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Buen Camino! We walked it from Bonar last year in May.Hola,
Arrived in Bilbao this afternoon and walked around for three hours. I've been to Bilbao numerous times so I didn't feel the need to visit tourist sights. It's 33c which surprised me. Last year when here it was definitely much cooler!
I'm staying at Bilbao Metropolitan Hostel which is close to the Camino. I was here last year. At about €20 it is a very clean (starched sheets!), has a kitchen with free coffee and tea and next door there is a Carrefour supermarkt.
I've already seen a few pilgrims sign in although I assume that they're here to start the Norte or are in the process. I don't expect to see anyone on the Olvidado but one never knows.View attachment 149391
I've got my credencial and first stamp from the Cathedral so I'm all set to start tomorrow!
Typo, only 40 km50k...
Rest well!!
See above. It was a typoBuen camino, Lee! I walked Bilbao to Balmaseda and I’m sure it was nowhere near 50 kms, because even 9 years ago, I couldn’t have done that. So maybe wikiloc isn’t working as well as you think.
My longest day ever was 36k on the Portuguise. Too much for an old man, but I enjoyed it.Typo, only 40 km
Buena Suerte LT. Saludos, Mick.Arrived safely in Balmaseda at about 13.15 after 40 km. 19c when I left Bilbao and 29c arriving in Balmaseda.
The municipal albergue is great with a well equipped kitchen! I'm all alone and now that's it al.ost 17.00 don't expect anyone else to show up. No wifi here so I'll post pictures when I do.
Wikiloc did great. More tomorrow.
Correction 40 km not 50
@peregrina2000 Laurie is it possible to change to Live? Forgot to do so at the start.
Tomorrow a short day to Arija.
Actually 25 km. Not sure what I'll do the whole afternoon there, especially if the bad weather continues. I do have a book...Define ‘short’ … 30k, 35k?
()
I reckon you‘re sporting a pair of invisible roller skates, though they’d not be much use in that terrain …
Seriously, I’ve always admired your ability to cover those long distances
Happy trails, go well!
PS Interesting rock formations …
I didn't notice but it's a bigger town. Google supermercado Espinosa de los Monteros and see if you get hits.Did you notice at all if there was a shop in Espinosa? Hoping to get some supplies for stay in Espinosa and following day?
I was in Espinosa in October and yup, there's a small supermarket. There's also several bakeries. Cute little town!Did you notice at all if there was a shop in Espinosa? Hoping to get some supplies for stay in Espinosa and following day?
Hi LL, Yes there are Supermarkets In Espinosa. In my guide where it says ALL SERVICES in the colour BLUE, indicates besides Accommodation there are Bars and Shops to buy food. Cheers, Mick.Did you notice at all if there was a shop in Espinosa? Hoping to get some supplies for stay in Espinosa and following day?
How thoughtful of you to postLee i always enjoy reading your posts. I'm sure you don't remember, but you were the first peregrina I met, on my first camino, October 2018, both on the same bus to Pamplona, then same bus to SJPP. I'll always remember your friendliness toward a scared first timer. That camino, between ill-fitting boots and a lack of stamina (diagnosed with Parkinson's six months after that walk and now on game-changing meds) was a bust, but the 2 done after that, though only 23 stages each, were successful.
Thank you for being my first introduction to the warmth of the pilgrim community, and best wishes on this latest adventure!
Buen camino!
To let pilgrims know that pants are possibly a better optionLT bushwhacker! Intrepid peregrina. The bleeding shins are impressive!
The route looks beautiful! Glad you were able to eat.
Don’t Ender’s tracks show you the possible alternative that cuts off a lot of the highway but doesn’t take you past the Roman ruins on the top of the hill? I know he’s got that somewhere on his Wikiloc page!Part 1 involved almost exactly 20 km along a provincial highway meandering around the Embalse del Ebro. Asphalt all the way, at times along a red pedestrian pathway but usually along the shoulder
I’m assuming that was not an X-rated stamp!An elderly woman was giving a tour to a couple but was excited to have a pilgrim visit. She even had a special church stamp for me
I am ahead of you and in two days time I will be in Santander. The Norte is pressing all my Camino buttons. There are enough people to have a camino family if you want, without having to fight for bed's, easy walking and spectacular scenery, even the damp weather is adding to the effectsHola,
Arrived in Bilbao this afternoon and walked around for three hours. I've been to Bilbao numerous times so I didn't feel the need to visit tourist sights. It's 33c which surprised me. Last year when here it was definitely much cooler!
I'm staying at Bilbao Metropolitan Hostel which is close to the Camino. I was here last year. At about €20 it is a very clean (starched sheets!), has a kitchen with free coffee and tea and next door there is a Carrefour supermarkt.
I've already seen a few pilgrims sign in although I assume that they're here to start the Norte or are in the process. I don't expect to see anyone on the Olvidado but one never knows.View attachment 149391
I've got my credencial and first stamp from the Cathedral so I'm all set to start tomorrow!
Pretty please?I have lots of pictures of the inside but will spare you
I have no idea Laurie, I just blindly downloaded the Olvidado tracks on his personal (enderjace) page. After Retortillo I did see this post for the GR 99 and thought of @WestKirstyDon’t Ender’s tracks show you the possible alternative that cuts off a lot of the highway but doesn’t take you past the Roman ruins on the top of the hill? I know he’s got that somewhere on his Wikiloc page!
I thought of you often thinking how did you do it!I’m assuming that was not an X-rated stamp!
So glad you have a nice place to stay tonight, enjoying all your posts a lot!
How has it been for you?I am ahead of you and in two days time I will be in Santander. The Norte is pressing all my Camino buttons. There are enough people to have a camino family if you want, without having to fight for bed's, easy walking and spectacular scenery, even the damp weather is adding to the effects
Love it all.
Have another great camino.
I don't know and honestly didn't give it much thought.@LTfit , thanks so for the route commentary and lovely photos. When I was downloading Enders maps for the section to Olea from Airja, 29k or 31k the shorter being more difficult?
It was in 2 places and I just threw off my pack and crawled underneath to follow the track.Where the farmer has fenced off the path in front in your photo how did you find the path again?
Maybe that's the problem? What do you think @peregrina2000 ?
Well, I think it’s worth a try. Go sit in a café in Aguilar and try this.That does seem quite complicated and beyond me
That's way too complicated for me@LTfit I used the route marked on mapy.cz , and then used Ender's route in wikiloc, and then downloaded whatever the most recently posted route I could find (from wikiloc) on a different map app (Pocket Earth). A bit of overkill - but sometimes it was helpful to see how they differed!
I like to do that too. Before I leave home, I download alternatives from Wikiloc onto GaiaGPS because it has a layer that shows the Spanish IGN maps. Then I can see everything (in different colors) on one map. I make the label for the track end in the wikiloc number. On the ground, if the Wikiloc track I'm following takes me to a problem area, I turn on cell take a look at my Gaia "index map", choose the best alternative, and open it (using the saved number) on Wikiloc.sometimes it was helpful to see how they differed!
We were just so close to being in the same place at the same time! And I'm so glad the weather was better for you today. You deserve a break!!June 22 Day 6 Olea - Aguilar de Campoo
The rest of the walk was uneventful, fine with me after yesterday!
In Salinas de Pisuerga having a café con lecheStarting to think the Olvivdado is not the route I want to walk if there isn't enough signage. I am not technically savvy and the thought of having to download several different online routes is more than beyond my thinking! I love your posts @LTfit but thanks for your honesty about this path!
@WestKirsty are you on the Olvidado or if not what date do you start?We were just so close to being in the same place at the same time! And I'm so glad the weather was better for you today. You deserve a break!!
But the fence situation happened between Arija and Olea, @laineylainey. I think Aguilar to Cervera is straightforward and uncomplicated, unlikely to be problems there.I have downloaded some alternatives to the Ender ones for the Aguilar to Cervera I already have,
This is not a complication it is a multiplication. You don’t have to do anything different than what you are doing now, you just have to do it more than once. I don’t do it way in advance, either, because that clogs up the list of tracks that are available offline and makes it more cumbersome to flip back and forth.I am not technically savvy and the thought of having to download several different online routes is more than beyond my thinking!
I took the Camino Viejo (starts in Pamplona instead of Bilbao) and just walked into Aguilar de Campoo where I'll join the Olvidado. I'm taking a rest day here tomorrow for some sightseeing so I'll start walking the Olvidado from Aguilar on Sunday@WestKirsty are you on the Olvidado or if not what date do you start?
Thanks Laurie, very sound advice. Yes, I will look for more recentBut the fence situation happened between Arija and Olea, @laineylainey. I think Aguilar to Cervera is straightforward and uncomplicated, unlikely to be problems there.
Here’s someone from 2019 who seems to have walked the road for that last stretch into Olea.
6ª-ETAPA : CAMINO OLVIDADO : ARIJA-OLEA (DESDE EL CAMPING HASTA CASA MIGUEL).
6ª-ETAPA : CAMINO OLVIDADO : ARIJA-OLEA (DESDE EL CAMPING HASTA CASA MIGUEL). Hiking trail in Arija, Castilla y León (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. 6ª - ETAPA: CAMINO OLVIDADO: ARIJA-OLEA . DESPUES DE PASAR FRIO EN EL CAMPING DECIDIMOS ENTRAR EN CALOR CON...www.wikiloc.com
Here’s someone who walked in May of this year and shows the off-road walk into Olea.
CAMINO OLVIDADO. Etapa 5: Arija - Olea
CAMINO OLVIDADO. Etapa 5: Arija - Olea Hiking trail in Arija, Castilla y León (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Otra etapa de mucha carretera, una más, pero además esta ha sido una etapa a base de bocadillos, y no porque nosotros lo queramos. Para hacer más...www.wikiloc.com
You can easily find another one or two. Look for recent trails.
What I would do in this case, because @LT had a problem, would be to write to the author of the May 2023 tracks and ask specifically about this portion, explaining that a friend had a bad time, etc. I have found that wikiloc people are universally helpful and responsive, you can message them right on their track page and you will get an email when they respond.
This is not a complication it is a multiplication. You don’t have to do anything different than what you are doing now, you just have to do it more than once. I don’t do it way in advance, either, because that clogs up the list of tracks that are available offline and makes it more cumbersome to flip back and forth.
I personally think the easiest way to deal with my “multiple track options” is to have no more than two or three days’ walking on the “available offline” list. This means that each night, I remove the day’s offline options and add a few for future days. Yes, it takes 5 minutes or so but it makes things simpler while walking.
Good luck!
Great, maybe you are going to post as well? The more stories the better!I took the Camino Viejo (starts in Pamplona instead of Bilbao) and just walked into Aguilar de Campoo where I'll join the Olvidado. I'm taking a rest day here tomorrow for some sightseeing so I'll start walking the Olvidado from Aguilar on Sunday
Sorry we'll miss each other! Sunday I'll be in Puente Almuhey so 2 days ahead.I took the Camino Viejo (starts in Pamplona instead of Bilbao) and just walked into Aguilar de Campoo where I'll join the Olvidado. I'm taking a rest day here tomorrow for some sightseeing so I'll start walking the Olvidado from Aguilar on Sunday
No kidding. It looks fabulous.All in all a wonderful day
Sorry to hear but glad I can brighten up your day.Enjoying your words and beautiful photos so much @LTfit ! I'm on my couch, hit hard by covid (first time) and your posts are a lovely distraction!
Let me guess. You turned left off the street after leaving Cervera. So glad you made it and had a great day.And there was only one hiccup within the first hour but I'll explain that,
@LTfit , just to say, you are not the only one who found this part of the Journey to Olea confusing. I have downloaded someone else's wikiloc trail ( they walked the Olvidado this May) and they talk about this confusing part, lack of signage, wrong signage and the famous barbed wire fence! Hoping their map shows their detour at the part!I don't know and honestly didn't give it much thought.
I had reached my limit of posting pictures but it's good to know that during the second monte section after Cervatos (or the first part?) you will come across a disgruntled farmer who has closed off a section of the path twice. I would have gone wrong but saw this arrow in a distance. I've attached a full version otherwise difficult to see.
View attachment 149855
And here is the barbed wire fence I needed to manoeuver through:
View attachment 149857
Learn from my mistakes. But then again, were they mine or just poor signage? I've definitely come across 2 very nice wooden signs pointing in the wrong direction.
I sure did!Assume you'll be doing Ender's no longer so new mountain section via Caminayo tomorrow? It's a beauty.
What could be better than that? Yay!Me pleased
And look at this gem!
No kidding. Wow.Scenery is outstanding!
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.
I did this a few weeks ago. I can imagine in pouring rain it would have been pretty scary. It was completely dry when we were there. It was pretty steep, and the rocks were sharp, but we took it slow and it wasn't horrible, especially with poles. I'll attach a photo, but I'm putting on a face to make it look more scary than it really was. Worst case, you could scoot down on your butt. And the reward afterwards (Faedo de Ciñera) is absolutely worth it!You're getting close to this place, which is the only part of the Olvidado that gives me pause. Curious to know how you find it. I 've done some hairy descents in remote places, but don't have a sense of how it compares, say, to Ladakhi-scary. Since a picture's worth a thousand words, if you go that way, a decent one would be most welcome.
LT’s comment is about the exit from Cervera. I totally agree with her advice to skip the left hand turn soon after leaving town. It brings you right back to the road. Much easier to stay on the road till you get to the right hand turn-off, which takes you up to the abandoned mine.So my advice is to take the road from the start to the above point.
One of my favorite camino people is the blond receptionist/waitress who works in the Moderno. (Based on my ethnic stereotypes, she looks German to me but is española through and through). She took a tick out of my back on my first Olvidado, and the next time I went through she told me she remembered me and my tick! Send her a hug from me! And their menú del día is the best thing in town. Is the albergue closed, @LTfit? It shared space with a floor for immigrant workers, so I wonder if there are maybe Ukranian refugees living there.Hostal Moderno
I would not miss this descent, unless it was pouring. There is no real path, you just pick your way over sharp rocks, but as @annmte says you will be fine if you take your time and place your feet carefully. I may have contributed to the fear factor with some of my posts, but I would definitely do it again, especially with the reward of the beech forest down below.It was completely dry when we were there. It was pretty steep, and the rocks were sharp, but we took it slow and it wasn't horrible, especially with poles.
Too late for your visit with Sonia, but any pilgrim albergue in need of repairs or equipment should consider an application for help with APOC (American Pilgrims). They give out a lot of grants every year, maximum $6,000, but requests can be submitted in multiple years. Here’s the Spanish version of the page.There is no fridge at the moment but Sonia has asked the town to purchase a small one.
Part of the confusion can also come with the number of ”points” each track contains. The greater the number of points, the more you can drill down to the micro level. I know I’m not the only one to have had a few confusing moments in that forest after Velilla!It's a bit confusing at first as there are many narrows paths covered with leaves.
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