Grayland leaves from St. Jean Jan 13

[grayland]

I plan to travel to St. Jean on January 13 from Paris.
I am planning to go by train thru Barritz if it is running.
Will start walking on January 14.

 

[wayfarer]

Buen Camino grayland. Will the Napoleon Route closure effect you at this time.

 

[grayland]

It seems the Napoleon will be closed. I have walked both routes in the past.
The mythical aspect of the Napoleon route has little effect on me now. It is kind of sad that so much of the discussion makes the Napoleon sound much more difficult than it really is. Hard but doable for most people.

They are both difficult but the Napoleon is really not much harder...except that it has no stopping points except for Orrison so no bars for coffee.

The Valcarlos route follows the road for most of the way so is kept open. There is one area that cuts thru the woods with some elevation climbs up and down.
I would avoid that in snow and stay on the road.

A winter Camino sounded like a nice challenge.

 

[peregrina2000]

Lucky you, grayland. Another forum member able to walk a winter camino. Is this the camino with a potential Invierno ending? Laurie

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I plan to travel to St. Jean on January 13 from Paris.
I am planning to go by train thru Barritz if it is running.
Will start walking on January 14.

I wish you well Grayland on your Winter Camino. Buen Camino to you , Peter.

 

[Kialoa3]

You will have a wonderful journey. Safe travels and buen Camino.

John

 

[alexwalker]

Buen Camino, amigo!

 

[Arminius]

Grayland, wish you a Buen Camino.

 

[Tincatinker]

Buen Camino Grayland. I love Valcarlos. Its a great little Albergue and the bar/meson, the name escapes me, that is nearby - a right turn out of the Albergue - has always been welcoming.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Buen Camino!

 

[NualaOC]

Buen Camino @grayland!

 

[Magwood]

Buen camino @grayland - I look forward to hearing about your camino

 

[Mike Savage]

I wish you well Grayland and Buen Camino!

I have driven though Valcarlos and it is a very picturesque town (as you know.) I would love to go though Valcarlos if I should return.

 

[grayland]

Lucky you, grayland. Another forum member able to walk a winter camino. Is this the camino with a potential Invierno ending? Laurie

Yes...but after taking a hasty look at your great new Invierno guide..I am concerned about the condition of the route in January-February.
A bit more investgation before a decision is made.

 

[Kanga]

Woo-woo! I wish I could join you. Have fun.

 

[Forrestt]

@grayland I'm setting off on my first Camino on the 9th Jan fro St Jean so I'll be just ahead of you, depending on how I cope you might very well see me ha

Well, I hope you go for it, and have a good walk!

 

[KinkyOne]

Yes...but after taking a hasty look at your great new Invierno guide..I am concerned about the condition of the route in January-February.
A bit more investgation before a decision is made.

You can just wait till you reach Ponferrada (for Invierno that is) and then decide. But you already know that
I've walked Valcarlos route in 2009 due to twisted ankle and it was ALL on the road. Huh, tough in my opinion because it climbs in looooong curves but eventually me and my mother got to Ibaneta Pass all in fog. Special memory no doubt. Wish you well, Camigo!!!

 

[VNwalking]

A winter Camino sounded like a nice challenge.

Wonderful, Grayland...buen camino! And welcome back to the Frances, by the way...No doubt it'll be a different experience in the winter.
I'll be curious to know how you go in the Invierno...if you go that way...

 

[grayland]

If I recall the Valcarlos route ...there are two pretty long areas off from the road. One tha parallels the road right after SJPP and into Arneguy.
The other about mile marker 58 (or close).
I do know I don't want to walk the long winding uphill on the road after Valcarlos.
I probably am not remembering it well as my last time on the Valcarlos route was 2010.
I also remenber the good bar in Valcarlos but never stayed there.
Thanks to all for the good vibes.
Actually looking forward to the quiet...and the weather challenges..if any.

 

[LauraK]

Welcome to the winter club! I walked the CF in winter and really enjoyed it. I hope you have a wonderful walk. Buen Camino!

 

[VNwalking]

I don't remember the mile marker (mspath will probably know quite precisely) but yes, this is my memory also--and the shortcut was very easy to find.
It could be pretty snowy up there, depending on weather--but the path is gorgeous and so much shorter and more pleasant than the road would be. In early March, on the flat section before the Ibaneta pass, the snow was knee-deep in places.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-snow-update.31904/

 

[wayfarer]

There are two places after Valcarlos where the path leaves the road and plunges down to a stream at the bottom of a ravine, of cource you have to climb back up. these paths are to cut out long bends or loops in the road. If I were doing it again I would stay on the road, it would be a little longer but a lot easier.
The path before Valcarlos is through farmland and is very beautiful but I don't know what this would be like in heavy snow.

 

[mspath]

In snow leaving Valcarlos during past caminos I have always stayed on the road up to Ibaneta and Roncesvalles. Walking the path in a snowy wood would have been far too dangerous.

 

[norelle]

Buen camino, Grayland!!

It was nice to meet you on the Primitivo and in Santiago this year. Enjoy the cool and the quiet!

 

[grayland]

Buen camino, Grayland!!

It was nice to meet you on the Primitivo and in Santiago this year. Enjoy the cool and the quiet!

Hi Norelle,
It will be a marked difference in weather than our Primitivo walk in July.
I did go to Porto after the Primitivo and walked the Coastal Route. Very, very few other pilgrims but well marked and great albergues. Did not switch over to the interior until after Vigo where it became more busy.

I have walked the CF several times in the past but before the hordes that are now seen.
I did want to walk it once again and decided that I should have a bit of personal space in January.
I hope we will meet along the way again one day.
Ed

 

[movinmaggie]

I wish you a heartfelt Buen Camino Grayland; hope you will keep your forum friends posted……yes, it should be blissfully quiet. Lucky you!

 

[LookingFor42]

As I think you mentioned earlier, we might meet each other on the Way. I begin in Burgos on 25 January. I am staying at Happy Hostal Carrales the night before my departure. You'll know me because if there is even the tiniest patch of snow I'll be taking photos of it and playing in it. This is normal behaviour for Queenslanders (people from the Australian state of Queensland) because many of us never see snow in our lives (I am fortunate to have seen it 5-6 times in my 36 years). LOL.

Buen Camino!

 

[OzAnnie]

Countdown on now Grayland.
I'm sure you'll be a Camino Angel along the way.
Going in another season will be quite the experience .
Buen Camino.