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This is exactly what I was asking for. I appreciate your time in responding. I am taking a beach rest day today. That’s all I need is to shorten my days. Thank you so much.I don't know wise pilgrim but I've just done this stretch. It's all straight going (13km) to El Pontarron (NB. You can break at Islares, where there is an albergue, a camping, and a nice roadside hotel). Then you have a choice of heading along the road straight on to Liendo (8km) where there is an albergue, two hotels, and 3 restaurants, and from there either straight to Laredo (6.2km) or on the coastal path to San Xulian and then Laredo-- this is a tough tough climb and not great for the vertiginous (I had to turn back), but is spectacular.
Or keep going south from Pontarron 2.5km past Rioseco and then turn right to Liendo (about 10km)-- this is not an easy path but if you've come from Irun, it will seem like a cakewalk-- of all of these, I would suggest that this is the best. There is a further route south to Magdalena then to Liendo which adds another 5km.
By your description, you've set yourself a really tough pace so far, and I would recommend that you take some short days before your body tells you to take some short days. This is a gorgeous part of Spain and it repays a gentle pace.
Thanks, but all I needed was a little direction on the upcoming stages and how to shorten my days and a rest day.I haven't walked the Norte.
However, it sounds like you were perhaps not fully prepared in some way for what you are faced with.
If it were me feeling the way you do right now, I would probably do one of three things.
1. Rest an extra day where I am then see how I feel, both physically and mentally.
2. 42 miles in 2 days is some going across easy ground let alone a coastal walk. So I would ask myself why I chose this particular route, why I am walking it at the pace I am, then make a decision about what I want to do.
3. Tell myself I had made the wrong choice for the right reasons and get myself onto an easier route.
Hope you can think this through for yourself. It seems to me the last thing you need right now is people 'telling, you what to do, when what you will most likely benefit from is a bit of empathy.
Whatever you decide, for whatever reasons,,,,,
Buen (doing what's right for you in the moment) Camino
Can you tell me by looking at the photo if the red trail is the one I should take to Laredo? I’m still a bit confused.I don't know wise pilgrim but I've just done this stretch. It's all straight going (13km) to El Pontarron (NB. You can break at Islares, where there is an albergue, a camping, and a nice roadside hotel). Then you have a choice of heading along the road straight on to Liendo (8km) where there is an albergue, two hotels, and 3 restaurants, and from there either straight to Laredo (6.2km) or on the coastal path to San Xulian and then Laredo-- this is a tough tough climb and not great for the vertiginous (I had to turn back), but is spectacular.
Or keep going south from Pontarron 2.5km past Rioseco and then turn right to Liendo (about 10km)-- this is not an easy path but if you've come from Irun, it will seem like a cakewalk-- of all of these, I would suggest that this is the best. There is a further route south to Magdalena then to Liendo which adds another 5km.
By your description, you've set yourself a really tough pace so far, and I would recommend that you take some short days before your body tells you to take some short days. This is a gorgeous part of Spain and it repays a gentle pace.
We finished the Norte on July 4. Our route took us from Castro Urdiales to Rioseco, then to Laredo then to Noja, then to Guemes. Stay at Posada Valle De Gurie in Rioseco an excellent place for a good rest. Stay at Alb La Cabana del Abuelo in Guemes.Hola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
When you say climbs. Do you mean climbing over boulders and the like or steep incline walking? Is the path wide enough for two or just one?The blue one is the official Camino. The red is the coastal path that oursonpolaire turned back from due to the height and climbs involved. I'd take the red one. But I'm like that!
From Castro Urdiales, we had lunch in Islares, and then took the highway variant to Liendo. We used the Whitson Northern Caminos guide, the Wise Pilgrim app, and frequently checked gronze.com. This is a beautiful route if you take time to appreciate it. On any route in Europe or the United States, 21 miles a day is a brutal pace. The Norte is not a speed contest unless you want it to be. I suggest stages of 12 to 14 miles max. If you don't get to Santiago it will still be there waiting for you another time.Hola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
I’m not purposefully trying to go 20 plus miles a day. I just can’t seem to find the places to stay in between or wouldn’t want to stay alone. I flew out of Bilbao, very scary walking through the old town. I had booked the Central Hostel but when I checked it out, I had a bad feeling so I pushed on to Portugalete. I forfeited my booking of 19 euro but didn’t care. I have plenty of time to complete this Camino. I don’t speak Spanish which of course adds to my difficulty. I accidentally left my hard cover guide book behind in Deba so relying on apps. Thank you for the suggested stops. Any suggested breaks in between are welcomed.From Castro Urdiales, we had lunch in Islares, and then took the highway variant to Liendo. We used the Whitson Northern Caminos guide, the Wise Pilgrim app, and frequently checked gronze.com. This is a beautiful route if you take time to appreciate it. On any route in Europe or the United States, 21 miles a day is a brutal pace. The Norte is not a speed contest unless you want it to be. I suggest stages of 12 to 14 miles max. If you don't get to Santiago it will still be there waiting for you another time.
I just viewed the video and ummmm, no thanks!!There’s a little hand over hand climbing at the top, but actually that’s reassuring. The path up is very narrow, mostly about a foot wide, and the scariest bits are where you have to pass someone coming the other way. I just found a slightly wider patch, stood still but and let them do the manoeuvring.
Thank you!! I just viewed the video. Very scary and not for me!!If you see this sign turn around
View attachment 61212
There's a lot of information about this section on this thread
gronze.com is in Spanish, but sufficiently self explanatory ai==so that you do not need Spanish to use it. It has route maps, and lists accommodations. We used Booking.com quite a bit. We also left our hardcopy guide behind by accident, but were able to order a Kindle copy and proceed using it.I’m not purposefully trying to go 20 plus miles a day. I just can’t seem to find the places to stay in between or wouldn’t want to stay alone. I flew out of Bilbao, very scary walking through the old town. I had booked the Central Hostel but when I checked it out, I had a bad feeling so I pushed on to Portugalete. I forfeited my booking of 19 euro but didn’t care. I have plenty of time to complete this Camino. I don’t speak Spanish which of course adds to my difficulty. I accidentally left my hard cover guide book behind in Deba so relying on apps. Thank you for the suggested stops. Any suggested breaks in between are welcomed.
I’m not purposefully trying to go 20 plus miles a day. I just can’t seem to find the places to stay in between or wouldn’t want to stay alone. I flew out of Bilbao, very scary walking through the old town. I had booked the Central Hostel but when I checked it out, I had a bad feeling so I pushed on to Portugalete. I forfeited my booking of 19 euro but didn’t care. I have plenty of time to complete this Camino. I don’t speak Spanish which of course adds to my difficulty. I accidentally left my hard cover guide book behind in Deba so relying on apps. Thank you for the suggested stops. Any suggested breaks in between are welcomed.
Very wise choice I think, having watched the video.....I just viewed the video and ummmm, no thanks!!I’ll leave it to the younger, date devil types.
Thank you so much for the suggestion of using chrome. Works a treat translating this site.P.s. I strongly recommend using Gronze.com opened in chrome to use google translate - a very good supplement to the apps if you check it out in advance each evening.
I avoided it today. Staying in Liendo tonight.Folks im way confused- can one AVOID the cliffy area?! If so...follow blue? I start my Norte in a week and don’t know how i missed this route?! Halpppp
Thank you for letting us know. I’m happy for you! You have been in my thoughts.I’m in FROMISTA!!! I feel good, I’m happyalready feeling to Camino Frances vibe. Santiago, here I come.
I started out on the Norte and it IS brutal. I took a bus from Castro Urdiales to Gurizo (not spelled correctly) spent the night there and hiked from there to Laredo. Not much pavement but lots of uphill, rocky trail, views are beautiful. I finally left the Norte and dropped down to the Francis to finish the Camino. I took a bus to Burgos bought a guidebook at a bookstore and was so glad I did.Hola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
I totally missed it too. When I got to Laredo, I was jealous hearing several pilgrims describe it as the best part of the Norte to that point, but reading these posts a couple of years later, I'm glad I didn't. The only really hairy part of the Norte for me was (if I recall correctly) outside of Santander (or was it Laredo?), where you climb a very steep hill and then, going down, well, that was even worse. Come to think of it, the part earlier on before Deba on the GR (red-white route) was incredibly beautiful as well, but that was another hairy climb down before getting into town.Zunigandi - Dont worry, its harder to find this path than not.
My guidebook, which is the Ciccerone book, doesn't list it at all.
Thank you!Thank you for letting us know. I’m happy for you! You have been in my thoughts.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (GNT) 22 The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, 23 Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. Even the Sunflowers give thanks for a new day. God Bless us, everyone. |
That’s your opinion and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Also glad you had someone with you to help figure things out. I beg to differ though ... the blue line on the wise pilgrim app had its faults from time to time.We walked from Santander to Santiago in May/June and I used the Wise Pilgrim app whilst my wife was using Buen Camino. The blue line on the Wise Pilgrim app followed the signs on the ground every step of the way whereas my wife's app would have led us off into the wide blue yonder on occasion.
Neither of us had done a lot of walking before setting off from Santander and we got there. Indeed we carried on to Fisterra.
We aimed to walk 20km per day and we used the apps to see where that would take us but used Google Maps to search out accommodation because we discovered that there is quite a lot that didn't appear on either of the apps.
We didn't join the Frances until Lavacolla and having done so would have avoided even the last bit if we had realised how dispiriting it would be with graffiti everywhere, the distance boards stolen from the markers and packs of cyclists forcing you off the path. Much more pleasant on the del Norte.
Dear FourSeasons, Wish I had route-specific advice for you, but I have one been on short bits of Norte.Thanks, but all I needed was a little direction on the upcoming stages and how to shorten my days and a rest day.
I walk for St James, for Jesus. I was prepared as well as could be but del Norte is tough, come walk it and see for yourself.
Hi AndralynnI started out on the Norte and it IS brutal. I took a bus from Castro Urdiales to Gurizo (not spelled correctly) spent the night there and hiked from there to Laredo. Not much pavement but lots of uphill, rocky trail, views are beautiful. I finally left the Norte and dropped down to the Francis to finish the Camino. I took a bus to Burgos bought a guidebook at a bookstore and was so glad I did.
Sorry you are having problems. I thought the Norte was just right and the Frances boringHola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
I walked the Norte four years ago and I missed the redlines couple times (scenic Détours that take you away from walking the asphalt), it usually is a bit longer but is lot more enjoyable!I think those redlines are sometimes marked as GR routes and is beautiful! Enjoy!Can you tell me by looking at the photo if the red trail is the one I should take to Laredo? I’m still a bit confused.
I agree.Sorry you are having problems. I thought the Norte was just right and the Frances boring
Hola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
I did the Norte 2018. The blue trail is pretty much a local road, that is to say it is wide and there are not a lot of cars, maybe one an hour. Apparently, this this is a fairly recent reroute of the Camino. But, It is a long, long steep uphill. I was about to throw myself off the side at some points. Then it is a long, long downhill. I will take the coastal one if I ever do this stage again. Luckily for me in 2018 a car came along. Here is whatCan you tell me by looking at the photo if the red trail is the one I should take to Laredo? I’m still a bit confused.
Thank you, I’m back on the Frances now and very happy.Sorry you are having problems. I thought the Norte was just right and the Frances boring
I’m back on the Frances and very happy. Thank you.I walked the Norte four years ago and I missed the redlines couple times (scenic Détours that take you away from walking the asphalt), it usually is a bit longer but is lot more enjoyable!I think those redlines are sometimes marked as GR routes and is beautiful! Enjoy!
Crazy story and yes, luckily for you. I’m back on the Frances now and very happy.I did the Norte 2018. The blue trail is pretty much a local road, that is to say it is wide and there are not a lot of cars, maybe one an hour. Apparently, this this is a fairly recent reroute of the Camino. But, It is a long, long steep uphill. I was about to throw myself off the side at some points. Then it is a long, long downhill. I will take the coastal one if I ever do this stage again. Luckily for me in 2018 a car came along. Here is what
I wrote at the time:
"After a while a car comes and pulls up next to me. There is man driving and two ladies who are pilgrims in the car. They explain that they met this guy while having lunch in a restaurant and he convinced them that no one should hike up this mountain. He said he was a hiker and that this rerouting of the Camino was crazy. They asked if I wanted a ride. I almost said no, thinking I was on the downhill so it wouldn’t be too hard. Luckily I was struck with a moment of sanity and accepted the offer. I say luckily because in the car it took us twenty minutes or so to get down the hill. It was a long way."
I’m a solo traveler, mid 50’s, female and don’t speak Spanish. del Norte was very difficult for me but I managed well over 200k. I’m back on the Frances now and very happy.I agree.
Thank you....I’m back on the Frances and I’m very happy.I just finished the Norte a few days ago. I had both the book and the app. If you select “Guide by regions” in the app menu you can basically read the book there and get explanations of the options. Red or Blue can be a daily choice based on your own criteria. Someone may have already posted this info - just too much to read it all. Buen Camino!
You should be proud of yourself - did the hardest part of the Norte!I’m a solo traveler, mid 50’s, female and don’t speak Spanish. del Norte was very difficult for me but I managed well over 200k. I’m back on the Frances now and very happy.
Move over to the Primativo....I also did not enjoy the Northern Way because of the road walking.... and where ever you can, walk along the coast - so, don't follow the yellow arrows. Hope you are able to make a plan - Buen CaminoHola, I’m in Castro-Urdiales with only my Wise Pilgrim app as a guide. Hard cover was left behindThe upcoming stage/stages are really confusing me. Please help, red or blue line on these upcoming stages to Laredo then to San Miguel and why. I’m so confused.
I gotta say del Norte Camino is brutal. Tomorrow will be my 3rd rest day Since I started in Irun on July 5th. I’m having a tough time know where I can stop for the day so I press on. For instance 42 miles in the past two days on 90% asphalt/concrete. I don’t know, I just don’t know.
Thank you
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