LIVE from the Camino Started September 17, 2022 from San Sebastián.

[Margaret323]

Thank you everyone for your helpful, friendly posts. I am starting on Sept 17 in San Sebastián and walking for three weeks on the Norte.

 

[David with new Kit!]

Thank you everyone for your helpful, friendly posts. I am starting on Sept 17 in San Sebastián and walking for three weeks on the Norte.

In on it just now. (Colunga)

The first four days from Irún are very hard but stick with it, as day five is much better.

Have a great Camino.

 

[RayRay24]

I started last Thursday in Irún and I am in Markina now, end of day four. Make sure you have provisions as there is nothing available coming out of San Sebastian for about 16 km. The last four days have been challenging to say the least but rewarding. I can handle steep ascents, the steep descents turns my toes to ground beef. I see maybe 10 peligrinos a day, way different than the Frances. While you will only be walking for three weeks, listen to your body, this Camino is different but you got this! Cheers and Buen Camino!

 

[Margaret323]

I started last Thursday in Irún and I am in Markina now, end of day four. Make sure you have provisions as there is nothing available coming out of San Sebastian for about 16 km. The last four days have been challenging to say the least but rewarding. I can handle steep ascents, the steep descents turns my toes to ground beef. I see maybe 10 peligrinos a day, way different than the Frances. While you will only be walking for three weeks, listen to your body, this Camino is different but you got this! Cheers and Buen Camino!

Thank you for the encouragement and for the advice! Take care of those toes.

 

[Former member 101807]

I started last Thursday in Irún and I am in Markina now, end of day four. Make sure you have provisions as there is nothing available coming out of San Sebastian for about 16 km. The last four days have been challenging to say the least but rewarding. I can handle steep ascents, the steep descents turns my toes to ground beef. I see maybe 10 peligrinos a day, way different than the Frances. While you will only be walking for three weeks, listen to your body, this Camino is different but you got this! Cheers and Buen Camino!

Tie you shoes laces tighter on the décents, it helps.

 

[Margaret323]

In on it just now. (Colunga)

The first four days from Irún are very hard but stick with it, as day five is much better.

Have a great Camino.

I am in Mondoñedo tonight and need to choose the longer, older route or the newer, shorter route which I have heard is more difficult. Any advice for me?

 

[peregrina2000]

I am in Mondoñedo tonight and need to choose the longer, older route or the newer, shorter route which I have heard is more difficult. Any advice for me?

The last time I was in Mondoñedo, I was unable to find the newer route which goes over a monte, not a mountain.

Here are the GPS tracks for the route “over the monte.”

Norte E30 Mondoñedo-Abadín

Norte E30 Mondoñedo-Abadín Hiking trail in Mondoñedo, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Etapa 30 del Camino del Norte a Santiago de Compostela desde Irún NO-E30 Mondoñedo - Abadín. Variante por Cabana Vella Con localización de albergues. 12,9 km...

www.wikiloc.com

Here are the GPS tracks for the “on the untraveled asphalt road” route.

Mondoñedo-Abadín (Lugo). Camino de Santiago del Norte

Mondoñedo-Abadín (Lugo). Camino de Santiago del Norte Hiking trail in Mondoñedo, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Cómoda etapa del Camino de Santiago del Norte. Transcurre por pistas, veredas y tramos de asfalto. Etapa para relajarse y disfrutar de los...

www.wikiloc.com

Even if you don’t use GPS, you can compare the two routes by pulling up the maps side by side in your browser.

Basic difference I see is that the “monte” route goes to a higher elevation level, but in terms of the total elevation gain, they are pretty similar. That’s because the road route goes up and down a lot, whereas the “monte” route probably just goes up and then down. The road route takes you through villages, but aside from the albergue that is there a few km after Mondoñedo, there are no services on either route (at least there weren’t when I walked).

I am not sure what your typical daily distances are, but the 4.5 km difference might make a difference to you, because it makes it easier to go on to one of my favorite Norte albergues, the O Xistral. It’s 6 kkm beyond Abadín and well worth the added push, IMHO.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[Margaret323]

The last time I was in Mondoñedo, I was unable to find the newer route which goes over a monte, not a mountain.

Here are the GPS tracks for the route “over the monte.”

Norte E30 Mondoñedo-Abadín

Norte E30 Mondoñedo-Abadín Hiking trail in Mondoñedo, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Etapa 30 del Camino del Norte a Santiago de Compostela desde Irún NO-E30 Mondoñedo - Abadín. Variante por Cabana Vella Con localización de albergues. 12,9 km...

www.wikiloc.com

Here are the GPS tracks for the “on the untraveled asphalt road” route.

Mondoñedo-Abadín (Lugo). Camino de Santiago del Norte

Mondoñedo-Abadín (Lugo). Camino de Santiago del Norte Hiking trail in Mondoñedo, Galicia (España). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. Cómoda etapa del Camino de Santiago del Norte. Transcurre por pistas, veredas y tramos de asfalto. Etapa para relajarse y disfrutar de los...

www.wikiloc.com

Even if you don’t use GPS, you can compare the two routes by pulling up the maps side by side in your browser.

Basic difference I see is that the “monte” route goes to a higher elevation level, but in terms of the total elevation gain, they are pretty similar. That’s because the road route goes up and down a lot, whereas the “monte” route probably just goes up and then down. The road route takes you through villages, but aside from the albergue that is there a few km after Mondoñedo, there are no services on either route (at least there weren’t when I walked).

I am not sure what your typical daily distances are, but the 4.5 km difference might make a difference to you, because it makes it easier to go on to one of my favorite Norte albergues, the O Xistral. It’s 6 kkm beyond Abadín and well worth the added push, IMHO.

Let us know what you decide!

I am thinking about it now. I am by myself and can get lost so I have been leaning toward using the road. Also, the weather has been very wet and windy so the road seems safer.

 

[Margaret323]

Thank you for your advice about the del Norte out of Mondoñedo. I took the mountain route. It was extremely well-marked. It did not always follow exactly the route in Buen Camino app or Wise Pilgrim app but there were waymarks all along the trail. Interesting that the Camino shell on the waymarks is not always consistent in Galicia so far- sometimes you go in the direction of the rays, sometimes not, and I have even seen a shell with the rays pointing up. But there is always a bright yellow arrow next to the shell so it’s pretty hard to get lost on the mountain route, which I understand is the old route.
I am now in Xabarín albergue in Abadin. It is amazing. Clean, comfortable, warm, modern, and attractive. Hoping for dry weather tomorrow.

 

[dick bird]

Thank you for your advice about the del Norte out of Mondoñedo. I took the mountain route. It was extremely well-marked. It did not always follow exactly the route in Buen Camino app or Wise Pilgrim app but there were waymarks all along the trail. Interesting that the Camino shell on the waymarks is not always consistent in Galicia so far- sometimes you go in the direction of the rays, sometimes not, and I have even seen a shell with the rays pointing up. But there is always a bright yellow arrow next to the shell so it’s pretty hard to get lost on the mountain route, which I understand is the old route.
I am now in Xabarín albergue in Abadin. It is amazing. Clean, comfortable, warm, modern, and attractive. Hoping for dry weather tomorrow.

Ignore the shells. Follow the arrows. This is the fork where the Norte splits after Mondoñedo.

 

[peregrina2000]

Interesting that the Camino shell on the waymarks is not always consistent in Galicia so far- sometimes you go in the direction of the rays, sometimes not, and I have even seen a shell with the rays pointing up.

Glad you had a good day leaving Mondoñedo. Your comment reminds us old timers that the direction of the shell used to be a source of confusion for many.

I remember that in the original version of Ender’s guide to the Salvador, this paragraph was important:

At the church of Sta. María del Arbas, very near the mountain pass of Pajares, the waymarking changes to the more familiar scallop shell ceramic markers. From here to Oviedo, the marking is quite good, but remember: in Asturias, due to some hard-headed regional reasoning, the scallop-shell directional guide is mounted BACKWARD. That is, in Asturias, the "hinge side" of the scallop shell points the way, and not the radiating lines.

Thankfully, as @dick bird points out, the direction of the shell is now totally irrelevant and what matters is the arrow beneath it.

 

[David with new Kit!]

I am in Mondoñedo tonight and need to choose the longer, older route or the newer, shorter route which I have heard is more difficult. Any advice for me?

Apologies, just seen your question.

Well done doing the shorter route.

We would have done that too, but as we were nursing shin splints we took the "easier" longer route .