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Diane’s Camino Frances

April - June 2022
A 57-day adventure by Diane A Read more
  • 56footprints
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  • 57days
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  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    111321
    Day 11

    Pamplona to Puente la Reina

    May 1, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    The walk out of Pamplona was flat and very pretty. We steadily climbed to Alto de Perdon and the view from there was worth all the effort. There was then a very steep descent but after 20 minutes it became a little gentler.

    The route was crowded and noisy as it seemed many locals took advantage of the beautiful weather and May Day. And it was a bonus to have half a dozen older Spanish men singing national songs all the way down, it made the time pass in a very special way.

    I have my first top bunk but in a room of just four. And with a window that opens right above me!

    Hotel Jakue
    25kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    1
    Day 12

    Puente la Reina to Estella

    May 2, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I had a great night’s sleep. I was able to leave before 7am and had a quick coffee and pastry in the town before breakfast.

    It was so enjoyable to walk while it was early and fresh. My body and mind seemed to finally click into gear today and the walking was much easier. I was able to enjoy everything more and not worry about how far I still had to go.

    The fields are covered in yellow flowers and the paths were lined with bright red poppies and yellow dandelions. There is always something interesting to see.

    Tomorrow is my rest day so I booked a single room in the hostel. It is on the top floor and has double windows that open out onto the square. I have done my washing and was able to microwave vegetables and added some tuna for protein at last. A perfect end to this day!

    Alda Estella
    23km    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    23
    Day 13

    Estella

    May 3, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Estella has been the perfect place for a rest day. It’s a quiet town with interesting shops to browse in. You can’t buy anything because you will have to carry it - a great incentive not to spend.

    The joy of unlimited hot showers!

    The temperature is a little cooler today but I posted my thermals back home - I had brought them in case the snow was still on the Pyrenees, but luckily didn’t need them.

    I have spent a leisurely afternoon napping and reading and then Sandra and I met up for a delicious and more nutritious dinner.

    I am looking forward to starting off again in the morning.

    Alda Estella
    5kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    1
    Day 14

    Estella to Los Arcos

    May 4, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    A very different countryside today. More mountainous and rugged looking.

    I stopped at the infamous wine fountain in Irache and walked through miles of vineyards.

    The last 12kms were without towns to break up the trip which made it seem much longer than it was.

    Los Arcos is a small town and very peaceful. I was in early after an early start so was able to get a bottom bunk.

    I had the communal dinner here which was healthy and tasty. Lots of interesting people including Mike from Tasmania and a lovely lady called Rita from Belgium. She said she had a friend who lived in Sydney and it was Jenny Abraham!

    Albergue Casa de la Abuela
    22kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    112
    Day 15

    Los Arcos to Viana

    May 5, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Spain is hillier than I expected!

    It has been another day of vineyards and olive groves. I started off early again as it is so pleasant travelling while it is still fresh. This meant I arrived into Viana early and was able to get a pilgrim’s meal (paella, fish, ice cream and wine) before everything closed for the afternoon siesta.

    This is the first large dormitory that I have been in - 12 beds (6 bunks) in the one undivided room. At least I have a bottom bunk again.

    I spent some of the afternoon wandering around the town. There are so many very old and interesting buildings, I’ve really enjoyed my day here.

    Albergue Izar
    22kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    Day 16

    Viana to Navarrete

    May 6, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Last night was noisy in the room and I didn’t sleep very well.

     I had another early start and enjoyed the walk to the outskirts of Logrono.

    The walk into Logrono, through Logrono and out of Logrono and onto Navarrete felt much different to the past few days. There were very little Camino signs - not many arrows, not many blue and yellow signs or indications of where to go or how much further. I had relied on them so far. The last few kilometres were through a freeway development.

    But once I arrived in Navarrete things improved. I have a lovely little single room in an albergue and was able to get a good pilgrim’s meal for lunch.

    Hopefully after a good sleep tomorrow will be another good day.

    Lots of people are having to walk on to the next town and are finding it difficult to get beds without a booking. I am now booking two nights in advance to be safe.

    Albergue el Cantaro
    23kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    Day 17

    Navarrete to Azofra

    May 7, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    I had a great night’s sleep. Albergue el Cantaro was perfect.

    We are now in La Rioja which is a wine area. And there are vineyards everywhere. And rolling hills. So it’s been quite pretty.

    Stopped in Najera and bought some pastries to eat in the park along the river for lunch. It was very busy with lots of families out as it was Saturday afternoon. There was an interesting display of weapons and uniforms by the military, I think it was a recruitment drive.

    I am spending the night in the municipal albergue and all the rooms have only two single beds in each which hopefully will give me another good night’s sleep.

    Albergue Azofra
    23kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    1
    11
    Day 18

    Azofra to Santo Domingo de la Calzada

    May 8, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    What a day! I left Azofra around 6.45 am before breakfast in anticipation of the treat I had at the end of the walk. The first nine kilometres were through some beautiful countryside, back to the yellow flowering fields. There was quite a climb to Ciruena where we discovered that there weren’t any cafes! So there was nothing to do but to continue straight onto Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

    I arrived there around eleven and went to check into my hotel - Parador Santo Domingo Bernardo de la Fresneda. I had discovered that if you join Parador Amigos that you could get a special spring rate of 65 euros and they also gave you a free breakfast voucher. A very kind person at the front desk let me check in early and gave me a double room which was the only one available at the time. It was bliss to have a hot shower and have some conditioner to put in my hair. It also has a bathtub which I used later.

    I had a relaxing ‘menu of the day’ in the square watching all the families out for Sunday lunch. I then went to the sister Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada to use the free drinks’ voucher they gave me. It will be a shock going back on the road tomorrow and back to an albergue tomorrow night. But what an experience!

    Parador Santo Domingo Bernardo de la Fresneda
    18kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    4
    Day 19

    Santo Domingo to Belorado

    May 9, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    I had a late start due to my buffet breakfast at the Parodor!

    It was beautiful countryside today and lots of interesting towns along the way. I lost count of the times I said ‘wow’ to myself when I got to the top of a hill or around a bend.

    The last ten kilometres however were very hot and without any shade. I will try and leave a lot earlier to avoid the overhead sun.

    We have now left the wine country behind and are travelling through Castilla y Leon. There are lots of yellow arrows and clear signage which is a huge relief, it was often difficult to work out the correct path in La Rioja.

    I am in a large albergue but in a room with just four single beds. It has a pool and lots of younger pilgrims, much like Azofra. There’s a large cafeteria and lots of grass and tables and chairs outside to relax and socialise.

    Another very enjoyable day.

    Albergue de Peregrinos A Santiago
    24kms    Read more

  • TravelerDiane’s Camino Frances
    1111
    Day 20

    Belorado to San Juan de Ortega

    May 10, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today was tough in many ways. I had an early start as there was no accommodation available to be booked in San Juan de Ortega so I had to hope I’d get to the municipal albergue before it was full.

    On my way to Espinosa del Camino I passed Sandra from Germany who we had met in Orisson. We chatted a bit and made plans to have dinner together in Burgos on Thursday night with the Australian Sandra. While I was having breakfast in Espinosa del Camino she arrived and in that short space of time she had news from home that her father had died and she was going home. She gave me her rock to carry on to the Cruz de Ferro. I continued on and it was hard to shake the sadness. But I was so pleased that I had bumped into her at just that time. The remainder of the walk was 12 kms without any towns and the last half without shade again. It is getting very hot in the afternoons now. There is rain forecast for the end of the week but still high temperatures.

    The good news is that I arrived at the albergue before it filled and even got a bottom bunk. It’s a large room with 11 bunk beds so might be a noisy night with 22 of us. But it’s clean and friendly and the shower was hot. I had a (wine free) communal pilgrim dinner and sat with a young woman who came from Stroud in Gloucestershire and it was a good end to the day.

    Monasterio de San Juan de Ortega
    24kms    Read more

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