LIVE from the Camino Live from the Norte/Frances

DuaneS · May 12, 2021

I hiked from Irún to San Sebastián today via the high route. I met/saw 3-4 pilgrims on the route, which was encouraging. I had great weather up until around 1pm, and then rain and storms for the last few hours.

The weather forecast up here is pretty dismal for the next ten days, so I may head down to the Frances for a week and walk a bit around Pamplona. But I’ll head back up north when the weather improves.

Here are some shots from today

ivar · May 12, 2021

Buen camino!

psheehan · May 12, 2021

Thanks for the great update, lovely photos... I miss the Norte!

naplesdon · May 12, 2021

I had that kind of weather a few years back and finally took the train from Santander to Fromista and walked the Canal de Castille and then joined up with the Camino Madrid.

lt56ny · May 13, 2021

Sounds like a great day. If the rain isn’t horizontal it is no problem!!!

Sydney Peregrinos · May 13, 2021

Your photos bring back great memories. Thank you

Caminogoat · May 13, 2021

DuaneS said:
I hiked from Irún to San Sebastián today via the high route. I met/saw 3-4 pilgrims on the route, which was encouraging. I had great weather up until around 1pm, and then rain and storms for the last few hours.

The weather forecast up here is pretty dismal for the next ten days, so I may head down to the Frances for a week and walk a bit around Pamplona. But I’ll head back up north when the weather improves.

Here are some shots from today

I am green with envy. Did you fly from U.S.?? If you can please do stay at Hotel Arbe, beautifully situated with a wonderful owners, and offers the most wonderful breakfast: Laranga Auzoa, 20830 Mutriku Spain.
Also a small Hostel El Arcu at Playa de Vega, a little but impeccable B&B with a very nice owner lady, who made a wonderful breakfast early in the morning just for me. Also I highly recommend Hostal Restaurante Parajes at Playa De Penarronda, 33794 Castropol, Asturias, Spain +34 985 979 05. I stayed here for 2 nights just so I could eat more of their great foods, especially the fish soup, and I visited Cathedral Beach ( I think it's a must-visit place). I sent a Christmas card to the restaurant, and the owners (Marta and Bruno) sent me the fish soup recipe!

SabsP · May 13, 2021

Kaleena said:
I asked politely the OP (but also anyone who is on the Camino del Norte) if he/she knows if the albergue in Irun is open for pilgrims because throughout the winter it has been used as a refugee shelter for Africans who wait in Irun for further journey to France. I posted a link proving that because someone could think it's a joke. Unfortunately it isn't, and possibly there is no other albergue in Irun at this moment. But apparently one of the moderators deleted my post (reason "Please stop posting irrelevant links"). I am still hoping I will get the answer to my question because it is crucial to all pilgrims planning to start the Camino del Norte, and Irun is as important for Camino del Norte as SJPdP for the Camino Frances.

In return I can offer some Xanax to moderators who have serious issues with cabin fever (we all do)

See points 5 , 6 and 7.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/forum-rules.20973/

Please take it up in a private message with the moderators.

@DuaneS : Buen camino!

Tincatinker · May 13, 2021

Kaleena said:
I asked politely the OP (but also anyone who is on the Camino del Norte) if he/she knows if the albergue in Irun is open for pilgrims because throughout the winter it has been used as a refugee shelter for Africans who wait in Irun for further journey to France. I posted a link proving that because someone could think it's a joke. Unfortunately it isn't, and possibly there is no other albergue in Irun at this moment. But apparently one of the moderators deleted my post (reason "Please stop posting irrelevant links"). I am still hoping I will get the answer to my question because it is crucial to all pilgrims planning to start the Camino del Norte, and Irun is as important for Camino del Norte as SJPdP for the Camino Frances.

In return I can offer some Xanax to moderators who have serious issues with cabin fever (we all do)

A simple search would have answered your question: https://irunsantiago.com/albergue/

The deployment of Albergue space to other uses during periods of closure is a matter for local government and the associations and the nationality or race of anyone provided shelter is irrelevant to the purposes of this forum.

Please read the rules of this forum and strive to comply.

Holly Mitchem · May 13, 2021

One of my favorite Camino days! Lovely photos, thanks for sharing. Buen Camino!

Camino Chrissy · May 13, 2021

DuaneS said:
I hiked from Irún to San Sebastián today via the high route. I met/saw 3-4 pilgrims on the route, which was encouraging. I had great weather up until around 1pm, and then rain and storms for the last few hours.

The weather forecast up here is pretty dismal for the next ten days, so I may head down to the Frances for a week and walk a bit around Pamplona. But I’ll head back up north when the weather improves.

Here are some shots from today

Gorgeous photos! I missed those lovely photo opportunities because I started in San Sabastian as it was easy to get there from the Madrid airport on the train. We spent an extra day there and it was really special.

DuaneS · May 14, 2021

It’s raining pretty hard for a while up north (so the forecast says), so I came down to Pamplona for some pinxos. Tomorrow I’ll walk some of the Frances until the weather gets better up north. I walked into an albergue here though and met two pilgrims that just started - that was nice to see. Both were from EU countries.

People keep private messaging me asking how I was able to get to Spain - I actually live in Valencia so once the internal perimeter closures were opened on May 9 I was able to take the train up. I believe Spain is still closed unfortunately to most non EU countries.

Frank1963 · May 15, 2021

biarritzdon said:
I had that kind of weather a few years back and finally took the train from Santander to Fromista and walked the Canal de Castille and then joined up with the Camino Madrid.

Hello,

where did you stay in Irun ?

naplesdon · May 15, 2021

I did not stay there because I was coming from Biarritz that morning. I took an early train to Hendaye and started walking.

DuaneS · May 15, 2021

To escape the rain I came down to Pamplona to walk some of the Frances for a few days. Nice to actually meet some pilgrims on the trail again. Made it to Puente La Reina today and saw 4-5 pilgrims walking. Stopped for a coffee right before Alto De Perdón and the lady there said we were the first pilgrims in ages.

psheehan · May 15, 2021

DuaneS said:
To escape the rain I came down to Pamplona to walk some of the Frances for a few days. Nice to actually meet some pilgrims on the trail again. Made it to Puente La Reina today and saw 4-5 pilgrims walking. Stopped for a coffee right before Alto De Perdón and the lady there said we were the first pilgrims in ages.

Wow... it looks beautiful... amazing greens.

Mudcrone · May 15, 2021

DuaneS said:
I hiked from Irún to San Sebastián today via the high route. I met/saw 3-4 pilgrims on the route, which was encouraging. I had great weather up until around 1pm, and then rain and storms for the last few hours.

The weather forecast up here is pretty dismal for the next ten days, so I may head down to the Frances for a week and walk a bit around Pamplona. But I’ll head back up north when the weather improves.

Here are some shots from today

I just love this, you walked a bit on the Norte and then popped down to Pamplona for some pinxos! I am a very bright shade of green with jealousy. lol Buen Camino

DuaneS · May 15, 2021

Mudcrone said:
I just love this, you walked a bit on the Norte and then popped down to Pamplona for some pinxos! I am a very bright shade of green with jealousy. lol Buen Camino

Thanks! That's one of the nice parts about actually living in Spain - I can just slowly tackle the caminos I want over time. I literally have three credencials going right now with stamps: The norte, the frances, and the levante. And if I get tired of walking, I can just head back to my place in Valencia and enjoy some of the spring there! I feel pretty lucky to be in this position with what is still going on in the world. But after an incredibly hard year of lockdowns in Spain, it's nice to get out again and walk.

Richard Smith · May 16, 2021

Wow - love your pics! Thanks for posting.

VNwalking · May 16, 2021

Really gorgeous photos, Duane, wherever you took them! (Believe me, none of us are picky at this point. Norte, Frances...hey...whatever!)
Thank you for sharing them.

DuaneS · May 16, 2021

Today - Puente de Reina to Estella. A bit of drizzle, but mostly nice walking. Hard to gauge because it’s Sunday, but most cafes along the route were closed. Much different experience than when I walked in 2017, but of course that’s expected. But saw 4-5 pilgrims today, and lots of people on bicycles. Off to Los Arcos tomorrow, will chime in then!

ivar · May 16, 2021

DuaneS said:
Today - Puente de Reina to Estella. A bit of drizzle, but mostly nice walking. Hard to gauge because it’s Sunday, but most cafes along the route were closed. Much different experience than when I walked in 2017, but of course that’s expected. But saw 4-5 pilgrims today, and lots of people on bicycles. Off to Los Arcos tomorrow, will chime in then!

Thanks for the updates!

hielienie · May 17, 2021

Buen Camino Duane - may you find peaceful paths and deep connection.

DuaneS · May 17, 2021

So today was Los Arcos. Pretty great day of walking. And actually met enough people to form a real group for some pilgrim drinks later. We stopped at a bar in Villamayor earlier in the day and the owner was shocked there was a group of pilgrims. He had no food, since he hadn’t had much business in ages. But we had some beers and coffees. I also met a guy pruning his vines today as well who asked me if the albergues were open again since he was shocked he saw pilgrims slowly trickling by.

So in short, life is slowly coming back to the Camino.

Huub den Boer · May 17, 2021

Thanks for keeping us posted mate!

Mar W · May 18, 2021

DuaneS said:
So today was Los Arcos. Pretty great day of walking. And actually met enough people to form a real group for some pilgrim drinks later. We stopped at a bar in Villamayor earlier in the day and the owner was shocked there was a group of pilgrims. He had no food, since he hadn’t had much business in ages. But we had some beers and coffees. I also met a guy pruning his vines today as well who asked me if the albergues were open again since he was shocked he saw pilgrims slowly trickling by.

So in short, life is slowly coming back to the Camino.

Great photos and so good to read your last line - Life is coming back to the Camino !

DuaneS · May 18, 2021

My feet were a tad sore today, so I purposefully slept in and then walked to Viana. As such I saw a different group of pilgrims today, maybe 10 or so along the trail. When I got to viana I had lunch and probably saw another 8-10 trickle by on their way to Logroño or to lunch as well.

I am amazed at how green everything is compared to when I walked in April of 2017. We had a ton of rain in April down in Valencia, so maybe they had the same up here. Buts it’s been some beautiful walking.

I am going to take a rest day here in Viana tomorrow and then leisurely make my way to Najera. From there I’ll likely go back to apartment in Valencia for a few weeks and regroup. After I may go back to the Del Norte or pick up a few more stages of the Frances.

But I’ll post a few more photos in the next few days.

David with new Kit! · May 20, 2021

I loved lunch in Viana too, I just wished I had stopped of there instead of thinking Logrono would be better. The narrow streets in Viana were buzzing with people in 2019.

Silvermomma · Tuesday at 7:32 PM

I use Alltrails a lot here in the US, in Iceland, on the Via Podiensis and a bit on the CF. Will it be useful on the Norte? For example, people here say the "warm up" from Biarritz to Irun (or...

Umwandert · Monday at 11:35 AM

Last May I walked the first part of the Norte in the opposite direction, from Santander to Irun. Since I only had two weeks and couldn't reach Santiago anyway, I wanted to swim against the tide...

MilenaS · Tuesday at 5:47 PM

Tomorrow I fly to Bilbao to start my 5th stint on the Camino. I did the Frances in three parts (2016, 2017 and 2022). Last year I did the Portuguese from Porto. I did the first 200 km of the...

ChrisMayou · Friday at 5:08 PM

Are supermercados or other grocery stores open on Sundays on del Norte? Are restaurants open? Specifically, I will likely find myself in these towns on Sundays: Castro-Urdiales, Comillas...

Silvermomma · Tuesday at 9:28 PM

I thought I had this all figured out, but I have ended up with 2 train tickets from San Sebastian (I don't even know if it's the airport or the town) to Irun, instead of ONE that goes all the way...

mb4869 · Thursday at 5:33 PM

I’m on day 2 of the CDN and I’m just blown away by the views. Day 1 Irun to San Sebastián, day 2 San Sebastián to Askizu Buen Camino

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