Humbertico
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Plan 2018
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Any thoughts or tips on biking Burgos to Leon and walk the rest CF?Yes, approximately the section between Burgos and Leon. It is basically rolling hills and flat plains, filled with agricultural fields. It is lovely, not in the least ugly or boring and sometimes gets a bad and exaggerated rap by pilgrims. It does encompass the halfway point of the Frances.
There are a number of bicycle rental companies that cater to pilgrims. Try the forum's search function for bike (or bicycle) rental.Any thoughts or tips on biking Burgos to Leon and walk the rest CF?
Gracias Peregrina!I also loved the Meseta. And I was hardly alone. It was a regular topic of discussion among pilgrims -- "How can people say this is boring?" It is beautiful.
And don't let anybody kid you. It is not flat! No, it's not the Pyrenees. But it's definitely not flat. (You want flat? Come see Delaware!).
I loved the rolling hillsides, and the villages tucked in the valleys that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. In April there were a thousand birds singing every morning, and the fields were a dozen shades of green, and the sky, brilliant, cloudless blue.
And mystical. Any regular reader of this forum will know three names that come up repeatedly as very special places on the Camino-- San Anton, San Bol, San Nicholás. All on the meseta. Connection? Think about it.
Shortly before Sahagun there is a slight alternate route to the hermitage of the Virgin of the Bridge. Just beyond that are statues and markers declaring you are crossing the halfway point between Roncesvalles and Santiago. You can impress your friends with a certificate to that effect from church museum up the hill as you leave town.
There were many bicyclers. I don't know the rental companies, but there seemed to be plenty. And, contrary to many reports I have read, my experience was that they rode at a moderate speed, alerted walkers they were approaching, and, almost without exception, wished us Buen Camino or Hola as they passed. They looked like they were having lots of fun.
Enjoy the Meseta. It's very special. Buen Camino.
Yes, leave your hike at home and walk.Any thoughts or tips on biking Burgos to Leon and walk the rest CF?
The old convent is a museum now and so it is closed on at least one day a week, probably Monday. They also observe siesta.As for those half-way certificates - well good luck we tried for a number of hours and never found the establishment open!!
The old convent is a museum now and so it is closed on at least one day a week, probably Monday. They also observe siesta.
We too have read of pilgrims skipping the Meseta or describing it as dull. For us it is the most wonderful part of the Camino. We'll take it any day over a wet Galician stroll through lanes smelling of cowpats.
Any thoughts or tips on biking Burgos to Leon and walk the rest CF?
And I guess it has been reduced even further by Judgements pulled out of one's wazoo.Finished the Meseta a few weeks ago,rain rain n more rain,oh and lot's of touristos booking most of the beds,not a pleaseant experience but the walking was ok,unfortunately the CF is now reduced to a circus of retired folk who smell of aftershave and hairspray
And I guess it has been reduced even further by Judgements pulled out of one's wazoo.
A wazoo that's walked it 7 times.And I guess it has been reduced even further by Judgements pulled out of one's wazoo.
And I guess it has been reduced even further by Judgements pulled out of one's wazoo.
I like walking the Frances. I am not retired, have not worn aftershave in 30 years and not sure what use hairspray would be to my shaved head.Finished the Meseta a few weeks ago,rain rain n more rain,oh and lot's of touristos booking most of the beds,not a pleaseant experience but the walking was ok,unfortunately the CF is now reduced to a circus of retired folk who smell of aftershave and hairspray
I like walking the Frances. I am not retired, have not worn aftershave in 30 years and not sure what use hairspray would be to my shaved head.
I am on my 5th camino this year. you should try some of the other ones (Maybe you have but it looks like your little bio only shows CF, forgive me if I am wron). I do not walk the CF anymore because of the crowds although I may do it in a year or two in the winter. I think it would be a very different Camino.The Le Puy Camino is really great. But there are a lot of old retired French and Germans, so maybe that will not work. I will be an old but not retired fart who will be walking the Norte in September. I will let you know how that goes.A wazoo that's walked it 7 times.
I am on my 5th camino this year. you should try some of the other ones (Maybe you have but it looks like your little bio only shows CF, forgive me if I am wron). I do not walk the CF anymore because of the crowds although I may do it in a year or two in the winter. I think it would be a very different Camino.The Le Puy Camino is really great. But there are a lot of old retired French and Germans, so maybe that will not work. I will be an old but not retired fart who will be walking the Norte in September. I will let you know how that goes.
Did you mean that if the Camino ended in Leon would be more successful?
I don´t think so
Never dragged around any mutts on my Caminos. I keep the flea bitten bastards at home where they belong, ha ha. The only dogs that bark with me are my feet after 30 kilometres.Ah you'll be that bloke with the wee scruffy dog on a piece of string then
Just saying... the Meseta was our favourite part, Galicia wasn't. Not sure where the idea of terminating in Leon arose.
When cycling there’s a road route you can take to Fromista to circumnavigate the hill - which is what we chose to do. It does mean you miss the great views from the descent though.I loved the Meseta, and will walk it again.
If your goal is to reduce the number of days, then biking is an option, there is really only one big hill out of Castrojerez.
If you have plenty of time, walk it.
You have much more time on the ascent than on the descent to admire views; but less inclination.When cycling there’s a road route you can take to Fromista to circumnavigate the hill - which is what we chose to do. It does mean you miss the great views from the descent though.
The Meseta is approximately 188km (from Burgos to Astorga) which in some guides is planned over 8 stages i.e. 8 days walking. But often by that part of the Camino many people might be nursing injuries and taking longer by walking shorter days where possible. The stages are up to you, so you could do what you want. You really start to appreciate the vastness of the Maseta after the hill at Alto de Mostelares (100m height incease), shortly after leaving Castrojeriz. It's from there that your mind will start to quieten down a lot (if you let it!) and some deep emotions can bubble up to the surface when you least expect it. So its certainly not dull in that respect. I personally found it to be a great test, but also a fabulously enriching experience.How long is the Meseta? Is it Burgos to Leon? How many stages and days?Is it all flat and dull? Is it near the half way point is the CF?
Gracias Peregrinos! Humbertico
Niet zeuren gewoon gaan!How long is the Meseta? Is it Burgos to Leon? How many stages and days?Is it all flat and dull? Is it near the half way point is the CF?
Gracias Peregrinos! Humbertico
Starts in Burgos, Brierley's stage 13 takes you out of town. Some say the meseta ends at Leon, Brierley's stage 21 takes you out. I say the end is in Astorga and Brierley's stage 23 sets you on your way to climbing out of the meseta.How long is the Meseta? Is it Burgos to Leon? How many stages and days?Is it all flat and dull? Is it near the half way point is the CF?
Gracias Peregrinos! Humbertico
i have been away from the forum for a while. I just saw your post. I was wondering what your comment had to do with what I said. I would appreciate knowing because I am confused.A wazoo that's walked it 7 times.
This thread is over 4 years old and @Irish Bernie hasn't been on the forum for over a year. I don't think the resurrection of this exchange will be helpful, so I'll close the thread.i have been away from the forum for a while. I just saw your post. I was wondering what your comment had to do with what I said. I would appreciate knowing because I am confused.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?