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  1. J

    Norte from Santander

    I took the coastal variant from Santander to Boo, July ‘22. Agree with Michal it was a wonderful experience! Strongly recommend it. Much of the way is not well marked, gps navigation earned its keep. Buen Camino!
  2. J

    Best route/places to stay from Santiago to Finisterre/Muxia? Thx!

    Hi Jodi I walked SdC to Fisterra last year. 3 days, just under 100kms which by that stage was not too challenging. First night at Albergue Casa Vella in Vilaserío (34 kms) a lovely rural village, second night at the albergue at Ologoso (about 25kms). It left quite a big day to Fisterra but...
  3. J

    Say No! to rubber tips on your poles.

    The Bugg is back. Love your posts Dave. Thank you🙏
  4. J

    Difficulty - Norte from Gijon to SDC

    Hello, This elevation profile looks strange. It shows Irun to San Sebastián as if there is no elevation change. Not sure which route you took on that first day but mine took me up to about 400m. So I wouldn’t read too much into it. I agree with others on this thread, find the right pace, you...
  5. J

    Alternate route after Castro Urdiales

    I should have explained from Oriñon the trail goes to Sonabia, across the back (south) of the playa Sonabia and then angles up to the headland. The fork up to the left is before reaching the point.
  6. J

    Alternate route after Castro Urdiales

    A year ago 5 of us did this coastal variant. We’d previously stayed at Ontón, lunch at Islares, that night at Oriñon. Next morning, a perfect day, good forecast, we walked the trail to the headland but instead of traversing round and through the notch, we went up to the left at a fork and onto a...
  7. J

    Footwear options for Camino del Norte

    I walked the Norte in June last year. Loved it. You can find average temps on line. It wasn’t as hot as that. For me the most important thing with footwear is to avoid blisters. I ended up in a Camino family of 6. I was the only one not to have any. It spoils the experience. There’s lots of...
  8. J

    Le Puy to El Norte- Gr10

    I walked the GR10 from SJPdP to Irun (then to SdC via Norte and Primitivo) exactly a year ago. A lot of up and down, avg about 800m up and down every day, but trail well marked and no extreme drop offs. I had good weather and the sights magnificent. Raptors. Up close. Avg 20 kms a day. Stops at...
  9. J

    Packing for del Norte in June

    Well said! Good to feel challenged. Alone? You won’t be if you don’t want to be. I started the Norte alone, had my 70th birthday in San Sebastián, by the time I reached Santiago I was in a Camino family of 6. But at times you might want to be alone and that’s ok. A tip: do everything you can to...
  10. J

    Packing for del Norte in June

    You’ll be fine! Buen Camino! Madis’s list looks a pretty good minimalist one. I didn’t see a poncho on it though which I’d recommend. I got a lot of use out of it on my Norte last June. Weighs next to nothing, cheap, keeps the pack dry, easy (once you get the hang of it) to put on for a shower...
  11. J

    Type and size of towel?

    Great idea. Thanks klimmo, I’m going to try it. Love this forum for these sorts of tips! Seems like the towel is a highly personal choice. Guess it comes down to the old weight vs comfort consideration. Dave Bugg’s mantra “ounces lead to pounds, pounds to pain” is my guide, so have got used to...
  12. J

    Quick drying hiking tshirt help

    These are very personal choices, and there’s no right answers. The forum is a wonderful resource for these sorts of questions. I’m a big merino fan and wear it when it’s cool. It’s getting a lot of votes here and I can understand why. Here’s my experience though (a contrary view): Last year I...
  13. J

    Merino wool socks wrecked?

    I prefer fine merino with low percentage of synthetic fibre. It’s very personal as this thread demonstrates, but for me the combo of these, Vaseline and altra lone peaks equals happy feet. Almost always Icebreaker brand. Usually cold or warm hand wash although sometimes on Camino they go in...
  14. J

    Bilbao to Portugalete

    One more pilgrim opinion on this: I was in Bilbao this June on a del Norte/Primitivo camino. My plan was to get close to Bilbao the previous day, have most of the next day and the morning of the following one to put my tourist hat on, with special focus on the Guggenheim. I stayed at Lezama, one...
  15. J

    People with Altra Lone Peak shoes

    Wow this thread is a deep examination isn’t it! Something I really liked about my Lone Peak 6’s on my last Camino was the integrated gaiter system. Really effective. Little stones getting into the shoe are really annoying and it used to happen to me daily. The shoe is cut low. But the simple...
  16. J

    People with Altra Lone Peak shoes

    And another “for what it’s worth” I wore out my 6th pair of LP’s on my last Camino which included 5 days of the Pyrenees GR 10 from SJPdP to Hendaye, 1100kms in total. Love the wide toe box, great cushioning, and in all that hiking (5000 kms ish) not a single blister. Always respected D Buggs’...
  17. J

    Albergue Piedad in Boos - Price?

    I walked this coastal route in early June and endorse Peregrina’s comments - a long but wonderful walk, one my best days on the Norte. A tip that may be helpful - at playa Escondida there’s a section where I found the Wise Pilgrim app’s route didn’t work and I had to do a short piece on road. I...
  18. J

    Where to stay the night before Santiago....?

    In the last few days of my just finished Camino I’d decided I wanted to enter SdC early and alone on the day. Last stop had been El Alemán at Boente. I reserved at Albergue o Fervello a couple of km towards SdC from Lavacallo. 1st July. Turned out it was the albergue’s opening day. Brand new...
  19. J

    LIVE from the Camino In Bilbao about to leave for Pobeña

    I’m in Bilbao about to leave for Pobeña. I completed the last 3 days of my Voie de Vézelay (interrupted in 2019 when my wife broke her ankle) on 27th May, hiked the GR10 5 days from SJPdP to Hendaye, and then joined the Norte June 2nd, my 70th birthday. Been so fortunate! Stayed mostly in...
  20. J

    Starting May 25th 2022

    Joe from Aotearoa NZ - Starting 25th May at Orthez on the Vezelay (where I stopped on day 47 3 years ago when my wife broke her ankle). To St Jean PdP, then along GR10 to Hendaye, then Norte and Primitivo to Santiago and I hope Muxia/Finisterre. First day on the Norte will be my 70th birthday...

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