October 2012 Camino

[georgia jugs]

My wife, Patti, and I walked from Astorga to Santiago in June, 2010. What a great experience. The people we met were wonderful. I often think that our world leaders should be forced to make the walk. Maybe then they would learn to get along!
After our walk we went to Lourdes, Normandy, St Theresa's birthplace (I can't spell it), and Paris. It was a summer of pilgrimages. Next year we are going to walk the entire way from SJPP, but have been thinking about starting in Lourdes. Does anyone know the distance/time from Lourdes to SJPP?
This a wonderful forum. Every time I read it I want to book a flight and start walking.
Thank you,
John

 

[sillydoll]

Hello John and Patti,
It is great to start in Lourdes. It will be a good warm-up before you have to cross the Pyrenees into Spain. These are recommended stages for the ± 143km from Lourdes to St Jean:

Lourdes Asson 24,0
Asson Arudy 18,4
Arudy Oloron-Sainte-Marie 23,2
Oloron-Sainte-Marie L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise 18,6
L'Hôpital-Saint-Blaise Mauléon-Licharre 15,6
Mauléon-Licharre Saint-Just-Ibarre 21,0
Saint-Just-Ibarre Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port 20,5

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Lourdes to Oloron and Oloron to St. Jean (not in sequence):

http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/spi ... ubrique129

 

[georgia jugs]

We have decided that October is much to long a wait to begin our walk, so we are going to start in May and start in SJPP. It will be more crowded at that time but seeing spring in Spain will be worth it. I know that this year there was bus service from Pamplona to SJPP. Does anyone know if the buses will be running (buses not bulls) that route in May? If not what is a good way to get from Pamplona to SJPP? We are going to fly Atlanta to Madrid and take a bus from there to Pamplona.
The good thing about planning for the Camino is that it makes Christmas shopping so much easier!
John

 

[Deleted member 3000]

ALSA has not announced the Pamplona-St. Jean bus yet, but it is likely. Last year it began in April, I believe, so that may occur in 2012. Watch the ALSA site for the news release.

 

[Alpes]

My wife, Patti, and I walked from Astorga to Santiago in June, 2010. What a great experience.,
John

HY--

2 questions. How u go to Astorga and where u sleep in Astorga.

i´m going start in Asgtorga to.

tks

 

[georgia jugs]

We took an ALSA bus from Madrid to Astorga and stayed at the San Javier Albergue. The albergue was very nice. It had a foot soaking fount that we didn't need yet and we never saw another one on the walk! Astorga was an interesting town with a beautiful cathedral and bishop's house. Never made it to the chocolate museum, but will this next trip.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There are four weekday buses daily from the Madrid airport to Astorga, three on Saturday, and one on Sunday (a very late bus). The Astorga bus station is across the street from the cathedral, so very convenient to hotels or San Javier.

 

[georgia jugs]

I have been reading a book about the Camino and the author mentioned the treacherous entry into Leon. It is also mentioned in Brierly's guidebook. Both mentions are a few years old and I am wondering if the intersection has been improved. Any recent ventures across this intersection? Of course if you are replying you made it!

 

[dazzamac]

John Brierley's warnings concerning crossing the dual carriageway before Leon no longer apply. There are two pedestrian bridges and judging by the amount of weathering on each, they have been there several years. Peregrinos still have to walk alongside busy roads for much of the way but there is no need to risk one's life racing across the road to the central reservation and then on to the other side.

Having read John's guidebook, I was gearing myself up for an arduous but life-affirming crossing and found myself simultaneously delighted and disappointed not to have to undergo what must have been a harrowing experience in years past.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

...but there is no need to risk one's life racing across the road to the central reservation and then on to the other side. ...undergo what must have been a harrowing experience in years past.

Believe me, it was a truly harrowing experience, and I am relieved for all those who now walk that they no longer need to do it. Once was enough.
Margaret

 

[tyrrek]

Yes, Leon is fine to walk into now. There's still a stretch walking alongside the motorway for a couple of kms, but it's perfectly safe with footbridges etc.

I was really impressed by the reception in Leon this May, with a table set up to provide tourist information and maps to pilgrims as we entered the city. For a city of its size it seemed to have a really nice sense of civic pride and wellbeing about it. Great restaurants and families walking hand in hand as they went out to eat on a Sunday evening. All the things that are good about Spain.

No doubt someone will have a horror story about being mugged or similar, though! :shock:

Buen Camino!

 

[georgia jugs]

Thank you for your answers about Leon. I wasn't looking forward to that passage. I hear that the cathedral in Leon is beautiful, both inside and out. We should be flying out of Atlanta 4 months from today. Happy New Year and Buen Camino!

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Georgia, Leon is a beautiful city. One day I intend to return there as a 'tourist' and explore it more. I really loved 'San Isadora', which had many treasures including the library full of books laboriously transcribed by medieval monks.
Margaret

 

[tyrrek]

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Thank you for your answers about Leon. I wasn't looking forward to that passage. I hear that the cathedral in Leon is beautiful, both inside and out. We should be flying out of Atlanta 4 months from today. Happy New Year and Buen Camino!

Hi Georgia. Leon is somewhere to look forward to rather than worry about in my experience. Happy New Year to you too! Buen 2012 Camino!

Keith