I´m still alive & now I know how santos got lost going to Valcarlos: waymarking in serious need of updating as well as more needed. We would come to a fork in the road & the shell or mark would be in the freaking middle & no further mark to indicate right or left, up or down. By guess & by golly, I got to Valcarlos & stayed at Casa Marcelino. Nice place, good food. I was originally going via Orisson, but when they called to confirm my reservation, they were told that my name was not on the list & they were booked solid (!) for the next night.
Please read my blog for my personal opinion about the Valcarlos Route.
Honestly, if any of you have concerns about your physical fitness, well-being, etc, start at Roncesvalles. Valcarlos route is very wet, mucky, muddy, ick, & the Route Napoleon isn´t much better (from reports I´ve gotten from those who did it). They also reported rain, snow, thunder, lightning, AND hail (all yesterday), so please think very hard about which route you take. If you haven´t booked Orisson or Honto yet, do so now. If you can´t get in at either place, & know you can´t make it in one day, go to Valcarlos. Casa Marcelino is nice, plain but clean rooms, 35 euro-night & daily menu 10.50 euro.
For some reason, there are very many people on the Camino right now. Roncessvalles was booked solid last night & there were only 2 free bunks at the refugio!!!!! Because of the cold, rain, & mud, the refugio was opened early by the Dutch hospitaleros there (four more weeks, I think that´s what they said), very organized. NO BLANKETS AT RONCESVALLES. Also, TAKE WALKING/HIKING POLES. They are very much neede especially right now with the wet, muddy, muck.
Until the muck dries up, stick to the road between Espinal & Viskarret. I almost bought it on the Camino. After Viskarret, the road got better, so I heard since I walked the asphalt (several others did the same, but it was a loooong way to Zubiri).
dg
Please read my blog for my personal opinion about the Valcarlos Route.
Honestly, if any of you have concerns about your physical fitness, well-being, etc, start at Roncesvalles. Valcarlos route is very wet, mucky, muddy, ick, & the Route Napoleon isn´t much better (from reports I´ve gotten from those who did it). They also reported rain, snow, thunder, lightning, AND hail (all yesterday), so please think very hard about which route you take. If you haven´t booked Orisson or Honto yet, do so now. If you can´t get in at either place, & know you can´t make it in one day, go to Valcarlos. Casa Marcelino is nice, plain but clean rooms, 35 euro-night & daily menu 10.50 euro.
For some reason, there are very many people on the Camino right now. Roncessvalles was booked solid last night & there were only 2 free bunks at the refugio!!!!! Because of the cold, rain, & mud, the refugio was opened early by the Dutch hospitaleros there (four more weeks, I think that´s what they said), very organized. NO BLANKETS AT RONCESVALLES. Also, TAKE WALKING/HIKING POLES. They are very much neede especially right now with the wet, muddy, muck.
Until the muck dries up, stick to the road between Espinal & Viskarret. I almost bought it on the Camino. After Viskarret, the road got better, so I heard since I walked the asphalt (several others did the same, but it was a loooong way to Zubiri).
dg