Camino 2024

April - May 2024
My Camino blog - Camino Frances April - May 2024 Read more
  • 31footprints
  • 4countries
  • 28days
  • 218photos
  • 30videos
  • 2.9kkilometers
  • 1.8kkilometers
  • 849kilometers
  • 221kilometers
  • 44kilometers
  • 7kilometers
  • Day 8–9

    Day 7 Navarrete/Santo Domingo de Calzad

    May 3 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    36.5km (212.6 from start). 46.000 steps. 7h 15min on the road, including breaks. 2400 calories and 5.8 km/h average speed.

    Hostel in Navarrete is not getting any stars from me. No dinner, no breakfast. Old hostel and small rooms. When 12 people share so little space, it is challenging.

    Anyway, my Garmin gave me 93% on sleep quality 😂 Slept from 21:38 to 06:15 - my earplugs are very effective.

    Camino’s longest stage today. 36.5km after 34km yesterday and I am actually feeling ok. Even had energy to wash my clothes and take a walk to nearest supermarket.

    Day today was in solitude. Alone and first time with earphones. Good old 80’s and endless fields of wine yards. We are in Rioja and it is beautiful. I enjoyed so much today’s stage.

    Private room in Room Concept Hostels. Will take luxury breakfast at 7:30 and will not start walking before 8am - only 23km tomorrow.
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  • Day 9–10

    Day 8 Santa Domingo - Belorado

    May 4 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    22.3km (234.9 from start). 4h 17min Including breaks. 1461 calories. 29.000 steps. 5.6 km/t

    What a luxury. Only 22.3 km - and little more than 4 hours on the road. It is 1pm when I write this lines and I have already taken a shower and fixed my smelly clothes. Have almost 6 hours to recover before dinner at 7.30pm.

    Short day and another day with headphones and good old 80’s music. Enjoying those days without company - Camino is also being alone and with my own minds.

    Staying in Quattro Cantones hostel - famous for their communal dinner (pilgrim menu). Looking forward to that.

    Tomorrow is awaiting another long stage - 36 km to Cardenula Riopico. Huge number of small villages on the road - 8 of them. Plenty of possibilities for nice breaks, fresh fruits and drinks.
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  • Day 10–11

    Day 9 Belorado - Cardenuela Piopico

    May 5 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    35.8 km (270.7 km from start). 43.000 steps. 7 hours on the road. 2377 calories. 5.8 km/h

    Great evening in Belorado. Best dinner until now: red beans soup (in Serbia - Pasulj), chicken from grill and chocolate mousse desert. Energy boost I really needed.

    Early start, at 6.45am Perfect weather, not to cold, not to warm. Rain during the day but my gear is performing perfectly. Long part throughout woods, something I haven’t try that much.

    No pain today, just a little bit at the end of the walk. I am enjoying my self and looking forward for another day, new places and more kilometers to complete.

    Again walking alone. I need this, I enjoy solitude. Talked to my daughter today, talking to my wife every day. Not missing my day to day life - but I do miss my family ❤️

    Staying at Santa Fe hostel. Private room with private bathroom. Luxury I haven’t tried before. It is ok but I definitely do not mind bunk beds and Camino spirit in hostels.
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  • Day 11–12

    Day 10 Cardenuela Riopico - Tardajos

    May 6 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    24.2km (294.9 km from start). 29.000 steps. 1512 calories. 4h 40min on the road. 5.9 km/h average speed.

    Last night at hostel was quite. Lady at the bar/restaurant/hostel had pretty busy evening - she reminded me of Marge Simpson sister 😂 She was all smiles this morning when I thanked for her effort.

    Pilgrim passport is getting more and more stamps. Pilgrim pass gives access to pilgrim hostels and restaurants for pilgrim menus. Food is usually good and portions huge. We need that energy.

    Walked only 24.2 km today. 14 of those were industrial area and suburbs of Burgos - then the town itself. Just a short stop for coffee and cake and I was out of city.

    Met first Danish pilgrim today, Pernille from Gentofte. We shared the road for 3-4 km before she headed off and I stopped for the day at Tardajos. So nice with Danish language and easy going Dane.

    Hostel in Tardajos is already a disappointment. Had only 2 min warm water in shower, hospitalero (person who runes the hostel) was everything else then welcoming and warm. He spoke only Spanish and was clearly irritated that I was even there. Let’s hope diner will be nice with other fellow pilgrims.
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  • Day 12–13

    Day 11 Tardajos - Castrojeriz

    May 7 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    29.7 km (324.6km from start). 5h 25min walking incl. only 25 min breaks. 1900 calories. 6 km/h

    Finally a perfect day on the road. Beautiful weather, endless fields of Meseta, no pain in my knees or muscles. Huge amount of energy - I had a fun today.

    Last night hostel was a nice place - but some people can make it difficult. Had an elderly gentleman in our 8 mans room who wanted door to hallway open but window closed. We would have died in there if there was not for a tough Spanish lady who opened the window during the night. Elderly gentleman was bitching whole morning that we made him sick and destroyed his Camino 😂

    Walking Camino is very simple - I used my phone to find a way only in big city’s. There are yellow arrows everywhere - no chance to miss the Camino.

    Staying in quite nice hostel in Castrojeriz - they have breakfast with bacon and eggs. I can feel tomorrow will be another fabulous day on Camino 😇
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  • Day 13–14

    Day 12 Castrojeriz - Poblacion de Campos

    May 8 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    28.5 km (353.1 km from start). 6h 10min on the road, including 2 “huge” breaks. 1864 calories, 5.7 km/h

    Another great day. No pain, just a pure enjoyment. This is Camino I have dreamed about 😇

    Great hostel last night. No bunk beds, just single beds and 6 people in pretty big room. Luxury. Nice dinner and nice talk with people from USA, Japan, Norway and France.

    During the day cached up on nice old lady from France, she was a hurricane on the road. Pure energy bomb considering she was in late 60’s 😀 Had a nice chat and company for almost 10 km.

    Staying at hotel (not hostel). Private room with 2 beds and private bathroom. Feels like cheating 😀 - no bunk beds, no snoring, no busy Koreans 5am 🤣

    Tomorrow awaits famous stage - 17km without villages, city’s, trees, shade or water - just 17 km of Meseta. It will be fun - especially as forecast says Camino warmest day this year (26°)
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  • Day 14–15

    Day 13 Poblacion-Calzadilla de la Cueza

    May 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    31.9km (385 km from start). 2015 calories. 38.000 steps. 6h 10min on the road. 5.9 km/h

    Half way through Camino. 13/26 days covered.

    Nice hotel last night. Private room and private bathroom but I missed Camino spirit, people around me and that special feeling in the morning, just before people hit the road.

    Got huge breakfast, lady at hotel was worried about me walking 32km in that heat (19°) 😂
    She delivered food enough for 3 people 😂

    Today stage was special - and famous/feared among pilgrims. There is a part with 17km without city’s/villages, shade or place to do breaks. I shared this part with young Korean woman and those 3 hours went quickly.

    We had a stop just in between, after 8.5 km. There was a food truck there - and you never know if he will be there - or somewhere else on Camino. I got fresh orange juice, sandwich, banana, mars bar and cold beer. I loved that break.

    Staying in little hostel with only 9 beds - just 3 beds in my room. Hoping for some nice company and cozy pilgrim dinner.
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  • Day 15–16

    Day 14 Calzadilla-Bercianos Real Camino

    May 10 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    32km (417 km from start). 2021 calories. 39.000 steps. 6h 10min on the road. 6 km/t

    Last night dinner was big disappointment. When you walk alone during the day you look forward to some Camino time with fellow pilgrims. I sat at table with 3 Italians. When they didn’t fight they talked to their families home in Italy - of course with sound on. Lame idiots 😡

    Started late today. We are on 900m above sea level and temperatures in the morning are quite low. Already at 9am temperature was above 17° and it was time to ditch the jacket and find sun cream.

    Long they on the road when sun is burning down. When I arrived to my destination temperature is 25° - nothing special if you are just chilling in the shade - but not funny when you walk 32 km.

    One more time I am happy I booked all my hostels in advance. People are using huge amounts of time and energy to make sure they have a bed day after. Maybe I have taken impulsivity from my Camino - but at least I know there is a bed with my name on it - every single day until Santiago.
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  • Day 16–17

    Day 15 Bercianos - Puente Villarente

    May 11 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    32.4 km (449.4 from start). 2065 calories. 40.000 steps. 6 hours on the road. 5.9 km/t

    Late start this morning. Breakfast 07.15 and out on the road at 7.30am. Already there it was warm.

    Walked for 21km without break. 3.5h without stop. Didn’t even feel any discomfort or pain - Camino seems so easy early in the morning.

    Had a great lunch. Love Spanish prices. 2 huge sandwiches, cop coffee, 2 Fanta lemon (of course with sugar) 😇 - all of that for 14€

    Rest of the walk was in much easier tempo and the heat started to be an issue. I could hear the storm behind me. I can deal with rain, snow, high winds and high temperatures. What I don’t like is open road and thunderstorms.

    Made to hostel before the rain. Drinking cold beer and enjoying the garden within hostel. Tomorrow is awaiting another long stage - 33.5 km through Leon.
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  • Day 17–18

    Day 16 Villarente - Villar de Mazarife

    May 12 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    32.8 km (482.2 km from start). 2135 calories. 42.000 steps. 6h 40min on the road. 5.8 km/h

    Great hostel in Puente Villarente. Nice dinner, new “pilgrim friends” and nice lounge area with fireplace. Enjoyed that place.

    Up 06.30am, breakfast at 7am and out on the road at 07.15am

    Another 32+ km stage - and I can feel it in my body. No pain but few blisters and general tiredness. Weather is nice, fortunately not so hot.

    There are 3 big city’s on Camino: Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. Leon was as any other big city - boring and empty (Sunday in Spain = everything is closed and no people on the streets).

    Managed to find open supermarket: new Colgate, soap, chocolate bars and peanuts mixture. Important with high energy snacks.

    Got also 200€ from 🏧 - using Apple Pay as much as possible but cash is still necessary at small villages.

    Plan for today: relax, stretch out, recharge. I am tired but still extremely happy and positive.
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