Boarding…..
30. August 2025 in den USA ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Gloucester Station
30. August 2025 in den USA ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Started the Camino from our front door. Walked to Gloucester station with everything we need for six weeks in all weather on our back. Excited!
Arrived in Saint Jean de Luz
31. August 2025 in Frankreich ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Rest day after overnight flight
Visit with Anne-Sophie and family
1. September 2025 in Frankreich ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Visit with Anne-Sophie in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. She stayed with us in Andover for two months when Kate and Maggie were in high school (same age). We were at her wedding in France in June 2024 and now aWeiterlesen
Irun, Spain - night before the start
1. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Day 1 =>Pasaia
2. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Such a beautiful first day on the Camino Norte route with awesome views most of the way. 10.5 miles and challenging with 2000’ of ascent.
ReisenderSo happy to see the smiles. It looks amazing. It must be an incredible feeling lighting the candles. Safe travels on your journey. Love you both
Day 2 =>San Sebastian
3. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Over the mountain to San Sebastian. Easier day (7 miles) before four difficult days ahead.
Tried pintxos - Basque region tapas.
Reisender
Of course you found a place to get your coffee and pastry. Looks so amazing. You both look so happy. 😀 love you both. Be careful. Have a blast. 💥 🥰❤️
Camino Norte, Day 3=>Zarautz
4. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Longer day with 15.5 miles with 2150’ of ascent.
Met three other pilgrims that made the miles seem short with interesting conversation.
ReisenderConcha con crux de Sandiago. (Pilgrim shell with the cross of St. James.) It was difficult to find. We searched for clues/leads and finally found two in a religious bookstore near the Cathedral in San Sebastián.
Camino Norte, Day 4 =>Deba
5. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
14.5 miles, 2500’ of ascent with some very steep sections. Challenging, but so beautiful.
We met a very nice young French woman living in Brussels who offered to be a resource to Kate when sheWeiterlesen
Camino Norte, Day 5 =>Markina Xemein
6. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Hard day. 3300’ of steep climbs and 15.5 miles. But beautiful, rustic.
Traditional Basque out here in the countryside (only see Basque language signs, no Spanish). Staying at an old BasqueWeiterlesen
Camino Norte, Day 6 =>Guernica
7. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Long hard day. 18 miles with 2725’ of ascent.
Peaceful hike through the remote Basque countryside, past small farms clinging to the mountains. Silence, except for the occasional sound of cowbells.
Camino Norte, Day 7 =>Lezama
8. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Medium-Hard day with 13.7 miles and 2180’ of ascent. Rained all day with long slogs up/down muddy slopes.
Not as beautiful as the first six days. But despite that, so grateful to be on theWeiterlesen
Camino Norte, Day 8 =>Bilbao
9. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
10 miles, 1400’ of steep ascent. Rest day? (Diane isn’t buying it 😊)
Visited the Guggenheim museum.
An easy day tomorrow.
Camino Norte, Day 9 => Pobeña
9. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Recovery day. 10.5 miles, flattish 800’ ascent.
City/industrial in the outskirts of Bilbao, then through the hills. Back down to the ocean at the end of the day.
Went to a restaurant with 30+Weiterlesen
Reisender
How’s the food? I am sure it’s amazing. You both look so happy 😀
Camino Norte, Day 10 =>Castro Urdiales
11. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Somewhat easy 10 miles with 1100’ ascent. Hopefully rested enough now for a hard day tomorrow.
So nice the Camino headed back to the sea with beautiful views most of the way.
Camino Norte, Day 11 =>Liendo
12. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Hard day with 19 miles and 1700’ ascent. Beautiful start by the sea, but a steep mountain/hill at miles 15-18 was challenging.
Continue to enjoy the remote hillside farms with cows, horses, goatsWeiterlesen
ReisenderThe map showing the distance you have already covered is impressive!!
Camino Norte, Day 12 => Noja
13. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
The Camino Norte is no walk in the park. 14.7 miles today with 1300’ ascent after 19 miles yesterday. But despite that, the awesome views are worth it.
The lunch restaurant we counted on wasWeiterlesen
Great picture Diane with the ocean and the green bottles . Looks like a cute resturant Beautiful place! [Marlene]
ReisenderHard to tell what would be worse - the vertical climb or naked septuagenarians 🤭 The sky is so amazing - that and the coast line could make up for a lot of hike trauma, but that beer at the end seems the perfect antidote!
ReisenderWhat a day! The views are incredible. I am laughing out loud about the “extra” scenery.
Camino Norte, Day 13 =>Guemes
14. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Easy day. 9.4 miles and 1000’ of ascent. Calm rolling hills through the countryside. Taking the afternoon to rest up before three hard days ahead. Diane got a chocolate cake and coffee (happy wife,Weiterlesen
ReisenderA perfect spiritual reset. So inspiring. I love seeing the church visits and thinking of all the candles burning with intention. 💕 A symphony of donkeys - no losing them!
Camino Norte, Day 14 =>Santander
15. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
End of the second week. 93 miles this week - getting there.
Beautiful hike this morning out of the countryside. Then climbed up unexpectedly awesome sea side cliffs for four miles that dropped downWeiterlesen
ReisenderWow those sea cliffs are stunning! Congrats on completing two week on the Camino!💪🥾
ReisenderYou’re so right Christine. And when we’re going hard all day - we really appreciate the basics (food, somewhere to sleep, shower, water). At that place we stayed overnight and had two full breakfasts for 68 euros.
Camino Norte, Day 15 =>Santilla Del Mar
16. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Medium day with 13.5 miles and 1700’ ascent. We took the route by the beautiful Atlantic coast vs the standard inland route. We came into town by 2:45 in time for a “meal meal” (in Diane lingoWeiterlesen
ReisenderWow…sunshine, sea cliffs, sandy beach, cobblestone streets…just beautiful! You guys look amazing!
Camino Norte, Day 16 =>Comillas
17. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Hilly hike through rural farms. 15.7 miles with 2150’ ascent.
Ended in the seaside town of Comillas.
The next two days are easy - to catch up/rest.
Camino Norte, Day 17 =>San Vincent
18. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Easy day with 11 miles and 1365’ ascent/1380’ descent. We decided to split a Hard 20+ mile day into two days to catch up/recover, stopping in the “cute little town” of San Vincent de laWeiterlesen
Camino Norte, Day 18 =>Columbres
19. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Crossed into Asturias - the longest of the four principalities on the Camino Norte. Say goodbye to Cantabria. Basque Country is already long gone.
Relatively easy day today with 10.5 miles andWeiterlesen
ReisenderYou know how that puts a smile on her face. Good way to end an easier day.
Camino Norte, Day 19 => Llanes
20. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
17 miles with 2100’ ascent/2400’ descent but very few steep hills/no mountains - not bad. Beautiful hike mainly over seaside cliffs. It’s probably the second most scenic day of the entire CaminoWeiterlesen
ReisenderThat green blue ocean in the middle with the cliff looks amazing
Reisender"fricken dangerous" 🤣 on the rocks ... That reminds me of the YouTube video you guys watched with the hikers in the White Mountains (not that bad)
ReisenderEspecially for people our age with..let's just say not the best balance/flexibility!!
Camino Norte, Day 20 => Cuerres
21. September 2025 in Spanien ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Half of the Way to Santiago de Compostela.
16 miles with 1630’ ascent, 1530’ descent. Rolling hills through forest/farms and small villages in the hilly valley between the Cantabrian mountainWeiterlesen