BeatriceKarjalainen
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Finished: See post signature.
Doing: C. Levante
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I know what you mean, but I can't keep myself away from the forum. Just like I feel like I'm with "my people" when I'm on the Camino I feel that same connection here on the forum.Finally I can go back to the Camino. Took a break from the forum as the longing for walking was starting to get me depressed. And reading about your journeys was making it worse.
I was excited to see your name pop up on the forum as I have missed your posts.I have missed you all
Sad to hear about the injury. Hope it heals good and you can be on the Camino next year. Will pop in for updates now and then. Will most likely blog as well or at least update on Instagram.Beatrice,
I wish you all the best and I hope your shoulder will not bother you to much.
I planned to walk the Levante too around the same time you are starting now. But unfortunately I suffered a complicated femur fracture in this spring and I’m still not recovered from this. I hope I will regain my former shape to start next year.
Please let us know occasionally how it goes.
—
¡Ultreia!
I hope to be back for real and enjoy the lovely social and friendly atmosphere here. I’m a bit nervous about doing the Levante as I hate planning my days ahead and it seams like I have to call every accommodation in advance and the stages are more fixed as there are less in between accommodations. For me it means that I some days have to stop way to early. I love the solitude of less traveled roads but it comes with some disadvantages. It was a bit easier on Mozárabe where I got the code for key lockers on WhatsApp when needed. A lovely solution. Now I wish I had used the 4 years of not being on the Camino for studying Spanish.I know what you mean, but I can't keep myself away from the forum. Just like I feel like I'm with "my people" when I'm on the Camino I feel that same connection here on the forum.
I was excited to see your name pop up on the forum as I have missed your posts.
Good to hear that it is manageable. I have improved my range of movement quite a lot the last couple of weeks and the night pain is almost gone so I have some hope that I can do this. Will continue do the exercises I have received from the physiotherapist. But I guess I have to pack some painkillers as well.I sympathize with the pain of the frozen shoulder and the "workarounds" that it entails (front close bra; use of opposite hand to comb hair or do anything above the head or behind the back, etc) as I walked the CF with a frozen shoulder in 2016. I learned to put that arm into the backpack shoulder straps first. And since I had to sleep on my back, I really craved a flat mattress as those with divots created by prior pilgrim usage caused much discomfort. I also believe that the use of trekking poles and the pulling back of the shoulders by the backpack was certainly a help in "thawing" even though it took a further 6 months for range of motion to return.
It may not be easy but will certainly be worthwhile.Buen Camino!
Gracias.Yes, good to see you again! Buen camino.
Thanks.Hi, @BeatriceKarjalainen, so good to see you back here. I am assuming you have seen the Valencia amigos website, which has a very good online guide to the Levante. If you can arrange it, I think you’d enjoy a visit to their office in Valencia. They are a dedicated bunch of volunteers and have been very helpful to peregrinos. @JLWV is our unofficial “contact” with the association.
I haven’t gone back through all of the stages in my head, but I think that you will be fine. As on any untraveled camino, you will have to bend your desired walking stage to what the reality is on the ground, but I think there are plenty of options for those who want to walk long stages. Buen camino, Laurie
Oh no Achilles on a hiker. I feel so sorry for you. I hope you get well soon. I’m thinking of packing my e-book reader.Beatrice, I have only recently returned to the forum, having left for the same reasons as you. The Levante was to have been my 2020 walk and I still hope to do it, but there is no leaving NZ on my horizon and I need to recover from an Achilles injury before I can consider long stages (currently can walk only 4km at a time!!) I’m curious enough to follow your blog - even though my quiet hope for the Levante is now 2026!! (And I’d love to get in another one before then)
You’ll find plenty of 30km stages - whether they can be stretched by 10-15 will be an interesting issue. You could take a good book - it would slow you down and give you something to do each day!!
All the best
Someone will tell you not to take it - just like they tell you it is important to smell the roses which they believe you cannot do if you walk over 40km in a day! For what it’s worth, I have always taken a pair of socks to knit and a journal with watercolours and fountain pens - and every milligram was worth it!!Oh no Achilles on a hiker. I feel so sorry for you. I hope you get well soon. I’m thinking of packing my e-book reader.
I decided against as it says that it is not intended for temperatures over 25 C. And I already carry 1300 g camera equipment as my luxury grams in the backpack. I can read books on the phone as well but I know myself and guess I’ll spend that time on blogging/edit photos insteadSomeone will tell you not to take it - just like they tell you it is important to smell the roses which they believe you cannot do if you walk over 40km in a day! For what it’s worth, I have always taken a pair of socks to knit and a journal with watercolours and fountain pens - and every milligram was worth it!!
Fabulous! Would you share your blog address?I decided against as it says that it is not intended for temperatures over 25 C. And I already carry 1300 g camera equipment as my luxury grams in the backpack. I can read books on the phone as well but I know myself and guess I’ll spend that time on blogging/edit photos instead
http://beastankar.blogspot.com and on Instagram @beastankar and @arielonadventures (for my companion the doll Ariel).Fabulous! Would you share your blog address?
Thanks for the info. Maybe. That would be fun.Two french people starting today, may be you meet them those days.
Buen Camino
Nice then I might meet them if they are not to fast. I’m not sure where to stop today. Thinking of Vallada.Two more french people starting tomorrow from Canals.
I think that may be a very flexible number, unless things have changed. I slept in the Posada, but my two French amigos slept in the albergue and there were lots of mattreses scattered in different places. They said everything was fine except for the fact that the local band practiced upstairs for hours when they were wanting to sleep!Checking my options going forward and I see that there are only 2 places in the albergue en Higueruela
Thanks. I have your blog as a shortcut on my phone reading your stages as I go. According to the guide it says this about Almansa “call ahead is small” but I should probably check what is says in Spanish as some translations are a bit strange like that there are no mattresses in Canals so bring a jacket. I do prefer non asphalt if I can. Will see how I do. As you says depends on how far. But an extra 4 isn’t so much if it is not over 30 degrees. Yesterday it was 36. I prefer less.I think that may be a very flexible number, unless things have changed. I slept in the Posada, but my two French amigos slept in the albergue and there were lots of mattreses scattered in different places. They said everything was fine except for the fact that the local band practiced upstairs for hours when they were wanting to sleep!
In Almansa, I think that if you are talking about the convent, it’s just that they like to have advance warning. But we did not get a sense that there was a shortage of individual rooms. Could be wrong, though.
The albergue in Alpera was very nice when we stayed there (we were the first pilgrims to sleep there, and the mayor came down to welcome us). If you do sleep in Alpera, though, you will find that there are many kms alongside a road to get to Higueruela unless you backtrack to the spot where the Levante and Sureste split. We did that and were glad to have mainly off-road kms. But if you want to go further than Higueruela, you probably won’t want to add unnecessary kms, unless you have a strong off-asphalt preference like me!
Hope your injury heals well, @BeatriceKarjalainen, and that the heat is not too bad.
I think I aim for that even though 31 km on asphalt isn’t the best thing I know but I man always add 4 km to that and backtrack. But it is also quite stressful when there are a long stretch and then a tiny albergue. Will try to communicate with the French people what they will do the upcoming days.The albergue in Hoya Gonzalo is good. I don't remenber if It has 12 or 16 beds.
Last time I walked Alpera-Hoya Gonzalo (31 km) and next day Hoya-Albacete, other 30.
You are walking long stages!!!I have done some long walks and is now in Villacañas. Doing double and 1,5 stages. Tomorrow will be really short or really long. Either just 19 to Tembleque or 45 to Mora. Depends on the weather. Yesterday was a 48 km walk San Clemente to Toboso but the views were nice and the temperature with some clouds and wind lovely. Todays 38 was a heat wall the last 6 km. Have seen 5 French pilgrims, 2 Spanish walking and 3 Spanish cycling so far.
The guide said €15 for the hostal in El Toboso but they wanted €25.
Today there was some arrows in 2 directions leaving Don Fadrique. I went where the GR-sign was pointing.
I always tend to do long stages. I love walking. I use the online guide at http://vieiragrino.com/en I printed it and made a small guide to have in the pocket. The hostal was El Quijote but I now see that I called the youth hostal but they booked me into a room at the hostal instead of a bed in a dorm. Well well it was ok and not expensive. Have to be more clear when I say that I want a bed and ask them to confirm bed, not room.You are walking long stages!!!
Thank you for the feedback.
Which guide are you refering to?
Thanks Beatrice for your reports. I have transmited to our association's staff. The stage Cebreros - San Bartolomé was hard for me, but one of the nicest, in my opinión.I’m currently in Almorox after doing Mora - Toledo and Toledo - Torrijos. In Toledo it was raining and I had rain and thunder on my way to Torrijos but both days was nice walking.
Some confusing markings between Toledo and Torrijos. First at Estivel where the GR sign points toward Estivel but the arrows are pointing to the left (which corresponds to the description in the guide). Then at the hermitage there is first GR-lines for a right turn but directly after there is a GR-cross (don’t go here).
On my walk today I missed a right turn before Escalona. It looked like the road was going to an enclosed farm area. And the arrow is really faint, didn’t see it until I 1 km after turned back as I realised I was going away from Escalona. (And I have no clue where the stream was so I was lucky as it must have been dried out)
I have really no luck with food on this Camino. Today all stores are closed except for a small shop with a little of this and that. And the restaurants are closed as well. 2 bars with gluten based tapas. I have an apple, some gluten-free bread an bought some crisps, cheese and chorizo so a sandwich dinner it is. Tomorrow will be a short walk to San Martin or a longer to Cebreros, have mailed 2 hotels there to see if they have any available rooms but still no answer. One of them have a double room for €45 on booking.com so I might just book that. But we will see I would like to have my options more open as it is a climb tomorrow and my blood values are going down so I know it will be a bit though. Will try to time so I can have lunch in San Martin at least. At the moment there is nothing at booking.con for San Martin so might start the morning by making some calls I guess.
I miss albergues, the one in Cebreros is closed
As having allergies (not just gluten) food is a huge problem for me and I really miss the opportunity to cook my own meal. Microwaves are good if you can find prepared meals fitting your allergies. The albergue in Torrijos didn’t have any utensils either wax glad I carry a spork.
Love the key box solution in Torrijos. More places should use this. Were common on Mozárabe. I did not like the solution for the donation though. A plate with a cardboard piece over it. I would like to know that what I leave goes to the albergue and not to someone else.
But the walk is fine and that is the reason I’m doing the Camino, I love to walk and hace that time for my self. And well I am alone a lot on this Camino. Haven’t seen any in there pilgrims since El Toboso.
16 beds, 6 showers and 7 toilets. I stayed there last night. Just now arrived in Chinchilla.The albergue in Hoya Gonzalo is good. I don't remenber if It has 12 or 16 beds.
Last time I walked Alpera-Hoya Gonzalo (31 km) and next day Hoya-Albacete, other 30.
Yes I’m here now and I came 11:20 so the bar wasn’t even open yet. Should be open around 1:30 (Andrea came by and told us). There are still no utensils in the kitchen but they have in the albegue turístico. One of the Spanish pilgrims decides to stay there instead as he snores a lot. What a kind man. Maybe people are so bad at leaving donations that they try to get people to pay? I don’t understand why the albergues that have people coming and open the door and register you can take payment as well. I do find donotivo as a good idea but most of us can afford to pay but I see so many that doesn’t do that. I forgot in one place (will send it via mail when I get home) and in another i couldn’t find a place to leave the money (I later understood that I could just have dropped it in the mailbox where I left the key so I have done so where there hasn’t been a box). I see people with expensive gears not leaving a cent. In one albergue they had info about more and more pilgrims but less and less donations.Hi Beatrice
Are you in Gotarrendura?
Say hello to Andreea who looks after the albergue there and the bar. I was there on 29th April this year. She speaks very good English.
Have utensils etc been returned to the albergue kitchen yet? In April., Andreea said they had removed them all because of Covid regulations. Even the microwave that had been in the private section was not there then. Still., they fed us pretty well at the bar.
Andreea also arranged with a lady across the courtyard; to take me through the St Teresa areas including the dovecote and gardens. I enjoyed my strolling around this village.
Buen camino.
I agree with you about the walk ‘into’ Ávila.. it was so special .
I have been done for the day around 1400 most days but that is at 3 h more walking. Today I have restless legs. Can’t really sit still. So annoying.Hi Beatrice
Yes - it would be difficult for you, having to cool your heels in a tiny village. I bet that is the first time you’ve ever put your feet up for a while.
I think Sanabrés would be a good workout for you - but if you’re wanting to walk the Zamorano ., it is now covered by ‘Gronze’
Camino Zamorano Portugués | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com
El Camino Zamorano Portugués es una variante de la Vía de la Plata por Sanabria; arranca en Zamora, y recorre las comarcas escasamente pobladas de la Tierra del Pan, Alba y Aliste, entrando en la región portuguesa de Trás-os-Montes hasta la ciudad de Bragança, conocida como la “pequeña Ávila”...www.gronze.com
Edit: I just checked it out -
Actually it’s not fully covered on Gronze but there is a little bit of information.
Buen camino
On friday I had a stop in San Vicente with 26 other members of AACS-CV, going to a national meeting of AACS. We miss you for few time!Yesterday Gotarrendura - San Vicente del Palacio where I avoided a rain storm with 5 minutes. And today in Siete Iglesias de Trabancos. Just arrived. Look what I found when I was looking into the registration book.
Yes that’s me!!!!!Yesterday Gotarrendura - San Vicente del Palacio where I avoided a rain storm with 5 minutes. And today in Siete Iglesias de Trabancos. Just arrived. Look what I found when I was looking into the registration book.
Bummer! I hope you had a good meeting.On friday I had a stop in San Vicente with 26 other members of AACS-CV, going to a national meeting of AACS. We miss you for few time!
Thank you Beatrice.In Toro and leaving for Zamora this morning. Haven’t decided which way to Santiago yet.
According to the guide you shall pass under the railway and continue up. No arrow by the tunnel instead an arrow pointing to the right where there is a bar or something. I turned around and used the tunnel.
Bar Pensíon Zamora is closed and for sale here in Toro. I’m staying at Alda Hotels €42.
OK, we spoke about that this morning.According to the guide you shall pass under the railway and continue up. No arrow by the tunnel instead an arrow pointing to the right where there is a bar or something. I turned around and used the tunnel.
You are right.@JLWV Why is there no description of Narillos in Stage 22? http://vieiragrino.com/etapa-22/
I was so surprised when I entered a town (that seams to like the Camino as they had a lot of Camino items). I had seen the name in the topography image but thought it was just a “point” .
About this feed-back of Sept. 10, I can't find the explanation.Today there was some arrows in 2 directions leaving Don Fadrique. I went where the GR-sign was pointing.
Really the way didn't pass by the monastery, which is like 1 km at the NW, but visited the Toros de Guisando' which is close historical place.I totally missed the left turn to go towards the monastery after San Martin so I stayed on the road and got a 3 km shorter walk. One reason was that I had used the KML-file for stage 20 to lead me out of town and that one was not going to the monastery (should probably be noted on the web page with the files).
In 8 years I participate in way marking, I have never seen yellow arrows painting on roadsign.There is also yellow arrows on the roadsigns in the crossing where you can drive towards Zamora a little bit earlier.
They were stickers (not painted) and they were definitely yellow looking when I stood in front of them. As they were pointing in 2 different directions I assumed they were not related to the Camino de Santiago but was thinking that less experienced pilgrims could be confused by them.In 8 years I participate in way marking, I have never seen yellow arrows painting on roadsign.
After inquiries we guess these are marks of the GR14, Senda del Duero (from Soria to Portugal).
These arrows, which look orange more than yellow, should not be on the roadsigns, but as this GR is promoted by regional administrations we do not discard that the arrows are on regional roadsigns.
They are not related to Santiago Way.
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