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And please say hello from Tim Redmond too!If you stay with Ray and Rosa, say hello from Texas Bill
And please say hello from Tim Redmond too!
Sorry @Texas Bill @timr and @jsalt as Laurie said, I am now in Mataelpino enjoying my clara con limón with aceitunas while waiting for the hospitalero to open up the albergue. More later.View attachment 43358
Yesterday it was the bright blue shoes, today it's those pretty pink toes. What fashion statement do you have in store for us tomorrow?
Hi. We are in Segovia, having a rest day. We had planned to stay in La Granja but missed unmarked turn off. We think it was up by the Fuente de La Reina?Caught an early flight so decided to start out today once I got my Camino de Madrid Credencial (their own) and first stamp.
It was breeze getting from Barajas to the Opera, the metro stop which is close to the church (Barajas-Nuevos Ministerios line 8, 7 stops, change to line 6 to Cuatro Caminos 1 stop then change to line 2 Las Rosas to the Opera 7 stops. All in all about 45-60 minutes.
Thanks to @peregrina2000 for the description of a nice walk from the church through Madrid to reach the Plaza de Castilla where the arrows start. It took me an hour and 20 minutes, about 6-7 km. From Plaza de Castilla till the outskirts of the city in Montecarmelo it was another hour. From then on you walk on lovely dirt paths. It was filled with wild flowers. Glad I did it.
Getting into Tres Cantos was not a problem (take the second red pasarela over the highway) but I must have messed up at the train station since I lost the arrows. It took me almost 30 minutes from the bridge to the ayuntamiento so I must have taken a roundabout route although I asked 4 people.
This is a heads-up for anyone wanting to sleep in the town hall: disregard the information in Gronze which says you can't get in till 22.30. This is definitely incorrect. I called from home yesterday and I was told that I could get in around 14.30. Since I only left the church at 12.00 I got in at 17.00. All the employees were gone but a nice security woman showed me around. The pilgrim room is in the basement with only 2 beds but 2 bathrooms. I see a folded up mattress so I guess three could sleep. You must be in by 21.00 as the police then take over. You must also be out by 6 a.m. but there is a churros place around the corner that is open from 5 - 14.00 so no need to leave in the dark or without a café con Leche.
No pilgrims in sight, just cyclers going in the opposite direction.
Will post if other things of interest to share. I will be following the stages I posted in Laurie's old thread with her "leisurely stages"
View attachment 43346View attachment 43343View attachment 43345
I know how much you like to cross paths with these lovely ladies with horns.
After all these years worrying about cattle vs. steers vs. bulls vs. cows, I still don't have it figured out. I don't mind the "lovely ladies" unless they have babies. Many people have told me that it's the same as with mama bears and other animals -- you don't want to threaten their babies. Since I always seem to walk when there are lots of cows giving birth, that does give me pause.
But it's the males that really freak me out. I KNOW that there are no "toros bravos" walking around enclosures through which the camino passes, but I am still likely to find a way around them, or hang out on the side and hope they pass by.
LT (or anyone else), what is your thinking or strategy on this? I know I have posted about it before, but am always interested in learning from those who know what they are talking about, which I definitely don't!
Thank you! We had a superb day in Segovia and off to Las Huertos tomorrow, leaving Segovia mid am... We might meet on the trail, who knows!I definitely don't know what I am talking about in this regard. Even though they have horns (ours don't but that's another story) most cows will get out of your way when passing but the bulls on the Plata I stayed clear of whenever possible. I didn't trust them! Maybe someone else can help you out here.
Mataelpino - Cercedilla - Puerto de Fuenfría 1792m - Lagranja San Ildefonso 35+
Lovely start to Cercedilla where I stopped for coffee. Wild heather all the way.
View attachment 43414
The climb from Cercedilla to the entrance of the park was fine but up to Fuenfria was tiring. About 3/4 up I had a bajón as they day in Spanish and had to stop and eat something. I guess the kiwi at 6:30 and banana at 9:00 was not enough to get me to the top. Lots of loose rocks and the Calzada Romana/Calzada borbónica (Felipe V, XVIII) all the way up. Then I made a mistake and ended up on a steep side path. Was glad to make my way down afterwards!
@gittiharre The turnoff to San Ildefonso on the right was not difficult to find but you need to know beforehand that there will be no sign! I stopped a mountain biker on the way down and he confirmed that there are two ways to get to San Ildefonso. The first is about 7 km from the top and looks like this:
View attachment 43415
The road intersects the trail and is the one and only possibility up to that point. This road runs through the forest until Valsaín (3 km) then dirt path by highway to San Ildefonso, another 3 km.
The mountain biker advised me to take the next intersection which was two hours from the top for me. It is actually the road you cross to follow the Camino to Segovia. Instead you take it to the right. The views of Segovia from high up and the open landscape you would miss by taking the first intetsection.
View attachment 43416
The last 6 km dragged on a bit although the road to Valsaín had no traffic. The first 3 is on asphalt and the rest a combination of asphalt and dirt paths by the road into San Ildefonso.
Albergue de Lis is nice, €10 and I am once again alone. By the time I had a late lunch at 3:30, got into the albergue and showered the Palacio was closed. The extensive gardens were open till 20:00 so I wandered around. Even caught a procession with all the kids who had had communion this year.
View attachment 43417
View attachment 43418
Made a nice video but too large to upload.
Cancelled hostel in Segovia as will be getting in early enough to visit and walk to the next albergue 3 km beyond Segovia.
Ah, I'm so sorry I didn't know you would be in Madrid on Tuesday as I was too. Left for the airport late evening and catch a flight home on Wednesday early morning. We could have a drink or at least a handshakeCaught an early flight so decided to start out today once I got my Camino de Madrid Credencial (their own) and first stamp.
It was breeze getting from Barajas to the Opera, the metro stop which is close to the church (Barajas-Nuevos Ministerios line 8, 7 stops, change to line 6 to Cuatro Caminos 1 stop then change to line 2 Las Rosas to the Opera 7 stops. All in all about 45-60 minutes.
Thanks to @peregrina2000 for the description of a nice walk from the church through Madrid to reach the Plaza de Castilla where the arrows start. It took me an hour and 20 minutes, about 6-7 km. From Plaza de Castilla till the outskirts of the city in Montecarmelo it was another hour. From then on you walk on lovely dirt paths. It was filled with wild flowers. Glad I did it.
Getting into Tres Cantos was not a problem (take the second red pasarela over the highway) but I must have messed up at the train station since I lost the arrows. It took me almost 30 minutes from the bridge to the ayuntamiento so I must have taken a roundabout route although I asked 4 people.
This is a heads-up for anyone wanting to sleep in the town hall: disregard the information in Gronze which says you can't get in till 22.30. This is definitely incorrect. I called from home yesterday and I was told that I could get in around 14.30. Since I only left the church at 12.00 I got in at 17.00. All the employees were gone but a nice security woman showed me around. The pilgrim room is in the basement with only 2 beds but 2 bathrooms. I see a folded up mattress so I guess three could sleep. You must be in by 21.00 as the police then take over. You must also be out by 6 a.m. but there is a churros place around the corner that is open from 5 - 14.00 so no need to leave in the dark or without a café con Leche.
No pilgrims in sight, just cyclers going in the opposite direction.
Will post if other things of interest to share. I will be following the stages I posted in Laurie's old thread with her "leisurely stages"
View attachment 43346View attachment 43343View attachment 43345
Hi, @gittiharreHi. We are in Segovia, having a rest day. We had planned to stay in La Granja but missed unmarked turn off. We think it was up by the Fuente de La Reina?
Cercedilla to Segovia was the hardest day I ever walked. It rained and according to my phone clocked up about 68 000 steps. No place to get food or water en route.View attachment 43390View attachment 43391View attachment 43390View attachment 43391
I actually was lucky this year to find Los Huertos bar/restaurante opened. It wasn't in 2014 and I don't remember any post that mentioned it was everTomorrow we head for Huertos new Albergue.
Just to add to my post (no.20) - I took the first take off to the right as @LTfit described it.I definitely don't know what I am talking about in this regard. Even though they have horns (ours don't but that's another story) most cows will get out of your way when passing but the bulls on the Plata I stayed clear of whenever possible. I didn't trust them! Maybe someone else can help you out here.
Mataelpino - Cercedilla - Puerto de Fuenfría 1792m - Lagranja San Ildefonso 35+
Lovely start to Cercedilla where I stopped for coffee. Wild heather all the way.
View attachment 43414
The climb from Cercedilla to the entrance of the park was fine but up to Fuenfria was tiring. About 3/4 up I had a bajón as they day in Spanish and had to stop and eat something. I guess the kiwi at 6:30 and banana at 9:00 was not enough to get me to the top. Lots of loose rocks and the Calzada Romana/Calzada borbónica (Felipe V, XVIII) all the way up. Then I made a mistake and ended up on a steep side path. Was glad to make my way down afterwards!
@gittiharre The turnoff to San Ildefonso on the right was not difficult to find but you need to know beforehand that there will be no sign! I stopped a mountain biker on the way down and he confirmed that there are two ways to get to San Ildefonso. The first is about 7 km from the top and looks like this:
View attachment 43415
The road intersects the trail and is the one and only possibility up to that point. This road runs through the forest until Valsaín (3 km) then dirt path by highway to San Ildefonso, another 3 km.
The mountain biker advised me to take the next intersection which was two hours from the top for me. It is actually the road you cross to follow the Camino to Segovia. Instead you take it to the right. The views of Segovia from high up and the open landscape you would miss by taking the first intetsection.
View attachment 43416
The last 6 km dragged on a bit although the road to Valsaín had no traffic. The first 3 is on asphalt and the rest a combination of asphalt and dirt paths by the road into San Ildefonso.
Albergue de Lis is nice, €10 and I am once again alone. By the time I had a late lunch at 3:30, got into the albergue and showered the Palacio was closed. The extensive gardens were open till 20:00 so I wandered around. Even caught a procession with all the kids who had had communion this year.
View attachment 43417
View attachment 43418
Made a nice video but too large to upload.
Cancelled hostel in Segovia as will be getting in early enough to visit and walk to the next albergue 3 km beyond Segovia.
Ah, Raul, the hospitalero is such a nice person. He stopped me and my companion on the entrance to the park by the polideportivo where he was chatting with his family. Not just to say that albergue was full but to direct us to Hostal across the street. We went for a drink together and next day he brought his home made chorizo as a gift. It was deliciousThere is a five star albergue with sheets and towels for €18 (down from €20 per hospitalero from the refugio where I am staying) but I went to the €5 alternative in a room off the sports facilities. 4 beds, bathroom, fridge, microwave, blankets and electric heaters that toast up the room in a jiffy. Raúl came to open up and gave me the keys to two entrances. Two Belgians here last night otherwise only 4 others in June.
Ah, Raul, the hospitalero is such a nice person. He stopped me and my companion on the entrance to the park by the polideportivo where he was chatting with his family. Not just to say that albergue was full but to direct us to Hostal across the street. We went for a drink together and next day he brought his home made chorizo as a gift. It was delicious
Madrid (and Invierno) people are so very nice!
Any idea what the sign on the Ayuntamiento is all about? Sounds like some kind of a kerfuffle with the church.
Thanks for all the updates...I start from Madrid on August 27th and love all the tips and stories
LTfit disappearing into the distance at a much faster pace.
The only time I saw LT from the front was when we finally stopped walking for the day.
The only time I saw LT from the front was when we finally stopped walking for the day.
This is an easy discussion to mediate: you both walk fast.Don't believe a word, Laurie walks just as fast!
Great pics, LT. I loved that part of the Madrid.
11 days is a lot. If the weather is ok in other parts of the north, there are a couple obvious choices. One would be the tunnel route from Irun to Santo Domingo. Or, you could walk Aguilar de Campoo to Ponferrada. This is the best part of the Olvidado, IMO, but you could also just start in Bilbao and see how far you get. I know you know how to search around, so I won't give you links. OR, how about heading to Almeria and walking to Granada. That's a week for you. Looks like sun and not too hot, the albergue structure is great, and Verónica will take great care of you if you let her know you are coming. Not that you need being taken care of but the Association is really phenomenal and a bunch of very nice people. I know you walked from Málaga, but there would be some new days there for you. I haven't walked the Lana from Alicante, but lots of people rave about it. It is very high on my list. Castellano-Aragonés from north of Zaragoza is one of my favorites but there is no albergue infrastructure and it passes through Tarazona, which may not be high on your list.
Let us know what you decide, happy ruminating! Abrazos from Laurie
Ahem...June 13 Day 9
Medina de Rioseco - Tamariz - Moral de la Reina - Cuenca de Campos - Villalón de Campos 31 km
Luckily there were cafés open when I left at 6:30 as there was nothing until 25 km further in Cuenca de Campos. Gronze shows cafés in both towns before this but I couldn't find them and streets dead so no possibility to ask.
The Camino began with a beautiful walk along the Canal de Castilla which I learned ran all the way to Santander! The rest of the walk was through campos and more campos which makes sense as this area is known as the Tierra de Campos. Easy walking, in the end along a Vía Verde or reclaimed railroad tracks.
In the municipal albergue in Villalón with a Spanish couple from Madrid and a couple from Málaga who are volunteers. They said that the weather has been horrible and very few pilgrims have passed through. The Amigos group from Galicia are responsible for this albergue as well as that in Corcubión and Herron.
Tomorrow Sahagún. I will need to decide what to do with the 11 days that remain. Suggestions @peregrina2000 @KinkyOne or others? I would like to stay away from mud and rain. Originally planned on walking to León then on to the Salvador or getting myself to Oviedo and walk the Primitivo but have been reading about mud up to the ankles and rain...(have no pants and wear non-gortex trail runners).
Here some pictures of today. Met only 3 cyclers while walking.
View attachment 43579
Canal de Castilla
View attachment 43580
Lonely church tower with store's nest
View attachment 43581
Palomares
View attachment 43582
Plaza Villalón de Campos
Thanks K1 for l answering.Ahem...
North of Spain looks really shitty weather-wise in next days. Actually half of Europe does. Laurie recommended so-called Tunnel Route, which is not, because there are Via de Bayona: Bayonne - Burgos (which I walked in 2016 and could send you my material) and Camino Vasco del Interior: Irun - Sto.Domingo de la Calzada (both overlaping from Irun to the village of Estavillo). Therefore I would recommend one of the southern Caminos for those 11 days. But you're waaay to fast Lee.
Manchego?
De la Cruz?
Teresiano?
Via Augusta?
Via Serrana?
K1
More mouth watering pics, Lee! Wow.
May you have sun no matter where you go.
Toledo-Zamora sounds like a plan. And if you want something different, you could turn off at Avila and head to Salamanca on the Camino Teresianos.
May it be so! The Salvador looks fantastic...so I hope your winged feet keep you out of the mud!The weather (at least here) has improved over the last two days so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your journey.I guess that it's time to close the thread until I return home and add some journal notes .
Congrats @LTfit on another trek completed. Look at those shoes!
Hugs.
I do all my mountain running in Salomon Speedcross - they have a reputation for poor longevity. Where yours have split is exactly where mine (and many other's) also split. From experience, 700-800 km isn't too bad. I also walk in them and found the camino destroyed the tread. But...i find them very comfortable for my delicate feetAnother new pair of Salomon trail runners bite the dust after one Camino. But what I do to shoes is unexplainable!
I do all my mountain running in Salomon Speedcross - they have a reputation for poor longevity. Where yours have split is exactly where mine (and many other's) also split. From experience, 700-800 km isn't too bad. I also walk in them and found the camino destroyed the tread. But...i find them very comfortable for my delicate feet
Hahahahaha...OMG, Lee. That wear was from only one camino?This picture is for @VNwalking
Well. That's easy. You walk fast enough that the shoes begin to melt from the heat of the friction of the little wings flapping. I do hope your feet look better than that.But what I do to shoes is unexplainable!
I was busy and then walking myself so I missed this gem:
Hahahahaha...OMG, Lee. That wear was from only one camino?
Well. That's easy. You walk fast enough that the shoes begin to melt from the heat of the friction of the little wings flapping. I do hope your feet look better than that.
I actually have a new pair, free of charge! I took them back to the store and they ordered me new ones. Said that they would send the shoes back to Salomon. And if it happened again I could come back but that maybe it would then be a sign that I need a sturdier shoe.
Last year I was also given a replacement after destroying another Salomon model. I think that it is time that I contact them directly and offer my services as a shoe tester.
I have Salomon's on almost all of my Caminos (low and mid cut) and I'm very much happy with them but that's really good idea to be a real life shoe tester. If you'll go for it you have my permission that they can contact me anytimeFeet are luckily blister free (hope yours are too).
I actually have a new pair, free of charge! I took them back to the store and they ordered me new ones. Said that they would send the shoes back to Salomon. And if it happened again I could come back but that maybe it would then be a sign that I need a sturdier shoe.
Last year I was also given a replacement after destroying another Salomon model. I think that it is time that I contact them directly and offer my services as a shoe tester.
The turn off to La Granja is not by the Fuente. It is when you come right down out of the forest and you see Segovia ahead in the distance. You walk through wide open fields and eventually cross a newly tarsealed straight road that you cross straight over to continue to Segovia ( 7 km to go).Thanks for the heads-up @gittiharre. Lovely pictures!
In Cercedilla having coffee and luckily forgot to turn off my phone so see your message. I will read up on Gronze's instructions so I don't make the same mistake.
Mataelpino - Cercedilla lovely and the weather gods on my side.
Enjoy your day off in Segovia. Where to next?
Here one picture for @peregrina2000
View attachment 43393
I know how much you like to cross paths with these lovely ladies with horns.
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