Preparing for April 2014 Camino de Madrid

[Kazenouta]

Hi everyone,

My name is Charlie. I'm preparing for a 9-week trip to travel the caminos at the end of April. I'll be starting in Madrid and taking el camino de Madrid north to Sahagún. From there, I'll turn east on Camino Francés, branching off to Ruta del Ebro east of Logroño. Finally, I'll finish at Montserrat, with plans to take a bus to Barcelona for a few days to celebrate the journey.

I look forward to learning more about what it takes to be a traveler of these ancient trails from all of you with far more experience than I.

 

[alexander ellul]

If you re in monserrat make sure to visit Collbatto. There is a tourist office there. Get a map of the place and explore the mountain trails. Its a uniqie experience. Take care

 

[Canuck]

It will be fun up to Sahagun. Then, walking in reverse to Logrono will be a little tricky but, things could get nasty once you hit the Camino del Ebro and Camino Catalan in the ''wrong'' direction.
Good luck,
Jean-Marc

 

[peregrina2000]

.... From there, I'll turn east on Camino Francés, branching off to Ruta del Ebro east of Logroño. Finally, I'll finish at Montserrat, with plans to take a bus to Barcelona for a few days to celebrate the journey.

Hi, Charie and welcome to the forum. I think it sounds like a lovely route, but.... Walking "backwards" on the Camno Frances won't be a problem because there will be so many pilgrims coming towards you on the Frances. Some have said when they get to an uncertain fork in the road on the Frances, just stop and wait for a few minutes and some pilgrims will appear. I've never walked the Ruta del Ebro, but I know it isn't heavily traveled, so you won't have pilgrims walking towards you to guide you. And on most caminos, only the way to Santiago is marked. Maybe the Ebro is different, but I doubt it.

There is a Ruta del Ebro section of the forum, but there are only two posts in it. One is entitled "walking in reverse" so you might be able to track down the poster and see if he actually walked it. http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/doing-it-in-reverse.19980/

A GPS might be invaluable to you.

Good luck. The Camino de Madrid isn't heavily traveled, but it is very well marked, and has many great albergues. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Kazenouta]

It will be fun up to Sahagun. Then, walking in reverse to Logrono will be a little tricky but, things could get nasty once you hit the Camino del Ebro and Camino Catalan in the ''wrong'' direction.
Good luck,
Jean-Marc

Thanks for your reply, Jean-Marc. Is it just the lack of marking that makes walking Ruta del Ebro problematic?

 

[Kazenouta]

Hi, Charie and welcome to the forum. I think it sounds like a lovely route, but.... Walking "backwards" on the Camno Frances won't be a problem because there will be so many pilgrims coming towards you on the Frances. Some have said when they get to an uncertain fork in the road on the Frances, just stop and wait for a few minutes and some pilgrims will appear. I've never walked the Ruta del Ebro, but I know it isn't heavily traveled, so you won't have pilgrims walking towards you to guide you. And on most caminos, only the way to Santiago is marked. Maybe the Ebro is different, but I doubt it.

There is a Ruta del Ebro section of the forum, but there are only two posts in it. One is entitled "walking in reverse" so you might be able to track down the poster and see if he actually walked it. http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/doing-it-in-reverse.19980/

A GPS might be invaluable to you.

Good luck. The Camino de Madrid isn't heavily traveled, but it is very well marked, and has many great albergues. Buen camino, Laurie

Hi Laurie!
Thanks so much for your info-filled reply. I will definitely look at the thread you suggested. I'm learning now that picking a route (and buying plane tickets to match) requires a bit more forethought. A rookie mistake for sure, but I'll work it out. Thanks again

 

[Canuck]

Thanks for your reply, Jean-Marc. Is it just the lack of marking that makes walking Ruta del Ebro problematic?

Yes, in fact as stated by Laurie, there is no markings in the reverse direction. Few people travel that road so do not expect help from oncoming pilgrims.
Also, be careful in that Ruta del Ebro won't lead you to Monserrat but rather to Tortosa. You have to switch to Camino Catalan somewhere around Fuentes de Ebro.

Again, best of luck,
Jean-Marc

 

[SabsP]

Good luck!! the Camino del Ebro is tricky...even in the right direction! Do stop though in the municipal in Gallur. Old railway station converted into a nice albergue/ tapasbar and the best hospitaleras ever.

 

[Kazenouta]

Good luck!! the Camino del Ebro is tricky...even in the right direction! Do stop though in the municipal in Gallur. Old railway station converted into a nice albergue/ tapasbar and the best hospitaleras ever.

Sounds great! I will certainly keep it in mind