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Recent content by Helen1

  1. Helen1

    Camping on VDLP: Feasible or not?

    On the VDLP and on a bike, super easy. Snags - pigs & their protective owners, heavy thunderstorms and possibly traffic noise (it's not a particularly remote route). Of course, you can go where you want on a bike and distance is not such an issue but I would take a tent that can be pitched...
  2. Helen1

    Has the Camino Frances become a victim of its own success?

    If you start walking at 9 -9.30 am, and stay in pre-booked accommodation in small places just before/after the main towns (much less stressful to book as you'll be arriving later than usual) it's pretty quiet even the last 100km. However, starting at peak times from key towns is both amazing and...
  3. Helen1

    Cycling

    Cool! I did the trip the other way and then took the ferry to Morocco but on road/with Brompton. I stayed mostly in inexpensive hotels. I began by searching Booking.com for availability and trying the hotels when I arrived but half the time they said they were full or wanted higher rates...
  4. Helen1

    Santarem Hostel closed

    I am so sorry to hear that you have to close. I stayed a few years ago. It was a lovely and wonderfully relaxing place, to stay after a very long hot day. Wishing you all the best in these uncertain times.
  5. Helen1

    London to Leon

    Flying to Madrid probably is the easiest option with the most flights. Train and bus from Madrid to Leon are both pretty easy. I've flown in the evening, stayed at the hotel above the station and then taken the train the following morning to reduce transfer stress. Buses are also pretty easy...
  6. Helen1

    Peninsular War Memorials

    Not a memorial but the military museum in Burgos has a section about the Peninsular Wars. When we visited the person on the desk spoke English and explained happened in Burgos and how it impacted the layout of the town . There are also various info boards around the castle if I remember rightly.
  7. Helen1

    Bicycle danger near Castrojeriz

    I think it's this, although I remember it being much steeper and more or less straight down to begin with - perhaps I took this part way down. No sweat for experienced mountain bikers but I wouldn't have fancied it on my bike, think it was quite slippy for walkers at the time. When I've cycled...
  8. Helen1

    Spend a day in SJPP, or just start the walk?

    Wont you need to spend a half a day there anyway? I am sure plenty of people get the morning train and then walk the Napoleon route but you'll be starting a good few hours after most (which might suit you if you want it quieter). If you want to get a stamp, visit the Church, have a second...
  9. Helen1

    How can you get an electric bike to the Camino from England?

    From personal experience: Ferry is fun, takes ages, not cheap because I think you need a cabin on those routes. Bikes on trains in Spain is potentially more complex than you might expect as there are rules that are hard to understand (the rules are probably worse in the UK but it's not quite as...
  10. Helen1

    Bike with low traffic Santander to Gijon but not rough tracks

    Have a look at this blog post: https://days-of-adventure.co.uk/2019/06/23/cycling-spains-green-coast-from-santander-to-gijon/ at the bottom they have an interactive map so you can see their route in detail. Their route looks similar to other guided road tours. Looks like a lot of climbing...
  11. Helen1

    Biking in the rain

    Depends a bit on the long-range weather forecast, if you're cycling for around 2 weeks you'll probably get a pretty good idea of how wet it's going to be before you go. A few wet/drizzly days a rain jacket will be fine & if you're doing shorter days you may be able to avoid the rain by...
  12. Helen1

    Private room prices & availability on the Camino Frances outside the big cities?

    Just back from doing the Burgos to Leon section. We booked before be left via booking.com and an average of €50 would be about right (cheaper if book direct, etc). Surprised how few people were walking. The majority of people we met were booking private rooms (part of this was the cold/desire...
  13. Helen1

    Will we be met with scorn or equanimity?

    I hope you have a fantastic time! Definitely get the spiral bound Dutch cycling guide which shows the route in detail. The Cicerone guide isn't very helpful. Not sure about the German one. There are a couple of places where the road route differs significantly from the footpath and the cycling...
  14. Helen1

    Poll Do you listen to anything while walking?

    Totally understand wanting to be present in the moment but there are a few stages where I found it a relief to have a bit of distraction - the bit on the CP where you walk endless miles along railway line, esp the bit next to the sewage works for example :) .
  15. Helen1

    Using a larger Backpack, just not filling it up. Thoughts?

    I get the logic of this but not sure it works for everyone. Thinking about all the people you see carrying a shopping bag with extra stuff in it (and not just food), the people with an extra front rucksack stuffed with essentials, the water bottle carriers because every inch of their rucksack is...
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