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Valcarlos on the lower camino route is about 11 km west of SJPdP and an easy walk. Maybe you'll have time to get there for your first night. Certainly if you take a taxi. You could taxi back to SJPdP in the morning or continue your walk from Valcarlos. Other towns near SJPdP could do as well I...
Nice to hear from you again Andy (how's Randy, Sandy and Candy?)
In response to your question I think you should bribe @trecile. She does supply a huge amount of help for free but I haven't seen her summon great walking weather for anything less than 10€. Maybe you can make up the deficit with...
For those reading this thread that are unfamiliar with the two ways down to Roncesvalles from the Col de Lepoeder, there is a forest trail that is marked as the "official" Camino and also a less steep variant way leading to the Col de Ibañeta on the Valcarlos Camino variant. This latter variant...
This isn't exactly what you're looking for but as long as you are going shopping ...
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/the-old-man-and-his-shop-in-castrojeriz-is-alive-and-kickin.86503/
To give a recommendation I would like to know more about your preferences but I will suggest that between your two preferences you start from Burgos. You will appreciate the meseta from the start or learn to love it. I think walking all the way to the sea is best appreciated from those who...
That's a 24⁰ range. The record is 27⁰ in two minutes due to a Chinook wind, a downhill warming of the wind. 😯
https://listen.sdpb.org/rural-life-and-history/2024-01-22/spearfish-sets-world-record-of-largest-variance-in-temperature-south-dakota-history
If the ALSA bus ever does stop in Valcarlos (or Arnéguy) I'll be telling pilgrims wanting to go to SJPdP to walk the Route Napoleon to get off the bus there and walk to SJPdP.
Not long ago I checked ALSA service and you could pick up the bus in Spain at a number of points if the ticket was to France. I suppose though that they can't prevent you from getting off the bus at any of the Spanish points if the bus actually stops there to pick up passengers.
If I remember...
It is my understanding that the Navarra government put the restriction on ALSA/CONDA to provide only international travel on their Pamplona - SJPdP line to protect the smaller, local lines. I suspect ALSA would be happy to have the restriction removed.
This thread has more "halfway" information including two alternate halfway points using a start point of SJPdP.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/half-way-village-or-town-on-camino-frances-route.80673/
For those reading this thread that are unfamiliar with the two ways down to Roncesvalles, the forest trail that is marked as the camino and the variant way following the road marked as the "soft" or easy way. There are a number of reports on the forum from people who wanted to avoid the forest...
If by Burgos you see that you don't have time to finish the Camino in time there are a number of companies that will rent you a bicycle that you can returrn in León or maybe beyond. This gives you a few more days for walking and you still finish the Camino under your own power.
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