Estella to Leon

[Edward1]

Hi All,
Next week Iam back walking from Estella to Leon anything I should know of importance along this route or things to avoid.(Roads out, Signs pointing the wrong way) AH dont worry im going anyway Im easy going so nothing minor should faze me. I read somewhere on this forum "The tourist expects and the Pilgrim accepts" I think im in the second category Ive no expectations whatever will be will be ive learnt this from my previous visit to the camino, when I met loads of interesting people from all over the world.Cant wait Buen Camino

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Edward!

Yes, just go with the flow. I've a couple of suggestions about options for different routes.

From Estella, just after the fountain of wine, you have a choice of going either via Luquin or Monjardin. I really can't remember which I took last year, but this year I took the Luquin route and it was lovely. I don't think there's an albergue there (there is a cafe) so you'd have to go on to Los Arcos, but that's a fairly short stage anyway.

Seek out the alternative route into Burgos rather than walk along the road. Although not particularly exciting, the route that takes you south of the airport is still much better than walking along the main road. Where the routes split it's not particularly well marked (we ended up having to walk acoss a field) so keep your eyes open!

After Sahagun take the route via Calzadilla de los Hermanillos rather than El Burgo Ranero. It's much nicer but make sure you take plenty of water at this time of year.

Buen Camino!

 

[wayfarer]

"The tourist expects and the Pilgrim accepts"
Personaly I would not except this consept at all. This was ok in the dim distant past when pilgrims depended on the charity of others along the way, but nowadays the modern pilgrim pays for his/her camino, from the flights from home to the albergues, hostals, meals etc and should expect to be treated with respect and give respect in return. Excepting what you get even if it is bad is just daft.
Enjoy your Camino, you will have a ball.

 

[scruffy1]

Hi Edward

Nice and cool now in Leon but will be 30 degrees by mid-week, 30 degrees Celsius-no fun and no joke as dehydration and sunstroke become very real prospects to confront. Bring a good hat, not the baseball cap frill that our American cousins prefer but something with a proper brim plus an extra water bottle. Tyrrek is right, just past the wine fountain the Camino splits, the right fork goes back out to the highway and on to Monjardin where you can enjoy a cold beer under the plastic awning seated in a plastic chair or you may continue straight bearing left through hills covered with lavender and drink your wine sitting under a tree. The way is well marked but nothing there so make sure that extra water bottle is full. The American albergue in Najera is always packed and due to the great numbers of pilgrims and the structure itself, it becomes very very hot and sweaty at night. Do consider an alternative. There is a tourist info just over the bridge, in the library if I remember, info for accommodation and free internet. Boadilla is a iny village just before Fromista-one of the very nicest albergues- En El Camino- on the entire Camino, family run three generations there to help pilgrims. Loving home cooked dinner in their dining room and a grassy courtyard. Fromista possesses one of the most amazing Romanesque churches along the way, walk around the building twice and go in to look for the sculpture on the arches and the pillar capitals. Even if you arrive early, wait and go see it. One last word, check the weather before leaving Sahagun!! The Camino forks again, the southern arm through El Burgo Ranero is a bummer but passes through civilization while the northern arm is desolated! You will need to bring your own food and water for at least a day and a half. Do consider well if the temperatures remain in the 30’s. Headache? Dizzy? Weak? Not signs of oncoming migraine but that you are not drinking enough. The trick is to drink and drink some more drink until you pee,

 

[Edward1]

Tks for the info much appreciated.