First Three Nights - Cold & Wet

monkiguy · May 1, 2017

Three of us walked and arrived at Roncesvalles at 5pm Saturday 29th and there were no beds. We travelled and stayed in a camping site at Urobi (not far from Roncesvalles). Ended up walking from Espinal to Zubiri Sunday 30th (yesterday), arriving at Zubiri at 4pm cold, wet and with no beds. It rained for most of the day.

Poor pilgrims with limited Spanish were lined up outside in Zubiri barely covered and freezing. It was also hard to find helpful locals, and some locals were clearly stressed and shutting their doors leaving us in the rain.

Eventually, we got a cab to Pamplona - now things are settling down.

After these first 3 days I can only say be prepared and book the first new nights ahead - to be safe. If it wasn't for the pilgrims i met along the way i certainly would have been stuck.

Robo · May 1, 2017

There certainly seem to be many reports of "unseasonable" large crowds. I hope things settle down for you.

domigee · May 1, 2017

Sorry to hear that. I hope the rest of the camino is easier for you and all the other pilgrims.

GettingThere · May 1, 2017

monkiguy said:
Three of us walked and arrived at Roncesvalles at 5pm Saturday 29th and there were no beds. We travelled and stayed in a camping site at Urobi (not far from Roncesvalles). Ended up walking from Espinal to Zubiri Sunday 30th (yesterday), arriving at Zubiri at 4pm cold, wet and with no beds. It rained for most of the day.

Poor pilgrims with limited Spanish were lined up outside in Zubiri barely covered and freezing. It was also hard to find helpful locals, and some locals were clearly stressed and shutting their doors leaving us in the rain.

Eventually, we got a cab to Pamplona - now things are settling down.

After these first 3 days I can only say be prepared and book the first new nights ahead - to be safe. If it wasn't for the pilgrims i met along the way i certainly would have been stuck.

Sorry to hear this. Holiday long weekends can be a shock to the system on the Camino - a lot of people starting then and walking for a few days. The reduction in beds at Roncesvalles won't have helped, either. Hope things settle down now and you don't continue to have this difficulty finding a bed. And that the weather improves! Spring weather's so unpredictable, but here's wishing you some of those glorious crisp sunny mornings!

Buen Camino

Kennedy1 · May 2, 2017

I am arriving from Canada hopefully tomorrow if all my flight connections work out to start walking on May 3rd. I originally planned only to book my first night in St Jean. About a month ago I had a strong urge to book serveral more nights which I did. After reading the posts about no beds I feel that the camino is looking out for me even before I arrive. . Safe travels everyone.

Mark Lee · May 2, 2017

Even more reinforcement for me that in future Camino Frances walks, don't start on a weekend and don't end on a weekend and certainly don't do it during a holiday.

whariwharangi · May 2, 2017

Mark Lee said:
Even more reinforcement for me that in future Camino Frances walks, don't start on a weekend and don't end on a weekend and certainly don't do it during a holiday.

Spain has a lot of holidays ...

vlogan · May 2, 2017

If your are going to use albergues, I suggest, try and arrive by 2.00pm.

FamPed · May 2, 2017

Ultreia

Mark Lee · May 2, 2017

whariwharangi said:
Spain has a lot of holidays ...

Yeah it does, but that was meant more in the respect to avoiding the larger cities on the Camino during a holiday. I got to Logrono once on a holiday weekend. Place was pretty crowded and I ended up getting a room at a pensiones.

Saint Mike II · May 2, 2017

Hola @monkiguy, I know exactly what you are reporting on. Its been a bugger of a days, or two/three days. Rain, snow, winds and then no beds. Definitely not fun. Buen Camino for the rest of the walk. Cheers

Cathy K. · May 2, 2017

monkiguy said:
Three of us walked and arrived at Roncesvalles at 5pm Saturday 29th and there were no beds. We travelled and stayed in a camping site at Urobi (not far from Roncesvalles). Ended up walking from Espinal to Zubiri Sunday 30th (yesterday), arriving at Zubiri at 4pm cold, wet and with no beds. It rained for most of the day.

Sorry, to hear bad experience at beginning, hope things gets better by now.
But most places all open for now. We just finished ours on April 13th.
Weather was getting hotter than, forecast are very unpredictable.
I booked all mine thru booking.com not all the places open then.
Use all your resources to get through. From Sarria to next town long
stretch of walking for us, so we asked manager to find place to spend night.
The place he recommended has restraunt, from there no problems.
We also took taxi due to heavy snowfall from Fanfria to Samos.
We made it.
Buen Camino to everyone.
Cathy K.

poogeyejr · May 2, 2017

Cathy K. said:
Sorry, to hear bad experience at beginning, hope things gets better by now.
But most places all open for now. We just finished ours on April 13th.
Weather was getting hotter than, forecast are very unpredictable.
I booked all mine thru booking.com not all the places open then.
Use all your resources to get through. From Sarria to next town long
stretch of walking for us, so we asked manager to find place to spend night.
The place he recommended has restraunt, from there no problems.
We also took taxi due to heavy snowfall from Fanfria to Samos.
We made it.
Buen Camino to everyone.
Cathy K.

So glad you finished successfully. Well done Cathy

poogeyejr · May 2, 2017

monkiguy said:
Three of us walked and arrived at Roncesvalles at 5pm Saturday 29th and there were no beds. We travelled and stayed in a camping site at Urobi (not far from Roncesvalles). Ended up walking from Espinal to Zubiri Sunday 30th (yesterday), arriving at Zubiri at 4pm cold, wet and with no beds. It rained for most of the day.

Poor pilgrims with limited Spanish were lined up outside in Zubiri barely covered and freezing. It was also hard to find helpful locals, and some locals were clearly stressed and shutting their doors leaving us in the rain.

Eventually, we got a cab to Pamplona - now things are settling down.

After these first 3 days I can only say be prepared and book the first new nights ahead - to be safe. If it wasn't for the pilgrims i met along the way i certainly would have been stuck.

Sorry to hear of your stressful days. It was warmer when I was there early February.

Kathy

Carol06 · May 2, 2017

It was bad enough last year to find a bed. Because we are older we decided to play it safe and book ahead. That does give you the security of somewhere to sleep but you lose the spontaneity that was so special on my first Camino. I look back on last year's Camino with a slight sense of disappointment compared with my first one.

poogeyejr · May 4, 2017

Carol06 said:
It was bad enough last year to find a bed. Because we are older we decided to play it safe and book ahead. That does give you the security of somewhere to sleep but you lose the spontaneity that was so special on my first Camino. I look back on last year's Camino with a slight sense of disappointment compared with my first one.

Try the Norte next! Loved it!

Cathy K. · May 6, 2017

poogeyejr said:
So glad you finished successfully. Well done Cathy

Yes, we made in a great way that my wish was granted.
Seeing the famous swinging Botafumeiro/never know how to spell it.
It happened at the last day at noon mass, although it was on Wednesday.
Love it. Plan of go back next year spend the Easter at Barcelona Sagrada
Familia, with Gods willing.
Thanks, for your post. CathyK Kentucky.

Cathy K. · May 6, 2017

Carol06 said:
It was bad enough last year to find a bed. Because we are older we decided to play it safe and book ahead. That does give you the security of somewhere to sleep but you lose the spontaneity that was

Hi! Carol,
We did have same situation like you had. Age of 79/72 , we like to have our own place to spend the night and have a good sleep for following days preparing of walk.
All places weren't open for the season we booked at least 4 nights in advance, it worked very well, but somehow stressful.
Hopefully next year will be different than this.
Stay healthy.
CathyK.

Texas Walker · May 6, 2017

Mark Lee said:
Even more reinforcement for me that in future Camino Frances walks, don't start on a weekend and don't end on a weekend and certainly don't do it during a holiday.

What he said. Also, stop early. Then there is time to find a place. If you wait until 4 pm, and the first place is completo, it's discouraging and gives a person a feeling of panic. If it's 2 pm and the first place is completo, it doesn't feel so desperate. (Magic question if the place is full: Puede darme un recommendation, por favor?)

Tony Bobcat · May 6, 2017

monkiguy said:
Three of us walked and arrived at Roncesvalles at 5pm Saturday 29th and there were no beds. We travelled and stayed in a camping site at Urobi (not far from Roncesvalles). Ended up walking from Espinal to Zubiri Sunday 30th (yesterday), arriving at Zubiri at 4pm cold, wet and with no beds. It rained for most of the day.

Poor pilgrims with limited Spanish were lined up outside in Zubiri barely covered and freezing. It was also hard to find helpful locals, and some locals were clearly stressed and shutting their doors leaving us in the rain.

Eventually, we got a cab to Pamplona - now things are settling down.

After these first 3 days I can only say be prepared and book the first new nights ahead - to be safe. If it wasn't for the pilgrims i met along the way i certainly would have been stuck.

Hi Monkiguy, sorry to hear about your accommodation issues, hopefully since then all has improved and you're having a fantastic experience.
I start my walk on Tuesday the 16 of May, the only accommodation booked is at Orrison. I'm hoping to stop as I get tired hopefully get accommodation, if not I'll camp it out. Buen Camino

Walk with Ernie · May 8, 2017

Robo said:
There certainly seem to be many reports of "unseasonable" large crowds. I hope things settle down for you.

I left SJPdP on the 13th April 2017. The crowds were large due to the Semana Santa. I left with many people from Asia. There were large crowds at all Albergues and the larger towns were always close to full. If I was close to an Albergue around noon, and there were openings, I would stay. I also called ahead on a few occasions. I had to use a hotel only once. $140 dollars. I had to leave early for family problems. Looking forward to finishing my Camino in September. Buen Camino.

rappahannock_rev · Jul 30, 2017

ernie pease said:
I left SJPdP on the 13th April 2017. The crowds were large due to the Semana Santa. I left with many people from Asia. There were large crowds at all Albergues and the larger towns were always close to full. If I was close to an Albergue around noon, and there were openings, I would stay. I also called ahead on a few occasions. I had to use a hotel only once. $140 dollars. I had to leave early for family problems. Looking forward to finishing my Camino in September. Buen Camino.

Sorry you had to cut your first trip short, Ernie.

If you can go back in September, by all means do! Better time to walk, anyway, IMHO. Especially if you can sync with the San Mateo in Logrono!

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Kirkie · Tuesday at 11:52 PM

From a friend on the ground in Pamplona https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/fotos/general/sociedad/2024/04/23/nieve-primaveral-presente-navarra-8152386.html

First Three Nights - Cold & Wet

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