September 7 is looming, and I'm still debating with myself

[Miguel Pazos]

That last message was too much and I found a thread that answered all my questions. Thanks to those that contributed.
Buen camino

 

[HeidiL]

My vote would go for the Frances for a first Camino. Safer for ageing knees. I know several people who gave up on the Norte or switched to the Frances.

Caveat: I have a wrecked knee myself, and people confide in me because they know I'm no competition on the very hilly bits. I've even done a phone consultation once, finding the right bus for two people who needed to get from the Norte to the Frances after some minor injuries and a lot of heartbreak.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Miguel, those butterflies you are feeling are part of the Camino, absolutely normal, and recurring Camino after Camino: it's all good.

I've never trained, not for the Frances, the Norte or Primitivo. As long as you don't have set deadlines and push yourself too far, and needlessly, you will be fine.

You want to know if you are carrying too much or too little: post your list here and many will chime in, often with contradictory advice :0)

Will you fail? Perhpas, things do happen: trip and fall, get a cold that turns into pneumonia, but if you start slow, listen to your body, care for your feet and back, you should be ok.

As far as embarass yourself, NEVER! We all do what we can, at our own rythm.

Will you fit back in your currwnt box? Not the fisrt week back. A bit more after a month. Never 100%, but 97.5% yes, the 2.5% that does not will make your life richer.

One red flag I see reading your post is this goal you have set for yourself to arrive on a particular day. This may set you up for problems, as you may be tempted to push the enveloppe too far and cause injury and it may also make you want to plan a lot, and because of that you may not experience part of what makes the Camino so wonderful: freedom to do as you wish.

Frances vs Norte? I lllllooove the stretch you are considering on the Norte. It is beautiful, food excellent. And it is well signed,you cannot get lost. Just bring a good guide. It doesn't have albergues every 5 km but it does have a comfortable number now, and in early September most will still be open. Take the time to check now. I walked that stretch at the end of September 2 years ago and while I walked alone during the day there was always a good group in the evenings for socialisimg.

You will not fail, you will not get lost, you will not embarass yourself. You will be tired at tne end of the day, may huff and puff here and there, you will have to take care of your feet and prevent blisters. You will be surrounded by beauty no matter which route you take, better foord on the Norte for sure ;0).

 

[Miguel Pazos]

Anemone, I thank you for your encouraging and clarifying reply. I have since my posting done a bit more planning and I'd like to share with you my proposed route:
San Sebastian to Orio: 14 kms.
Orio to Zumaia: 15 kms.
Zumaia to Ermita del Calvario: 17 kms
EdC-Markina: 20 kms
Markina to Gernika: 25 kms
Gernika to Lezama: 22 kms
Lezama to Bilbao: 15 kms
Bilbao to Portugalette: local/urban transportation.
Portugalette to Pobeña: (same day) 12 kms
Pobeña to Castro Urdiales: (on N-634) 16 kms
CU to Liendo: 25 kms
Liendo to Noja 20 kms
Noja to Guemez: 16 kms
Guemez to Santander (via Pedreña & Ferry): 21 kms.

A bus from Santander to Burgos, and continue the Camino to Santiago.
As you can see in this stretch, the distances are very doable. My plans include rest days as needed (maybe Bilbao, maybe Santander or Burgos), and if necessary taking the bus to make up the days of rest. Maybe after visiting Burgos I take the bus all the way to Leon, avoid the Meseta, and fall back on schedule.
There are two reasons why I must make Santiago by Oct. 12: as mentioned, my 68th birthday. and I fly back home on the 14th.
I am in fairly good shape already, and fortunately for me, no pains or aches or medications of any sort yet. TG. BUT, I've never tested myself like the Camino is going to test me.
I am carrying 20lbs over my naked weight. But the pack is 16 lbs. The rest would be clothing, boots, phone/camera.
What do you think of this route?
Again, thank you for taking the time to chime in.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Your proposed route is almost identical to mine.

I did San Seb to Zarautz, Zarautz to Deba, Deba to Markina and then exactly as you plan. And kt is a beautiful route.

But so is the Meseta. If You arw thinking of skipping it because you have read it is boring, I can assure younot is not. In fact that infamous 17km stretch with nothing in sight is oneof my most beautiful days on the Camino. Nothing but big blue sky! Just stop or skip when you feel it is right for you.

On tne Norte, aim to make lunch your main meal: menu del dia rocks! Then have a light snack in the evening, unless you are staying in an albergue that includes dinner.

Between Zumaia and Deba, if you chose the easiest route (and miss the flysch), there's a hamlet called Eloria, just after the park. There you will find a cafe that looks like nothing but that wasrun by a most wondeful and generous lady when I crawled in it after not having had much for breakfast, and willing to settle with a can of tuna: she brought be a beautifully grilled tuna steak! And ask for Txacoli, the bubbly wine made in the vinayard across the street.

Markina has a great albergue in a converted bid coop of some sort: Inxauspe. It's a 3 minute walk from the center of town, with lawn chairs to rest on in the front yard.

Don't forget to book ahead in Guernika as it fills up quickly. The juvenil is where I stayed and it was fine.

Bilbao: I made the mistake of staying in a perfectly located albergue open to anyone (not just Camino people) and Bilbao being a party town it was a disaster. I would recommend a pension, hotel, or a pilgrim only albegue.

Nice bakery in Portugalete by the metro station.

In Pobena, there's a restaurant to thr far right of the plaza that offers a very nice menu del dia.

Liendo! Excellent choice, rather than going all the way to Laredo. I stayed at the Santurino albergue and the hospi showed us a way out of town through the hills, not the road. It was gorgous! At the top of the hill is the Ermita de San Xulian ruins and a beautiful little beach.

Noya, also an excellent choice. I stayed in town at the Casona Azul, on the plaza. It was the tourism office who told me they have a pilgrim room: a room with 2 single beds and a full bathroom. A lovely family runs it.

But the way into Noya can be tricky. There's a steep hill, El Brusco. Steep. With nothing from orcent you from falling down the cliff if you fall backwards. You can also walk around it by road.

You will have a wonderful time!

 

[Miguel Pazos]

Your proposed route is almost identical to mine.

I did San Seb to Zarautz, Zarautz to Deba, Deba to Markina and then exactly as you plan. And kt is a beautiful route.

But so is the Meseta. If You arw thinking of skipping it because you have read it is boring, I can assure younot is not. In fact that infamous 17km stretch with nothing in sight is oneof my most beautiful days on the Camino. Nothing but big blue sky! Just stop or skip when you feel it is right for you.

On tne Norte, aim to make lunch your main meal: menu del dia rocks! Then have a light snack in the evening, unless you are staying in an albergue that includes dinner.

Between Zumaia and Deba, if you chose the easiest route (and miss the flysch), there's a hamlet called Eloria, just after the park. There you will find a cafe that looks like nothing but that wasrun by a most wondeful and generous lady when I crawled in it after not having had much for breakfast, and willing to settle with a can of tuna: she brought be a beautifully grilled tuna steak! And ask for Txacoli, the bubbly wine made in the vinayard across the street.

Markina has a great albergue in a converted bid coop of some sort: Inxauspe. It's a 3 minute walk from the center of town, with lawn chairs to rest on in the front yard.

Don't forget to book ahead in Guernika as it fills up quickly. The juvenil is where I stayed and it was fine.

Bilbao: I made the mistake of staying in a perfectly located albergue open to anyone (not just Camino people) and Bilbao being a party town it was a disaster. I would recommend a pension, hotel, or a pilgrim only albegue.

Nice bakery in Portugalete by the metro station.

In Pobena, there's a restaurant to thr far right of the plaza that offers a very nice menu del dia.

Liendo! Excellent choice, rather than going all the way to Laredo. I stayed at the Santurino albergue and the hospi showed us a way out of town through the hills, not the road. It was gorgous! At the top of the hill is the Ermita de San Xulian ruins and a beautiful little beach.

Noya, also an excellent choice. I stayed in town at the Casona Azul, on the plaza. It was the tourism office who told me they have a pilgrim room: a room with 2 single beds and a full bathroom. A lovely family runs it.

But the way into Noya can be tricky. There's a steep hill, El Brusco. Steep. With nothing from orcent you from falling down the cliff if you fall backwards. You can also walk around it by road.

You will have a wonderful time!

Maybe I'll find the level of difficulty well within my powers to go the distance on each stage. But I rather plan conservatively and adjust there. I have noted all your recommendation in my journal and will make sure to follow them. I look forward to the food, and the views, and the solitude. As far as skipping the Meseta, if I have to skip ahead this is the portion of the Camino that, at least from my research, is less appealing to my and thus offers the opportunity to make up some time. But again, I'll adjust once on the ground. Again, thank you for chiming in, for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Buen Camino always..

 

[Anemone del Camino]

P

I have noted all your recommendation in my journal and will make sure to follow them. I look forward to the food, and the views, and the solitude. ..

Please only keep my notes in hand if they happen to make sense to you. I can only imagine that others had similarly great experience in different locations on their way. The freedom to do as one pleases, based on knowing nothing is what I enjoyed the most of my 1st Camino.