- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances, (2016); Norte, (2018); Primitivo, (2019);
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What about one mountain-loving (female) geezer over 70 and flexible to try easier routes when the weather requires? I have been longing to walk the Olvidado for years, and I am not getting any younger.two geezers over 70 should not try this route except on beautiful days with temperatures in the 60’s or below.
Second, two geezers over 70
It would be great if a future peregrino was able to share detailed photos or a video of the descent so that a more informed judgment could be made.
I’m only four days into this, and your question deserves a thoughtful response. We can have a detailed discussion at some point if you want to explore this.What about one mountain-loving (female) geezer over 70 and flexible to try easier routes when the weather requires? I have been longing to walk the Olvidado for years, and I am not getting any younger.
Yes please. @Albertagirl is not the only one.We can have a detailed discussion at some point if you want to explore this.
I am not so spooked by heights, but this section does give me pause. When people like Alan post things like this, you know it's not just a run of the mill steep rocky descent:I think most of us who do that descent are too nervous watching each step to even think of taking pictures. I posted a video a few years back of someone else who walked it. It did not capture the really hairy parts, but shows some of the early part of the descent where you start picking over the rocks inch by inch.
That said, I would hope to be able to go this way. Weather permitting, from the sound of it.The only bit of the Olvidado where I felt seriously scared (and definitely had to use my hands) was the descent from Villar del Puerto to the Faedo de Ciñera after Vegacervera. Something like a cliff, and very slippery as it was pouring with rain when I went down there. Even that wasn't what I'd consider mountaineering, and is probably fine on a dry day. And very pretty once you get onto a flat bit and can enjoy it
Alan's downward scramble sounds like the most challenging of some slopes that I managed in the Rockies in my younger days, and never in the rain. I would, and will, be looking for a safer alternate route if I am able to walk the Olvidado at some point in the future. And I wonder how that part of the route could ever have been managed by the significant number of pilgrims to Santiago who are thought to have walked the Olvidado in the early days of the pilgrimage.I am not so spooked by heights, but this section does give me pause. When people like Alan post things like this, you know it's not just a run of the mill steep rocky descent:
That said, I would hope to be able to go this way. Weather permitting, from the sound of it.
Laurie: Not sure if you got this message but you certainly have my permission to post the picture with Ender
Fred
Made my afternoon.Estela was very emotional when we talked and thanks you two as well for your very generous donativo. She knows there was a language barrier, but said she was sure you all understood each other.
I am hoping that your reference means that the Restaurante Casa Maxi is still open. When I was there in 2019, it was jammed full, and I got a menú del día at the very end of their shift. An elderly couple (though she doesn’t look her 85-plus years) and, I believe, the sister of the wife, were doing it all. You walk through the kitchen to get to your table, so you were fully aware of where you food came from.and set up dinner down the road.
Wow. I'd have left them a huge donativo, just cuz. How heartwarming and wonderful.Yes, it’s Maxi’s; and we had a wonderful dinner. Fred got her to serve us at 6:00 because we’re old and tired. We even had our own private room across from the regular dining room. They couldn’t have been nicer, and the food was outstanding—all for 11 Euros each!
I had a WhatsApp with Rosi today. She’s waiting for you! I was so sorry to hear that her restaurant has closed. Hope you won’t go hungry, because I don’t think there’s much in the way of food in those parts. Beautiful little town, Fasgar is. I think their year round population is about 6! Rosi told me the first year after she went back to restart her life out of the rat race, she stopped counting the consecutive days with snow after she hit three digits!Yes, it’s Maxi’s; and we had a wonderful dinner. Fred got her to serve us at 6:00 because we’re old and tired. We even had our own private room across from the regular dining room. They couldn’t have been nicer, and the food was outstanding—all for 11 Euros each!
Commerce is picking up on the Olvidado! The first time I walked through this lovely little village was on a weekday and even though it was summertime, everything was closed up tight. Last time, I went through on a Saturday and had a nice long rest in the Aguzo. They were busy with weekenders, but made a point of giving me some tapas and checking to see if I wanted more.I arrived around 11:30 in Colinas del Campo, and El Aguzo Cafe Bar was just opening.
These places are so breathtakingly beautiful! Love all your pictures! What a spunky little cat. Go Geezers Go!Stage 17–Vegarienza to Fasgar. If you start here, it’s a relatively short and enjoyable stage. If you’re leaving out of Riello or Pandorado, it still makes for a very nice, less exhaustive day than the preceding few. It’s gradually uphill the whole way, some road walking, but lots of off-road meadows and tracks beside streams. Bring all your food, because there’s no service in any of the towns or in Fasgar. The Albergue, run by Rosi, is very nice and has all the kitchen you need to cook up your meal.
(For those looking for more info being posted by peregrinos currently on the Camino Olvidado, Chris Williams is a couple days ahead of us and is posting on the Camino Olvidado Facebook Group, @QuailHiker has a Wordpress blog—fredscamino2022.Wordpress.com
and I’ve been posting on Instagram daily—kconthecamino—since leaving Navarette on April 29 and joining up with Fred on May 12. Hope this is ok to mention—if not let me know and I’ll take it out.)
Yes, we’re in the albergue across the street from Restaurante La Playa. Ignacio has been very welcoming and helpful!Commerce is picking up on the Olvidado! The first time I walked through this lovely little village was on a weekday and even though it was summertime, everything was closed up tight. Last time, I went through on a Saturday and had a nice long rest in the Aguzo. They were busy with weekenders, but made a point of giving me some tapas and checking to see if I wanted more.
So now it looks like the Aguzo is open regularly on weekdays, that is terrific! This town, by the way, is the town with the longest name of any Spanish town.
Colinas del Campo de Martín Moro Toledano —named after the Moorish commander (called the Moor from Toledo, his hometown). Santiago appeared in the 10th C on the field you passed through to help the king (whose name I forget) to defeat the Moors. Numbers vary wildly about how many casualties were inflicted by Santiago and the king‘s army. This is the gruesome, matamoros side of Santiago, but I think it’s interesting to know why the Olvidado passes through this spot.
Are you in the albergue in Igüeña? My memory is that the owners of the bar across the street (who also own the albergue I think) will serve food at any time hunger strikes!
Have a plan to take in the las Medulas history/geography site early tomorrow when no one is there, and then taxi part way to O Barco tomorrow.
If it is a dry day I would definitely do it. It really is a fantastic route and not especially difficult as long as it is dry.What about one mountain-loving (female) geezer over 70 and flexible to try easier routes when the weather requires?
The mountain alternative out of Bonar provides three of the more difficult days but also some of the most spectacular scenery. It’s arguably the most remarkable three-day stretch of any Camino we’ve experienced
This made me chuckle. Ender uses this app to communicate with his son’s in-laws who are from the US. I remember he was telling me all about how great it was and I couldn’t figure it out because I kept searching on my phone for “saí” (which will be funny to you only if you speak Spanish, because that is how a Spaniard would intuitively pronounce something that looked like “sayhi”).There are some great apps around that translate in near real time like Say Hi.
I know that you two stayed in Vegarienza, and that the option there is referred to as “acogida” rather than an albergue. That means that the facilities are more basic, but could you give us an idea of the current status? Are there showers? beds?After a few twists and turns we made it to the Albergue, met Estela (who’s a sweetheart), and set up dinner down the road.
There were three rooms with beds. Also shower and toilet. Very basic but acceptable.I know that you two stayed in Vegarienza, and that the option there is referred to as “acogida” rather than an albergue. That means that the facilities are more basic, but could you give us an idea of the current status? Are there showers? beds?
I also know that the Vegarienza folks are trying hard to improve the accommodations for future pilgrims, but their only source of funds is the donativos left by pilgrims, along with the generosity of places like American Pilgrims, who gave them a grant this year. So this is undoubtedly still a work in progress.
Lainey: Glad you're considering the Olvidado. Hopefully these posts give you an idea of how we dealt with various "challenges." I'm hopeful of doing the Portugues this fall. Got to plan and hope!Only just found this thread in my planning search on the Forum for as much information as possible on the Olvidado. It has been a sheer joy to read your story and journey and I also thank you for the very useful information you have given. I turned 70 in December and have decided to "do" the Olvidado this Sept, God willing. The Villar descent has been on my mind for more than a few days but I was comforted by something that @peregrina2000 said, that if you change your mind when there, you can always backtrack to the village and walk the road instead to Buiza or in my case Polo de Gordón. I like having a few options!
It read like a wonderful, albeit challenging walk, especially those "3 days" from Boñar!
But then, sometimes later in life, it´s knowing there is a chance to still experience the thrill and discomfort of being out of comfort, that reminds me, I have to give it a go! I don´t want to get older and hear myself say "I wish I had walked the Olvidado"
Thank you again for sharing and Buen Camino for any future Caminos you plan to walk.
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