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I love this option! When I walked the Norte in May 2022, I took an extra day in Bilbao in order to bus up to Bakio to visit San Juan de Gaztelugatxe- ended up as one of the highlights of my whole Camino! It had just reopened after a landslide closed it for 2 years, and reservations were not...
I am loving it! Have not walked the Frances, nor with one of my children, but this book is nonetheless bringing back tons of memories - and just great ‘vibes’ - for me. I don’t want it to end, which for me is the sign of a really good book,
It was only light rain on and off for us, and at times pretty windy. Not bad at all and the views were still spectacular. After that short steep decline i mentioned, there’s a magic fairytale forest that is really special. I’m telling you, it’s a fabulous stretch - we loved it.
That’s me! 😂
Laurie’s memory is correct - a friend and I walked Vegacervera to Poladura de La Tercia through Buiza a few weeks ago. Ended up about 26 kms. We were very nervous about the 3 climbs and the short steep descent, but it was a really amazing day - it was challenging without being...
I did this a few weeks ago. I can imagine in pouring rain it would have been pretty scary. It was completely dry when we were there. It was pretty steep, and the rocks were sharp, but we took it slow and it wasn't horrible, especially with poles. I'll attach a photo, but I'm putting on a...
Pribhatt - I walked the Norte as a solo female last year from Irun (late April through first week of June) - and had similar goals to yours. I was a little nervous beforehand, but I never ever felt like I was not safe. There were enough other pilgrims where I didn't feel isolated (unless I...
Another option that someone suggested to me last year: chocolate covered coffee beans! I brought a bag of them on my Camino last year, and they served in a pinch!
I would not consider myself an expert by any means, and have only done one Camino. I agree with Laurie above that everyone is different and therefore different systems will be right for different people. One of my goals on Camino was to let go of the need to have everything completely planned...
I'm from Chicago as well and I did the Norte in May last year, including almost all of Laurie's alternatives, which added time/days (took me 42 in all). I took a train from Bilbao to Getxo/Portugalete, and frankly thought the walk out of Portugalete was pretty unpleasant as well, at least until...
I LOVED it - one of the highlights of my Camino del Norte this spring. Possibly since I only learned upon arriving in Bilbao on May 5 that it had only reopened days before - after 2 years of closure. The weather that day was spectacular and it exceeded all expectations for me. No dragons...
I started April 28th this year, with the same weather forecast you have. In fact, here is a thread that someone started about that time with a similar question as yours: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/weather-near-the-start-of-the-camino-del-norte-mid-april-2022.74331/.
It...
I agree with most of what’s said here, especially @WestKirsty was spot on. When I was on the Norte in early May, I was on the fence about walking to Portugalete. What clinched my decision not to walk was learning in Bilbao that San Juan de Gaztelugatxe had just re-opened a couple of days...
I used it on the couple of times I used pack transfer on the Camino. Was kinda fun and reassuring as I walked to watch it get to my accommodation! The rest of the time I kept it in my crossbody, on the off chance I would leave it somewhere (though thankfully never did) - as that is where my...
I think I’m the friend Laurie’s referring to - and yes, Pepe was a chief discourager (and also strangely seemed to work in many places at Soto de Luiña, like a Monty Python skit!), but I was also warned off that route at my very pleasant hotel Casa Vieja del Sastre, where they told me someone...
I walked the Norte this year April 28-June 7. Had rain the first day, then not again until Galicia, though it did rain occasionally in the afternoons after I was in for the day. Did almost all the alternatives in @peregrina2000’s extremely helpful ‘alternatives’ thread, and highly recommend...
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