Older Guy
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francis -May 2016 by bike---Loved it
I am planning on doing the Camino in late April and most of May by bicycle (yes I will have a bell and be considerate, but mostly travel on the trail). One of the things that I want to do is balance being a tourist with the pilgrimage experience. I am planning on taking more time than I need to go from Pamplona to Santiago. That will give me some flex days for weather, resting, get a cold, or find someplace I really want to explore. Another thing I like to do when I travel is visit churches sit in them, pray and really look at them and what they are trying to say to me. I also want to spend time during the day at bars, restaurants, etc. to talk to other pilgrims.
On a previous trip to Porto Portugal, I took a bus to Santiago and on the bus ride back became fascinated listening to all the pilgrims sharing their stories with each other. When I was in SJPP this past summer, the young people and their excitement and fears were also wonderful to hear. When I do long bike rides (100-mile centuries), I like to take a break every 2 hours or so and refuel, either on food I carry or a light snacks purchased somewhere. This way I have lots of small meals that digest easily. It also helps me catch up on hydration so I don't bonk!
I plan to stay 2 to 3 days in Pamplona. I have been their before, but I want to use this as my starting point, where I get over jet lag, a time to talk to other pilgrims, see the sights as a pilgrim and get my head cleared prior to starting my Camino.
My next night I plan on staying in Estella. Actually, depending on when I arrive I may drop my gear at a hostel or A. and bike on to Irache. Because of the fame of the wine fountain, I kind of want to take the tour of the winery museum as a tourist. I enjoy touring wineries and doing a wine tasting. Not sure about drinking wine and biking back to Estella or doing a wine tasting early in the morning if I stop the first night at Estella. Actually, I do love Spanish Rioja wines. Two summers ago my wife and I did wine tourism of the Mosel & Burgundy valleys of France and this past summer of the Rhone valley.
Logrono sounds like an interesting university town and having a communal meal in the church in Granon sounds pretty special.
I plan on having a day in the heart of Burgos to explore its old town. Also planning on a half day or more exploring Burgos. Also I want to spend extra time exploring the old town and sights in Leon. Astorga also seems to have lots to see. While I have visited Santiago before and stayed overnight their, I expect that it will be a much different experience as a pilgrim and I want to spend at least a full day savoring that.
I am certain, that I could easily spend more time than I have available, but was hoping on advice for balance and how to make this both a wonderful tourist experience, while balancing it as a pilgrim with a limited amount of time. I also want a few contingency days as it appears that I can count on some rain in May, especially as I get closer to the mountains and taking a day off to stay out of the worst of a storm or cutting a day short to explore and dry out can do wonders for the spirit.
I am trying to temper my excitement and wanting to put things on my to see list with "going with the Flow" and letting the Camino provide me with my experience. Again, listening to pilgrims talk on the bus back to Porto, it was clear that the unexpected things were often the highlights of many pilgrims trips.
My plan is to have available for a mountain bike trip about 19 to 21 full days from the time I leave (after spending time getting over jet lag) Pamplona until I hop on a jet in Santiago for Madrid.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
On a previous trip to Porto Portugal, I took a bus to Santiago and on the bus ride back became fascinated listening to all the pilgrims sharing their stories with each other. When I was in SJPP this past summer, the young people and their excitement and fears were also wonderful to hear. When I do long bike rides (100-mile centuries), I like to take a break every 2 hours or so and refuel, either on food I carry or a light snacks purchased somewhere. This way I have lots of small meals that digest easily. It also helps me catch up on hydration so I don't bonk!
I plan to stay 2 to 3 days in Pamplona. I have been their before, but I want to use this as my starting point, where I get over jet lag, a time to talk to other pilgrims, see the sights as a pilgrim and get my head cleared prior to starting my Camino.
My next night I plan on staying in Estella. Actually, depending on when I arrive I may drop my gear at a hostel or A. and bike on to Irache. Because of the fame of the wine fountain, I kind of want to take the tour of the winery museum as a tourist. I enjoy touring wineries and doing a wine tasting. Not sure about drinking wine and biking back to Estella or doing a wine tasting early in the morning if I stop the first night at Estella. Actually, I do love Spanish Rioja wines. Two summers ago my wife and I did wine tourism of the Mosel & Burgundy valleys of France and this past summer of the Rhone valley.
Logrono sounds like an interesting university town and having a communal meal in the church in Granon sounds pretty special.
I plan on having a day in the heart of Burgos to explore its old town. Also planning on a half day or more exploring Burgos. Also I want to spend extra time exploring the old town and sights in Leon. Astorga also seems to have lots to see. While I have visited Santiago before and stayed overnight their, I expect that it will be a much different experience as a pilgrim and I want to spend at least a full day savoring that.
I am certain, that I could easily spend more time than I have available, but was hoping on advice for balance and how to make this both a wonderful tourist experience, while balancing it as a pilgrim with a limited amount of time. I also want a few contingency days as it appears that I can count on some rain in May, especially as I get closer to the mountains and taking a day off to stay out of the worst of a storm or cutting a day short to explore and dry out can do wonders for the spirit.
I am trying to temper my excitement and wanting to put things on my to see list with "going with the Flow" and letting the Camino provide me with my experience. Again, listening to pilgrims talk on the bus back to Porto, it was clear that the unexpected things were often the highlights of many pilgrims trips.
My plan is to have available for a mountain bike trip about 19 to 21 full days from the time I leave (after spending time getting over jet lag) Pamplona until I hop on a jet in Santiago for Madrid.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.