RickGordon12
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- LePuy-Frances
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I don't mind pavement at all, and sometimes will take the road rather than a steep rocky trail.Not everyone is as adverse and hostile to pavement.
Although I don't mind pavement, I love nice non-rocky dirt paths.The VdlP this year was heaven with regard to walking surfaces.......
It's not so bad on the Coastal -- the boardwalk is fantastic for your knees and ankles !! There are cobblestone patches, but more or less in similar proportions to "bad patches" on other Caminos ; whereas elsewhere in Portugal, they form a significant proportion of the hiking surfaces.Hearing so much about the cobblestones on the Portuguese puts me off that too.
Hearing so much about the cobblestones on the Portuguese puts me off that too.
Hi Robo!It's not so bad on the Coastal -- the boardwalk is fantastic for your knees and ankles !! There are cobblestone patches, but more or less in similar proportions to "bad patches" on other Caminos ; whereas elsewhere in Portugal, they form a significant proportion of the hiking surfaces.
None of the camino routes is intended to be a nature hike. People seeking such may find that caminos are not ideal choices. Some certainly traverse very remote areas, but they still use roads (for the most part), and those routes require more facility with CastillIan than many walkers have.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
It is a completely different experience than the Francais. I met few Americans, or pilgrims. It’s wonderful that onto itself.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
I just got back from walking the Norte then cutting over to the Primitivo into Santiago and I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the amount of pavement on the Norte. While I thoroughly enjoyed the Norte, it did not feel like a Pilgrimage as much as the Primitivo and (last year) the Frances.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
Thanks for sharing your Norte experience. Nice pics! Looking forward to doing my first Camino (del Norte) in 6 months. I don’t mind walking on pavement as long as it’s safe from motorized vehicles. Can’t wait to see the beautiful views, good food, better accommodations and fewer pilgrims.I would say that the best part of the Norte is still ahead of you. The Asturias region was amazing! Especially once you start going past Aviles.
Here is my Norte experience from 2023:
http://caminopilgrim.travel.blog/camino-de-santiago/camino-norte-2023/
agree with you. I was on Norte until yesterday but now on the Camino do Mar. Those were the exact segments I skipped. I skipped Gijón and Aviles also. It’s my first time on do Mar so it’s too early to say but it’s been so very enjoyable. It reminds me of the Camino Portuguese Coastal without all that resort-like towns.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
I am currently on Del Norte w my husband. We have completed several long distance hikes before and this one does have a bit more tarmac than others but the scenery is amazing and we’ve had several dips in the ocean along our way. Great since it has been hotter than expected. We are in Santillana right now a 12th century village (think Romeo and Juliet.) We have had wonderful experiences in the larger cities as well. Each Camino is different. Having walked El Camino Frances… If I were to choose… I’d say El Camino Frances is more intimate having many peregrines. Del Norte is physically more difficult but we are enjoying fewer peregrines.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
I am glad to hear you are enjoying the Norte. It is my favorite. If you are interested in cave paintings, you are very close to Altamira. You will encounter Tito Bustillo in Ribadesella. They close at the end of this month. Tickets are still available online.I am currently on Del Norte w my husband. We have completed several long distance hikes before and this one does have a bit more tarmac than others but the scenery is amazing and we’ve had several dips in the ocean along our way. Great since it has been hotter than expected. We are in Santillana right now a 12th century village (think Romeo and Juliet.) We have had wonderful experiences in the larger cities as well. Each Camino is different. Having walked El Camino Frances… If I were to choose… I’d say El Camino Frances is more intimate having many peregrines. Del Norte is physically more difficult but we are enjoying fewer peregrines.
In the US we often use "pavement" for any surface covered with cement or asphalt.Confused by terminology ... in English English pavement means the seperate walking space for pedestrians alongside a road ... the road being named road.
Are you using pavement in the American English sense of the road? Our pavement being your sidewalk?
In the US we often use "pavement" for any surface covered with cement or asphalt.
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It's why I personally always use the word tarmac.Confused by terminology ... in English English pavement means the seperate walking space for pedestrians alongside a road ... the road being named road.
Are you using pavement in the American English sense of the road? Our pavement being your sidewalk?
But in Britain we have pavements (where people walk) that are sometimes also layed with tarmac, asphalt, so to us the surface has nothing whatsoever to do with the function.It's why I personally always use the word tarmac.
Same for us. But...so to us the surface has nothing whatsoever to do with the function.
Au contraire. Pavement is the kind of surface, whether it is a sidewalk (for walking) or a road (for vehicles).So nothing to do with surface we say pavements for where people walk and road for where vehicles go.
Same for us. But...
Au contraire. Pavement is the kind of surface, whether it is a sidewalk (for walking) or a road (for vehicles).
Pavement can be asphalt, tarmac, concrete, or stones (as in "paving stones).
Sidewalk can be paved (any of the above materials) or even wood.
Not in English English.Au contraire. Pavement is the kind of surface, whether it is a sidewalk (for walking) or a road (for vehicles).
Yes, since the OP is from the US, my wild guess is that the American definition was being used. So, "pavement" is the type of surface that is made of asphalt, tarmac or concrete, whether it is on the road or on the pedestrian strip beside the road. In the context of this forum, we are discussed the effect and comfort of that type of walking surfaceConfused by terminology ...
Are you using pavement in the American English sense of the road? Our pavement being your sidewalk?
Few sidewalks. Road walking. It seems the further into Asturia the more they have sidewalks by highways.In the US we often use "pavement" for any surface covered with cement or asphalt.
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I finished walking the camino del norte on October 4. A very different experience from the camino frances. Quite a bit harder than the frances and only about 5% as many walkers.As much as I value how positive everyone is on the Camino forum, I’m surprised there isn’t more emphasis on how much pavement there is on the Norte.
Walking from Bilbao to San Vincente has been almost 100% pavement or sidewalk. As much as I appreciate the coastal views, it feels to me that so much of what I most enjoyed about the Frances, primitivo, and le puy is hard to access on the Norte.
It’s difficult to feel a historical connection when one knows no monk was walking this asphalt 100s of years ago. It’s also hard to meet other pilgrims walking as there is often no shoulder so safety is an issue. And being almost all on a road, you don’t feel that walking is necessary to get from one place to another and in fact, it is maybe more efficient to drive or bike.
I guess the Norte may be something for those who don’t want to repeat other routes, but for those wanting an experience with a little more nature and walking with others, this may not be the ideal choice
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