file shows straight on and that is a nice walk continuing by the water and comes out on the other way so you get arrows.

When walking on ZA-P-1102 the guide says and follow the path to the left. Does it mean where the GR-sign points you to a really badly maintained path ending in a steep uphill and then absolutely no arrows etc pointing you in the right direction? I had to use a map to know where to go (se orange line, ignore my attempt to cross a field as I thought I was lost) but I came out by a new GR-sign now pointing to the path along the canal so I was walking the right way according to them? I saw that the KML-file tracks continues on the road for a little longer and then joins a path.

I have tried to show what I mean in the attached images. Maybe a warning to say ignore the GR-sign? Or was it me who read the direction in pointed wrong?

There is also yellow arrows on the roadsigns in the crossing where you can drive towards Zamora a little bit earlier.

Today I’m in Granja de Moreruela think I will go up to Astorga and meet the pilgrim meat wall for 2 days and then Camino Invierno. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I’ll 1 find a bed on CF, 2 keep sane.
 

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Today there was some arrows in 2 directions leaving Don Fadrique. I went where the GR-sign was pointing.
About this feed-back of Sept. 10, I can't find the explanation.
Mi colleagues at the AACS say it is from camino del Sureste, but as far as I check the tracks of both way, Levante and Sureste, both go in the same direction in this point.
The right direction is in front, as indicated by the GR arrow and the yellow one on the pilar. I don't know what is the yelllow-on-blue one.
Investigation continues.....
 
I did Zamora - Granja - Astorga and then Ponferrada (minimising my time on CF). Started from the albergue at 6:30 and was in Ponferrada 10 h and 40 min later after a really nice walk. Walked by my self most of the time. Passed about 50 persons but quickly left them behind. The climb down to Molinaseca I did with a Polish pilgrim who had walked from home 4 month ago with his dog. We were both happy to find another person walking in the same speed (and in sandals).

Tomorrow I can start a live from Inverano.
 
I totally missed the left turn to go towards the monastery after San Martin so I stayed on the road and got a 3 km shorter walk. One reason was that I had used the KML-file for stage 20 to lead me out of town and that one was not going to the monastery (should probably be noted on the web page with the files).
Really the way didn't pass by the monastery, which is like 1 km at the NW, but visited the Toros de Guisando' which is close historical place.
Few years ago the access to the Toros was free and the way spent some detour to visit them.
But now it is protected and you can only access on certain days and hours, too late for pilgrims. So the way was changed and go directly to Cebreros without that detour.
The track is OK, but the map on the guide shows the former way, although the text explain the situation.
 
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There is also yellow arrows on the roadsigns in the crossing where you can drive towards Zamora a little bit earlier.
In 8 years I participate in way marking, I have never seen yellow arrows painting on roadsign.
After inquiries we guess these are marks of the GR14, Senda del Duero (from Soria to Portugal).
These arrows, which look orange more than yellow, should not be on the roadsigns, but as this GR is promoted by regional administrations we do not discard that the arrows are on regional roadsigns.
They are not related to Santiago Way.
 
In 8 years I participate in way marking, I have never seen yellow arrows painting on roadsign.
After inquiries we guess these are marks of the GR14, Senda del Duero (from Soria to Portugal).
These arrows, which look orange more than yellow, should not be on the roadsigns, but as this GR is promoted by regional administrations we do not discard that the arrows are on regional roadsigns.
They are not related to Santiago Way.
They were stickers (not painted) and they were definitely yellow looking when I stood in front of them. As they were pointing in 2 different directions I assumed they were not related to the Camino de Santiago but was thinking that less experienced pilgrims could be confused by them.
 
OK, so we have to follow investigating and act.
thanks for your feedback Beatrice.
 
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