Planning for 2019

[Bristle Boy]

Hi guys,
So new here I am positively sparkling! The posts here are so informative and useful!
I am planning to commence my Camino in late August and September of 2019 starting at St.Jean (on the Frances/joining the Norte...a need to see Guernica).
Any feedback about my choice of dates and route would be appreciated!

 

[Johnlewis47]

All I’d say as a first timer, is that I’ve picked Sept 2019 as my Camino too, starting in SJPdp on the CF, May cross paths share a beer !

Buen Camino

 

[peregrino_tom]

I am planning to commence my Camino in late August and September of 2019 starting at St.Jean (on the Frances/joining the Norte...a need to see Guernica).
Any feedback about my choice of dates and route would be appreciated!

IMO this plan makes no sense, unless you have a spare week to walk, in which case I guess you could walk over the Pyrenees, say goodbye to your 1st day compadres, and then follow the GR11 from Roncesvalles back to Irun and start the Norte. Or if you use the transport system, walk SJPdP to Pamplona and then bus back to Irun - or Bilbao to Gernika if that is where you want to start the Norte from. If you do the latter you'll miss some of the essence of the Norte that happens over that first week.
IMO there's always too many things on our planned list of highlights that we'd like to experience. Just start simple, take each day a-fresh, make the most of what is around you and discard as many preconceptions as you can. Then the camino that is for you will start to take its form - something which afterwards may not be so easy to explain and quantify... but that. as they say, 'es el camino'.
Suggest you leave SJPdP for another time and just let yourself get the most out of all of the Norte.

 

[StephenChad]

SJPDP to Irun is a beautiful 5 day mountainous walk on the GR10 well supported with gites. The GR11 from Roncesvalles back to Irun is also beautiful but accommodation is trickier unless you can bivouac one night.

 

[Bristle Boy]

IMO this plan makes no sense, unless you have a spare week to walk, in which case I guess you could walk over the Pyrenees, say goodbye to your 1st day compadres, and then follow the GR11 from Roncesvalles back to Irun and start the Norte. Or if you use the transport system, walk SJPdP to Pamplona and then bus back to Irun - or Bilbao to Gernika if that is where you want to start the Norte from. If you do the latter you'll miss some of the essence of the Norte that happens over that first week.
IMO there's always too many things on our planned list of highlights that we'd like to experience. Just start simple, take each day a-fresh, make the most of what is around you and discard as many preconceptions as you can. Then the camino that is for you will start to take its form - something which afterwards may not be so easy to explain and quantify... but that. as they say, 'es el camino'.
Suggest you leave SJPdP for another time and just let yourself get the most out of all of the Norte.

Thanks for your advice....always useful from one who knows...to one who doesn’t!
My thoughts have changed from one day to the next and have now decided to walk the Norte (but your suggestion of waking from St J to Irun has opened up another option).
Thank you again!

 

[Bristle Boy]

All I’d say as a first timer, is that I’ve picked Sept 2019 as my Camino too, starting in SJPdp on the CF, May cross paths share a beer !

Buen Camino

Thank you for your comment!
Beer.....mmmmmm!

 

[mary_mh]

All I’d say as a first timer, is that I’ve picked Sept 2019 as my Camino too, starting in SJPdp on the CF, May cross paths share a beer !

Buen Camino

I’ll be starting out early September 2019 from SJPP. Hope to cross paths with you
Happy planning...

 

[shefollowsshells]

Thanks for your advice....always useful from one who knows...to one who doesn’t!
My thoughts have changed from one day to the next and have now decided to walk the Norte (but your suggestion of waking from St J to Irun has opened up another option).
Thank you again!

Just now seeing this.
You will not regret walking from SJPP to Hendaye/Irun! We did this by connecting Le Puy route to the Norte. It was amazing!
You can see it on my blog, Oct 2016 I think captures these few days.
We recently added tabs to help separate the different hikes if it helps.
shefollowsshells.blogspot.com

 

[nycwalking]

@Bristle boy

Are you still planning to walk this route?

 

[Bristle Boy]

@Bristle boy

Are you still planning to walk this route?

Hi @nycwalking..I’m still keeping my options open and eight months to go. I still work and am having to revisit a holiday request for August this year due to a bit of disruption at work.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hi Bristle Boy,
I was just cruising the new posts tonight and yours just popped up! Nice to see you here outside the "Not" thread! I hope all goes well and you'll be able to plant those hooves down on one of the caminos come August.☺

 

[Suzanne S.]

Hey, @Bristle boy! I'm starting in Irun on the Norte on August 30. Let me know when you hit the Norte. Maybe we'll catch up in Guernica!

 

[Former member 49149]

Keep sniffing around, Bb, you will find a way to do everything you want! What a great place to be in, planning your first camino and calling on the experience of those who have not only walked ahead of you, but have kept a readable report!