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@peregrina2000 wrote in her live report about the Norte that the hospitaleros told her that the albergue in Irun was always full. That is at the very start, while lots of pilgrims join in later.By the way. I know the Norte statistics, but I am not sure what they exactly mean. Does the increase refer to the number of arrivals in Santiago, or to the whole route ? When I walked the Norte in Summer 2014, the number of pilgrims increased significantly in the last week (from Ribadeo onwards). So if the increase of this year mainly takes place in the later part of the Norte, it may not affect you too much during the first weeks.
That option has always been there! I think I would prefer walking to Oviedo and changing to the Primitivo, but we'll see. It is something I can decide much later on. A decision about the Bayona/Vasco del Interior is one I should make before walking out of Irun...To make things more complicated. I can see a third option. Start in Irun, follow the Norte untill Gyon / Aviles, then walk to Oviedo, and then continue the Primitivo as far as you like. (or walk the Salvador backwards to Leon)
I do!I think you have very "sweet" problem here
Hola LukaCould my Camino friends help me with a luxury problem?
Starting date and place are fixed, I bought a (very nice) trainticket to Hendaye on the 4th of July. Crossing the bridge and I'll be in Irun, ready for a new Camino adventure on the 5th of July. With a little over 5 weeks to walk.
Now the 'issue'. My plan was to walk the Norte (and maybe change to the Primitivo). I love the northern coast and am even thinking about living there, so the Norte would be an excellent way to explore it a bit more. But... there is already an increase of pilgrims on the Norte of 36% compared to 2016 (which was a busy year). July will be peak season. So I am having second thoughts. However I would love to walk that Camino, I don't like bed races.
So, I am considering other options. Mostly two right now:
1. Irun - Burgos (Bayona), Burgos - Leon (Frances), Leon - Oviedo (Salvador), Oviedo - wherever I'll get in 5 weeks (Primitivo)
2. Irun - Bilbao (Norte), Bilbao - La Robla (Olvidado), La Robla - Oviedo (Salvador), Oviedo - wherever I'll get in 5 weeks (Primitivo)
But the combinations are (almost) endless, of course ;-)
To help solve this 'problem':
- Arriving in Santiago is not a must (I would prefer to avoid Sarria-Santiago)
- I am expected in Asturias somewhere between the 10th and the 12th of August (so ending my Camino in the vicinity would save traveltime/travelcosts)
- I can handle solitude and manage quite well in Spanish, but I would prefer some company in the evening and have a fear for loose dogs (still hoping to get over that)
- I shouldn't spend too much money (I am thinking of a budget of roughly 35 euros a day)
So what would you advice me to do?
I love to hear about love stories on the Camino I think you can build up lasting friendships even if they don't go anywhere romantically. The Norte is great, less travelled and perhaps a little more taxing than the Frances, well for the first week anyway. I love the mix of sea views and rolling hills pure bliss go for itI agree with the two suggestions above, start walking in Irun, breathe deep, and let the camino open up in front of you. I walked the Norte in 2013 and loved it, I fell in love with a fellow pilgrim, and ended up adapting to follow her time scale, which was totally different from my original schedule. Don't over plan it, just be open to what comes along. There is a junction on the Norte which leads to the Primitivo, or you can keep going along the sea coast. You don't need to make a decision until you reach this spot, and then if you still don't know, just do what feels right at that moment. Either way you are in for a great time. For me, part of the magic of the camino is the spontaneity, you don't know what is coming around the next bend, so how can you plan for it? When I first started traveling as a young man, (almost four decades ago) I saw a notice in a hostel which said "If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else". This has proved to be the story of my travels ever since. Start walking and let the adventure carry you along.
Buen camino!
@lettinggo and @peregrino_tom another tempting option... the Picos! I have been a few times in Asturias now, but haven't seen much of the Picos yet. A bit of a shame, isn't it?
I am going to check the Vadiniense now...
Could my Camino friends help me with a luxury problem?
Starting date and place are fixed, I bought a (very nice) trainticket to Hendaye on the 4th of July. Crossing the bridge and I'll be in Irun, ready for a new Camino adventure on the 5th of July. With a little over 5 weeks to walk.
Now the 'issue'. My plan was to walk the Norte (and maybe change to the Primitivo). I love the northern coast and am even thinking about living there, so the Norte would be an excellent way to explore it a bit more. But... there is already an increase of pilgrims on the Norte of 36% compared to 2016 (which was a busy year). July will be peak season. So I am having second thoughts. However I would love to walk that Camino, I don't like bed races.
So, I am considering other options. Mostly two right now:
1. Irun - Burgos (Bayona), Burgos - Leon (Frances), Leon - Oviedo (Salvador), Oviedo - wherever I'll get in 5 weeks (Primitivo)
2. Irun - Bilbao (Norte), Bilbao - La Robla (Olvidado), La Robla - Oviedo (Salvador), Oviedo - wherever I'll get in 5 weeks (Primitivo)
But the combinations are (almost) endless, of course ;-)
To help solve this 'problem':
- Arriving in Santiago is not a must (I would prefer to avoid Sarria-Santiago)
- I am expected in Asturias somewhere between the 10th and the 12th of August (so ending my Camino in the vicinity would save traveltime/travelcosts)
- I can handle solitude and manage quite well in Spanish, but I would prefer some company in the evening and have a fear for loose dogs (still hoping to get over that)
- I shouldn't spend too much money (I am thinking of a budget of roughly 35 euros a day)
So what would you advice me to do?
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