Camino 2022

August - October 2022

Claire, Margaret, Andrew and I are walking 600k on the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela in memory of John Gray who died from MND in 2019 aged just 57. Read more

38footprints
1countries
39days
238photos
1videos
300miles

Follow Calendar Share Bucket list

Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Aug 29, 2022
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 128 ft
- Spain Basque Country Bilbao Plaza de Don Federico Moyua 43.264503, -2.9334443°15’52” N 2°56’0” W
Day 1
Bilbao
August 29, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Andrew and I arrived yesterday to enjoy a couple of days here before Margaret and Claire join us and we start our walk on Thursday.
The journey started inauspiciously with Andrew dropping the house keys through a gap in the decking so Donna and Chris, who are house sitting, will have to take the terrace to pieces before they can get in. We decided to walk to the station as it is traditional to start a pilgrimage from your home. It was a lovely walk along the towpath but we arrived to find the train cancelled. Luckily a replacement bus turned up and took us to Watford where we were able to resume our journey as planned. It all ran very smoothly from then on despite a slight panic when I struggled to open my nhs app to view my Covid pass and couldn’t find the email with the details of how to get into the apartment. After a short wander round the local area we found a bar and ate suckling lamb which was delicious. (My apologies to any vegetarian/vegans. )Read more
2 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Aug 30, 2022, 5:11pm
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 144 ft
- Spain Basque Country Bilbao Plaza de Don Federico Moyua 43.264603, -2.93348543°15’53” N 2°56’1” W
Day 2
Bilbao again
August 30, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Started with a cafe con leche and a pastry in the local cafe before a walk around the old town and a look at the Cathedral. Amazing pintxos in the Ribera Market then a visit to the Guggenheim.
Looks great. Safe walking. [Steve]
9/1/22Reply
1 like
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Aug 31, 2022, 8:46pm
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 128 ft
- Spain Basque Country Bilbao Plaza del Ensanche 43.264535, -2.93335643°15’52” N 2°56’0” W
Day 3
Bilbao 3rd and last time
August 31, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
We are all here together now. Margaret and Claire arrived without incident although our plan to meet them at the airport failed as I’d got the time wrong so they arrived before we’d left to catch the bus.
We decided to get a head start on tomorrow so walked 6km of the way this evening and got the bus back.Read more
3 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 1, 2022, 6:10pm
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 30 ft
- Spain Basque Country Zierbena La Arena Barbadun 43.34549, -3.12608443°20’44” N 3°7’34” W
1
Day 4
Pobeña
September 1, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Wasted a bit of time this morning trying to find the right bus stop to take us back to where we finished last night. It was a dull morning but a lovely temperature for walking. It warmed up a lot later and we were very glad when we stopped for a beer and chips. We arrived at the Albergue in Pobeña slightly worried about whether we would get a bed but there were only about 10 people ahead of us in the queue. We are in a mixed dormitory of 20. It will be interesting to see how that goes!!
We walked across a beautiful beach to get here so having settled in Margaret and I went for a swim in the sea. (There are NO photos!)Read more
Traveler Wearing our MNDA vests
9/1/22Reply
2 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 2, 2022, 1:50pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 46 ft
- Spain Cantabria Castro-Urdiales El Chorrillo Puerto de Castro Urdiales 43.383274, -3.2180243°22’60” N 3°13’5” W
Day 5
Castro Urdiales
September 2, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Our stay in the Albergue last night was better than we had feared. The earplugs worked well so we weren’t disturbed by snorers even though there were 20 of us in a smallish room. We got up early and fumbled about in the dark repacking our rucksacks and managed to leave at 7.30 to walk in the cool cloudy morning air. It was a relatively straightforward walk around the coast with beautiful views of the sea. It took a long time to find somewhere for breakfast but eventually found a cafe where we had 4 cafe on leches and 4 large slices of tortilla for 14€. You wouldn’t get that in Costa. While we were there another pilgrim arrived and asked if we’d been at the Albergue last night and if any of us had left anything behind. She then produced Margaret’s swimming costume which she’d left hanging on the end of the bed. What are the chances!!
On the other hand we found that I’d booked a hotel for the wrong night and Andrew and Claire have blisters.
We are now in a cute little apartment in the centre of Castro Urdiales.Read more
4 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 2, 2022, 2:26pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 299 ft
- Spain Cantabria Castro-Urdiales Oriñón 43.388931, -3.33051743°23’20” N 3°19’50” W
Day 5
Liendo
September 2, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Last night we stayed in a lovely little apartment but there were people partying loudly in the street outside till 5.30am after which the street cleaners came along. That, coupled with it being too hot made for a bad night’s sleep but we were up bright and early. Todays route started with some beautiful sea views and finished with a long slog uphill beside a main road. After a short stop for a beer we walked on to the Albergue. Only 16 beds but more space to move around in the dormitory. I think we all need an early night.Read more
3 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 4, 2022, 10:19pm
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 56 ft
- Spain Cantabria Noja Elguera Monte del Brusco 43.471443, -3.50704143°28’17” N 3°30’25” W
Day 7
Noja
September 4, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Blimey that was a day! Missed the turning this morning and did an extra 4 km before finding ourselves back where we started. Beautiful cliff walk in early morning mist and sun. Boat trip across the estuary from Laredo to Santoña and major unplanned diversion along roads and pavements in the heat because Pablo told us to go that way. We won’t be making that mistake again!!!Read more
3 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 5, 2022, 6:07pm
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 266 ft
- Spain Cantabria Ribamontán al Monte Liermo Cerro de Calobro 43.447884, -3.64566943°26’52” N 3°38’44” W
Day 8
Guemes
September 5, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
A shorter day today moving inland. It was lovely to walk through quiet rural backwaters after the often busier coastal areas.
We have changed our plans slightly to stay at a hostel in Guemes that was recommended to us by fellow pilgrim Esteban who later led a hilarious yoga session. The hostel is beautiful and we arrived just in time for lunch and were given salad, lentil stew and red wine. This hostel is a ‘donativo’ which means you only pay what you want to or can afford. We are looking forward to dinner!Read more
6 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 6, 2022, 4:24pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 66 ft
- Spain Cantabria Santander El Sardinero Playa del Sardinero 43.474716, -3.78638743°28’29” N 3°47’11” W
Day 9
Santander
September 6, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Beautiful walk around the cliffs and across the beach then a boat across to Santander. It was hard work walking on the sand and when we sat down for a rest nearly got swamped by a large wave. We are staying here for 2 days to rest our feet and our bodies. After a trip to the pharmacy we should have everything we need to treat our damaged feet!Read more
Traveler Great photos. Enjoy your rest, you've earned it
9/6/22Reply
Traveler Thank you. Our feet certainly need it!
9/6/22Reply
3 likes
Camino 2022
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 7, 2022, 1:13pm
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 52 ft
- Spain Cantabria Santander Mercado de la Esperanza 43.462795, -3.8097543°27’46” N 3°48’35” W
Day 10
Santander rest day
September 7, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Went on a bus tour then a quick visit to the market and some lunch. We took our credencials to get them stamped at the Cathedral and were directed to an old man who collected the stamp from behind the font then told us to follow him. He led us through a door, down a corridor and straight out of a back door ! After a minute or two another pilgrim went in and came out again with their credencial stamped so we walked up to the door at which point the old man came out , rang his own doorbell and gesticulated to us to go in !!
We said Gracias a lot and escaped laughing.
Decided that Santander is a pleasant but not very exciting city but it does have fabulous beachesRead more
3 likes