A very wet day on the Camino Frances!

[Bradypus]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water. The kilometre or so before Villatuerta was a wide fast river and many of us abandoned the path and walked the road instead.

VID_20230902_123951.mp4

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VID_20230902_124604.mp4

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[chinacat]

That bridge provided a welcome rest from the hot, hot sun in October 2009!

Wishing you a cosy, dry sleep tonight

… and buen camino!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water. The kilometre or so before Villatuerta was a wide fast river and many of us abandoned the path and walked the road instead.
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VID_20230902_123951.mp4

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VID_20230902_124604.mp4

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These are the times I take a rest day or a taxi. Dang!

 

[J Willhaus]

Wow! Be careful!

 

[Bradypus]

Wishing you a cosy, dry sleep tonight

Thank you! Just had a substantial lunch in Estella and I am now in a warm dry room with a hot shower handy. Listening to even more rain pouring down outside.

 

[Rav]

You’re more sturdy than me, pilgrim. I just did the 5k from Puente la Reina to Mañeru and enjoyed visiting with the stream of wet pilgrims at the bar at Hostel el Cantero until the hostel opened. There is a jolly bunch here, and it’s a lovely place to stay cozy while the weather rages. Tomorrow’s weather looks much better, though I suspect there will be plenty of big mud puddles!

 

[auburnfive]

From Burguete to Zubiri was the same, picked out way through the shale and what turned into a riverbed with a torrential rain going on. We saw some unfortunate souls without waterproofs or footwear without any kid of grip. A memorable day, for sure…

 

[Bradypus]

You’re more sturdy than me, pilgrim. I just did the 5k from Puente la Reina to Mañeru and enjoyed visiting with the stream of wet pilgrims at the bar at Hostel el Cantero until the hostel opened.

My friend and I started from Puente la Reina this morning too. Stopped in Mañeru for coffee and tortilla. Still damp from last night's storm when we set off but the rain didn't really start in earnest until Cirauqui. The dark red mud streams around Cirauqui were quite spectacular but it was too wet to take my phone out to film them!

 

[Bradypus]

A local news website has a short video of last night's thunderstorm taken near the wine fountain at Irache. Very similar to last night in Puente la Reina. It went on like that for a long time.

Vídeo: la tormenta descarga con fuerza en Ayegui

www.diariodenavarra.es

 

[Bala]

A local news website has a short video of last night's thunderstorm taken near the wine fountain at Irache. Very similar to last night in Puente la Reina. It went on like that for a long time.

Vídeo: la tormenta descarga con fuerza en Ayegui

www.diariodenavarra.es

Wow. That is quite a storm. Hope it's cleared by now and the mud dries quickly.

 

[NcFinn]

These are the times I take a rest day or a taxi. Dang!

Exactly what I did. Was struggling with my decision to do so….happy with my decision after seeing this!

 

[La Brique Jaune]

Wow so much water !, For my next Camino I will bring my rubber boots but they are heavy so will drill some holes in it.

Courage Pelegrino !

 

[MainelyStina]

Pretty damp on the section I walked today as well - Espinosa del Camino to Atapuerca. I was so happy to have brought my rain jacket. Turns out trekking poles are pretty effective for scraping thick mud off the bottom of your shoes… More of this tomorrow, apparently

This is a screenshot of the radar when we left this morning.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

A local news website has a short video of last night's thunderstorm taken near the wine fountain at Irache. Very similar to last night in Puente la Reina. It went on like that for a long time.

Wow...don't recall ever seeing such continual lightning ...& I used to live in the tropics!
Stay safe everyone...make good decisions & try not to bow to the pressure of time constraints.
Best wishes @Bradypus & all currently on the trail.

 

[ginniek]

After the serious drought all this summer and last summer, too, many Spanish people are likely giving thanks for this watery break.

 

[Becky 59]

Wow, I watched the storm from the safety of the Donativo in Logroño while we lost power twice while cooking dinner! Stop by on your way through town or stay for a great communal dinner!

 

[chinacat]

Hope you’re having a drier day today.
I imagine Mrs. Bradypus has told you about our unexpected ‘heatwave’.
Such is life …

 

[Kathar1na]

And a screenshot of Aena’s lightning count over Navarra when this thunderstorm front passed over the region - in green those between 8-10 pm, in white those between 10 pm and midnight and in red those between midnight and 2 am.

And (for the Pamplona region) an accumulated quantity of 80 litres of rain per square metre. Yikes. And you were there to experience it! I hope that the damage to crops is not too bad …

 

[Kathar1na]

I noticed that the Spanish media refer to this weather situation as a DANA.

Here is one of many web entries that explain what a DANA is, why DANAs are weather events that are “fenómenos muy temidos en España” and why they are “cada vez son más frecuentes en España”:

¿Qué es una DANA y por qué cada vez son más frecuentes en España?

Conoce qué es una DANA, cómo se forman, si pueden ser peligrosas...y mucho más, ¡aquí!

www.eltiempo.es

 

[HappyValerie]

Pretty damp on the section I walked today as well - Espinosa del Camino to Atapuerca. I was so happy to have brought my rain jacket. Turns out trekking poles are pretty effective for scraping thick mud off the bottom of your shoes… More of this tomorrow, apparently

This is a screenshot of the radar when we left this morning.
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Poles can be good for testing the depth of muddy puddles, too .

 

[wanderlustesq]

I walked Zubiri to Pamplona in that mess. It was beyond scary. Most ended up in taxis.
View attachment IMG_3553.mov

 

[MichelleO]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water. The kilometre or so before Villatuerta was a wide fast river and many of us abandoned the path and walked the road instead.
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VID_20230902_123951.mp4

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VID_20230902_124604.mp4

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We woke up to heavy rain at Viloria de Rioja and decided to continue with the plan and walk 24km to Villafranca-Montes de Oca. We wore ponchos all day and walked through mud. Some of the paths approaching town were not safe in the conditions. We didn't have 'flowing paths' but it was a longer day because of the extra care needed (and not very enjoyable).
Maybe a rest day next time!

 

[Kirkie]

My Pamplona friend sent me these two clips.
One near Trinidad de Arre and the other in Pamplona
View attachment VIDEO-2023-09-03-14-52-34.mp4
View attachment VIDEO-2023-09-03-14-50-36.mp4

 

[peregrino_tom]

Pretty damp on the section I walked today as well - Espinosa del Camino to Atapuerca. I was so happy to have brought my rain jacket. Turns out trekking poles are pretty effective for scraping thick mud off the bottom of your shoes… More of this tomorrow, apparently

Webster must be havin' a ball!
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ares-for-his-first-camino.82269/#post-1168342

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

And (for the Pamplona region) an accumulated quantity of 80 litres of rain per square metre. Yikes.

A 8 cm or 3.15 inches rainfall.

 

[JabbaPapa]

In weather like that I have ALWAYS walked on tarmac.

Which means I have no horror stories of my own, though I have heard such things from other pilgrims as being thigh-deep in it. (and that was first-hand from my good compañero, so no exaggeration)

 

[C clearly]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today.

Not much point in Gortex shoes, though!

 

[Bradypus]

Not much point in Gortex shoes, though!

Not when they are 12" under the surface...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Not when they are 12" under the surface...

How about even 6" underwater for a few hours straight.

 

[Chris Gi]

Thank you! Just had a substantial lunch in Estella and I am now in a warm dry room with a hot shower handy. Listening to even more rain pouring down outside.

This is the stuff of wonderful memories!!!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

This is the stuff of wonderful memories!!!

I agree! Several hours of pouring rain and wind with squishing shoes on the meseta in 2017 has left a wonderful imprint in my mind.

 

[Trekker One]

As my dear old dad use to remind me on long distance motorcycle trips we took together after a full day of riding in the rain, 'You don't always have to be comfortable to be having fun.'
A moist day is just character building...

 

[wanderlustesq]

Moist? Hardly. It was torrential.

 

[AnneMarie1]

Wow! There was some rain when I walked from early May (from Somport) till mid-late June, but mostly the land was just crying for rain. And then after the Camino I went down to Andalusia, which was even more dire. So it kind of makes me happy to see all this rain. (Sorry!)

 

[nycwalking]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water. The kilometre or so before Villatuerta was a wide fast river and many of us abandoned the path and walked the road instead.
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VID_20230902_123951.mp4

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VID_20230902_124604.mp4

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Keep on truckin’ and posting.

Buen camino.

 

[J Willhaus]

I did see in one of the Spanish newspapers that several trainlines have been shut down today and a soccer match in Madrid was postponed so it must be continuing to rain in various parts of the country.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

Back in 2019 on my Le Puy Camino, my Peyre >> Arzacq-Arraziguet stage forecasted a 30% chance of rain. The reality was waking up to blustery winds and a stormy sky. At exactly 7:30am the skies opened up and poured until approximately 3pm. I slugged through through muddy cornfields in heavy rain, soaked to the bone, loving it.

I arrived in Miramont Sensacq, hoping to change clothes, or at least put on fresh socks. Just as I reached the village, I noticed the church to my right and decided to duck in out of the rain. As I opened the door, a gust of warmth greeted me. I walked into the coziest, most welcoming warm church. It had such a great energy and the heat wrapped itself around my cold, wet body.

It was one of the most memorable days on my camino.

Another great reason to love the Podiensis route: open churches. To escape heat, sun, rain, or simply sit and catch your breath.

 

[VNwalking]

Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water.

I hope the forecast is accurate and that you have a better day of walking today!

We saw some unfortunate souls without waterproofs or footwear without any kid of grip.

SMH.
Buen camino to all, though!

I hope that the damage to crops is not too bad …

Indeed. Our little camino concerns pale in comparison.

 

[susanawee]

I think the next time anyone asks whether they should bring waterproofs or trekking poles I may describe today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain at times and many parts of the Camino between Cirauqui and Estella ankle or even knee deep in muddy fast flowing water. The kilometre or so before Villatuerta was a wide fast river and many of us abandoned the path and walked the road instead.
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VID_20230902_123951.mp4

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VID_20230902_124604.mp4

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Wow...so much water.!

 

[ConnieJ]

Thank you! Just had a substantial lunch in Estella and I am now in a warm dry room with a hot shower handy. Listening to even more rain pouring down outside.

May I ask where you stayed in Estella?

 

[Bradypus]

May I ask where you stayed in Estella?

My friend and I had a room in the Capuchin Albergue Rocamador

 

[JesperK]

It just seems to continue. I started sunday 4 sep in burgos - and have had rain 3 days. Walked to Berciano from carrion de los condes today from 2 o'clock at night and was drenched. But seeing the lightning storms from a distance was beautiful at night.

And let me add - it's a little over 5 the next morning here in Berciano and the sky is now a giant lightningstorm in all directions. One of the thunderclashes made the windows vibrate. Sitting outside in the courtyard contemplating what, when and how.

 

[Mike the Peregrinacious]

Get a good quality waterproof poncho - ideal for such conditions (even though it won't solve the wet feet issue