Setting off

[NualaOC]

We're on our way to Spain! This time tomorrow, our feet will be on the Camino, somewhere between Irun and San Sebastián.

I'll probably do occasional, rather than daily posts here, I'm on instagram as @Nuala_Wanders and I also use Find Penguins, which is handy for family and friends who want to know where we are, but aren't interested in our Camino obsession!

I walked the first few days of this route in May, so I'm really looking forward to re-walking it with Damian. We have 18 walking days and no fixed plans, other than to make the most of it all.

 

[FamPed]

I hope you will have nice weather, no blisters and a wonderful walk. Buen Camino to you both.

 

[petro]

Buen Camino!

 

[VNwalking]

I just looked at the weather and see that you'll have sun at first, which is always a blessing.
Wishing you both a fantastic 18 days - muy buen camino!

 

[domigee]

We're on our way to Spain! This time tomorrow, our feet will be on the Camino, somewhere between Irun and San Sebastián.

I'll probably do occasional, rather than daily posts here, I'm on instagram as @Nuala_Wanders and I also use Find Penguins, which is handy for family and friends who want to know where we are, but aren't interested in our Camino obsession!

I walked the first few days of this route in May, so I'm really looking forward to re-walking it with Damian. We have 18 walking days and no fixed plans, other than to make the most of it all.

Hi Nuala, my husband is setting off tomorrow too, you may meet on the way
Buen camino!

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Nuala, my husband is setting off tomorrow too, you may meet on the way
Buen camino!

Really? Hope we see him. That would be fun.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Nuala, Are you going to spend your first night in Hondarribia? Oh, the memories! Can't wait to hear about it, and I will be checking find penguins.

 

[C clearly]

Buen camino, and I'll be following you!

 

[NualaOC]

Hi, Nuala, Are you going to spend your first night in Hondarribia? Oh, the memories! Can't wait to hear about it, and I will be checking find penguins.

Hi Laurie, we're on a bus from Bilbao airport to San Sebastián at the moment. We're going to stay in San Sebastián for 2 nights - we'll get an early bus to Irun tomorrow morning and walk back again. Not how we normally do it, but it should work out ok.

We're looking forward to trying some of your coastal alternatives!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi Nuala , wish you a wonderful time and a Buen Camino , Peter.

 

[nycwalking]

Buen camino.

 

[natefaith]

Very cool! Enjoy, Nuala!

 

[KinkyOne]

Will follow you on-line.

Buen Camino!

 

[poogeyejr]

Hi Laurie, we're on a bus from Bilbao airport to San Sebastián at the moment. We're going to stay in San Sebastián for 2 nights - we'll get an early bus to Irun tomorrow morning and walk back again. Not how we normally do it, but it should work out ok.

We're looking forward to trying some of your coastal alternatives!

I did this too! My second Camino!

 

[AJGuillaume]

Buen Camino Nuala!
We hadn't heard of Find Penguins.
We'll be following you, as we'll be walking the Norte next year at the same time.

 

[NualaOC]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. We're enjoying the Norte - it's busy, but not too crowded.

Staying in San Sebastián for two nights worked really well for us. The 6.30am airport bus dropped us off in Amuté at 6.55 am. We started walking from there, rather than backtracking the short distance to Irun. It was easy to join the Camino by following the signs for the Capitan Tximista albergue.

We had glorious weather for the walk back to San Sebastián and as I admitted on another thread, we created an impromptu route by combining some of the lower trail, the 'alpinista' and the hillside in between the two. It was fun, but not for the faint-hearted.

We walked to Getaria on Day 2 and to Ibiri (Albergue Itzarbide) on Day 3. We stayed at the donativo pilgrim albergue in Markina last night, which was excellent. Gernika tonight.

We've had all kinds of weather - from torrential rain to beautiful sunshine. The trail is very muddy and slippy in places. We've used our full rain kit a few times, but I've also had two sea swims and am looking forward to some more when we hit the coast again.

We fly home from Santander on 1st October, unless Ryanair cancels that flight (as it did today). We won't worry about that just yet.

 

[kerryabu]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. We're enjoying the Norte - it's busy, but not too crowded.

Staying in San Sebastián for two nights worked really well for us. The 6.30am airport bus dropped us off in Amuté at 6.55 am. We started walking from there, rather than backtracking the short distance to Irun. It was easy to join the Camino by following the signs for the Capitan Tximista albergue.

We had glorious weather for the walk back to San Sebastián and as I admitted on another thread, we created an impromptu route by combining some of the lower trail, the 'alpinista' and the hillside in between the two. It was fun, but not for the faint-hearted.

We walked to Getaria on Day 2 and to Ibiri (Albergue Itzarbide) on Day 3. We stayed at the donativo pilgrim albergue in Markina last night, which was excellent. Gernika tonight.

We've had all kinds of weather - from torrential rain to beautiful sunshine. The trail is very muddy and slippy in places. We've used our full rain kit a few times, but I've also had two sea swims and am looking forward to some more when we hit the coast again.

We fly home from Santander on 1st October, unless Ryanair cancels that flight (as it did today). We won't worry about that just yet.

Thanks a lot for your posts. I am wondering how hilly or difficult did you find the stages from San Sebastian so far? I am going next year so glad of any info.

 

[nc6000]

Hi Nuala,

That Santander flight on the 1st is not on the list of Ryanair cancellations. I was looking at booking the same flight on the 8th but went with Aer Lingus out of Bilbao on the 7th instead due to the uncertainty.

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Nuala,

That Santander flight on the 1st is not on the list of Ryanair cancellations. I was looking at booking the same flight on the 8th but went with Aer Lingus out of Bilbao on the 7th instead due to the uncertainty.

Hi John, thanks so much for that information. Very thoughtful of you - we really appreciate it.

You're probably right to have avoided Ryanair, given all of those cancellations. It's so unfair on those who've been affected.

 

[NualaOC]

Thanks a lot for your posts. I am wondering how hilly or difficult did you find the stages from San Sebastian so far? I am going next year so glad of any info.

Hi @kerryabu, those first few days on the Norte are pretty tough. However, we're in our 50s and we managed ok. We could of course have made things easier by walking shorter stages.

This website has elevation maps for each stage, which will hopefully give you an idea of what's involved. If you do a bit of hillwalking at home before you go, you'll have no bother with it!

 

[kerryabu]

Hi @kerryabu, those first few days on the Norte are pretty tough. However, we're in our 50s and we managed ok. We could of course have made things easier by walking shorter stages.

This website has elevation maps for each stage, which will hopefully give you an idea of what's involved. If you do a bit of hillwalking at home before you go, you'll have no bother with it!

Nuala, thanks for advice and best wishes on the rest your walk.