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I appreciate your comments. My sore knees were first experienced on the Francigena coming from the Gran Bernardo Pass. Days of downhill.
As I continue I've met and seen numerous casualties from walking sjpdp to Roncesvalles. Just something to be aware of and to take care.
Yes poles help and I always use them. Yet there are occasions when the steep downhills still cause pain. At times ( when its safe) I walk downhill backwards to ease my knees. I march up any grade efficiently and then everyone passes me on the downhill as I go slowly zig zagging to the bottom...
On 2 previous caminos I had to take rest days due to my knees becoming very sore from going down steep hills. Is there any exercise or precaution I can practice to avoid this reoccurring. I'd like to do Norte in September but fear the down hills will injur my knees.
I flew TO to Toulouse. Took the train to Bayonne (slept in a hostel near the train) in the morning I took an easy train ride into sjpdp. I've done lots of other ways but this proved the most economic and easiest.
While walking the Portuguese in 2017, midway, I came across a true pilgrim. She was a very emaciated looking young lady. She had been walking 15 days on her way to Santiago. She teared up telling me her father had cared for her all her life, and he had died leaving her alone. She is going to...
I walked this route in 2019 with a friend. I don't remember any problems with language and neither of us could speak French. We usually booked a bed the evening before but not always. There weren't any dificulties with cafes. We quit after Moissac. Reports of massive crowds in sjpdp seeking...
Wandalina, I asked you your plan and I see you already shared it. I'm not used to making a reply. When I was researching accomodations I noticed that I may have to divert from the itinerary for those hard to find bed locations. I don't have any answers but feel confident some alterations would...
I'm still on the fence. My research indicates I would average 40 euros per night for low cost rooms versus a dormitory. I used the Wise itinerary and looked up available rooms. I can afford this but its kind of steep and I'd miss the albergues. Previous 5 Caminos I had a hiking buddy from...
I'm trying to avoid albergues due to concern of Covid. I just researched the Wise Pilgrim itinerary for Norte and as of today I could book lower priced hotels / pensions for an average of 40 euros per night ($ 60. Canadian). The first 1/3 of Norte was higher priced then the rest but averaged...
While walking solo I often find myself voicing out a few lines of poetry or lyrics from a song. Examples may be "My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky" or "I wander lonely as a cloud....", "Black bird singing in the dark of night" and many others. I also recite verses from...
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