Camino del Norte - Sept 2017

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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 24, 2017, 5:42pm
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 24 m
- Spain Cantabria Santa Cruz de Bezana Soto de la Marina Punta de San Juan de la Canal 43.474181, -3.89531743°28’27” N 3°53’43” W
Day 13
Santander to Sota de la Marina
September 24, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We walked about 21kms today, along coastal roads and paths with beautiful views of the sea. As it was a Sunday, there were lots of people on the trails and at the beauty spots along the way. We expected this to be a quieter walk with no services, but there were a few cafes and even an ice cream van when we needed them!

We got some strange looks in the seaside places today. Hikers with full packs are an oddity around here. The beaches are full of families and sun worshippers enjoying the good weather. We are an alien species among these beautiful people!

We decided to stop in Soto de la Marina, rather than doing the thirty something kms to Boo de Pielagos.
This is a nice little place and the Posada is very well located. I've just had what might be my favourite swim so far. Lovely little beach with big splashy waves.

I'm not sure where we'll walk tomorrow. Boo is a bit too close, but Santillana del Mar may be too long a walk. As always, we'll figure it out as we go along.Read more
Laurie Reynolds So glad you are having such beautiful weather!
9/24/17Reply
Laurie Reynolds Nuala, you've probably already seen this, but gronze lists some private alternatives after Boo but before Santillana. https://www.gronze.com/etapa/santander/santilla…. Buen camino, peregrina!!!!
9/24/17Reply
Claire Topping Loving all these sea and beach photos. Will have to see if I can inspire Mr T to get his walking shoes on! Definitely looks like my type of walk.
9/24/17Reply
Elizabeth Cuddy Lovely Nuala.
9/24/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 25, 2017, 6:05pm
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Spain Cantabria Santa Cruz de Bezana Soto de la Marina Punta de San Juan de la Canal 43.47385, -3.89328543°28’26” N 3°53’36” W
1
Day 14
Enjoying the coast
September 25, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
We had dinner last night in the bar opposite the Posada de la Morena. It's right beside the beach and we listened to the waves crashing against the rocks. Although we could probably have walked this coastal option in one go, it was lovely to take a more leisurely approach and enjoy an overnight stop. The barman was very chatty and it turned out that he'd worked in Belfast for a few years! Small world.

We left at around 8am this morning, just as the sun was rising. Another spectacularly beautiful walk.

I'll have to edit these posts when I'm less tired - I'm probably using the same adjectives over and over again! Not to mention the inevitable typos 😊Read more
Traveler Wonderful video - a meditation!
9/26/17Reply
So beautiful
9/26/17Reply
Traveler Indeed! I could watch it over and over.
9/30/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 25, 2017, 6:17pm
- 🌧 18 °C
- Altitude: 92 m
- Spain Cantabria Santillana 43.390984, -4.10842943°23’28” N 4°6’30” W
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Day 14
About 31kms to Santillana del Mar
September 25, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
We made it! This was a day of contrasts: mind-blowing coastal views, a calm forest trail and an awful lot of road-walking. It's good to have arrived. We've checked into a a cute little pension - Hospedaje Angelica. Nice double room for just €36.

Looking forward to exploring the town and getting some dinner later.

More details to follow.Read more
Elizabeth Cuddy Well done there Nuala. Isn't that a lovely place, I hope there are less tour busses there in the morning. It was mobbed when I was there, plus it was raining.
9/25/17Reply
Traveler Hi Elizabeth, it's very pretty indeed. Full of tourists tonight! There are a few walking tours making their way around the town.
9/25/17Reply
Laurie Reynolds So happy to see you are there safe and sound. Though I am not a big fan of all the ticky tacky souvenir shops, I do very much LOVE the romanesque cloister, as you might have guessed! That picture of the pine forest was very evocative -- just like I remember it!
9/25/17Reply
Traveler Beautiful woodland 🌳🌿
9/26/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 26, 2017, 5:30pm
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 38 m
- Spain Cantabria Comillas 43.384716, -4.28938743°23’5” N 4°17’22” W
Day 15
21.5kms to Comillas
September 26, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
It was good to do a shorter walk and to arrive in Comillas in time for a menu del dia. This turned out to be a marathon lunch, as they somehow forgot about our order and brought us a plate of patatas bravas as an apology. We then had the other three courses, plus the complimentary green teas to apologise again! All of this was quite funny as we hadn't actually complained - we were too tired and relaxed to notice how long it was taking to bring the food.

Our accommodation choice today was based entirely on its proximity to that menu del dia. We're in a pension. I'm not even sure of its name. We'll walk around the town later and I'll hopefully have a swim.

This was a pretty straightforward walk today. Nothing difficult or spectacular. I called into the San Pedro church near Oreña and the man there seemed delighted that someone took the time to visit. There's a sello and a Camino information board.

Over the past few days I've seen quite a few posters about the Camino Lebaniego and a pilgrim in a bar in Santander was singing it's praises. So many Caminos .....,,,,,Read more
Traveler Patatas bravas as an apology works every time! 🙂
9/26/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 27, 2017, 6:43pm
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 104 m
- Spain Asturias Ribadedeva Colombres 43.375248, -4.53759143°22’31” N 4°32’15” W
Day 16
Colombres - a long and hot 28kms
September 27, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Today was a long day and the weather was hot, hot, hot! However, there were lots of pleasant distractions along the way.

Reflecting on the past few days, the coastal alternatives were amazing and I'd do them again in a heartbeat However, taking a different path can lead to a disconnection from other pilgrims. And since we had already parted company with lots of folk in Bilbao, we've been getting to know a bunch of 'new' people over the past few days.

As on the Primitivo last year, English speakers are in the minority on this Camino. We were delighted to meet J. from England this morning and to walk with him to San Vincente de la Barquera. He started in Santander and will cross onto the Camino Lebaniego today. He plans to continue on Vadiniense and if his money doesn't run out, he'll keep on walking - perhaps on the Salvador and Primitivo. What a wonderful plan!

It was also a lovely surprise to see M. from Barcelona who we last saw in the albergue in Markina.

We're in the Colombres albergue, along with almost everyone we met today. It's a forgettable kind of a place, but we were all much too tired to be fussy. There are about 20 of us here.

Tomorrow we'll walk to Llanes or Poo. Our big priority will be to find a place with a washing machine!Read more
Traveler Gorgeous pics - glad you're relaxing now!
9/27/17Reply
Traveler Thanks Willa! x
9/30/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 28, 2017, 4:27pm
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- Spain Asturias Llanes 43.421902, -4.75640243°25’19” N 4°45’23” W
Day 17
Colombres to Llanes - 26.7kms
September 28, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
The Colombres albergue turned out to be fine, and nine of us had dinner in the nearby Mexican restaurant last night. Good food, great company and a fun evening.

We kind of underestimated today's walk. Compared to some of the previous days' exertions, the estimated 23kms sounded pretty easy. We set off with fairly basic food and water supplies, thinking that we'd reach Llanes by lunchtime and possibly even go a little further.

When we saw that there was a GR coastal alternative to the 'official' route, we were delighted to take it. And what a beautiful walk it was, with spectacular ocean views and forest shade when we needed it.

Things got a bit tricky on what should have been the final 4 or 5 kms. We continued to follow the GR arrows and went up, up, up, initially on the road and then on an off-road trail. The views were fantastic, but there was no shade whatsoever and although we could see Llanes far below, it didn't seem to be getting any closer. We eventually realised that we'd missed a right turn somewhere, but a quick check of the GPS maps told us that our trail would eventually join the road route to Llanes. It all turned out fine - there was even a shady glade and a covered church porch when we really needed to get out of the sun. And although water fountains seem more scarce in Asturias than in Cantabria, Damian spotted one on the way into town.

We abandoned any plans to walk further and checked into the Casona del Peregrino albergue. It has private rooms and a washing machine. Life is good!Read more
Laurie Reynolds I am pretty sure I had the same problem on my way into Llanes. Seemed that after that shadeless ascent to the views, we went left when we should have been going right. I just checked a Camino GPS route and it looks like we did what we were supposed to do, even though it makes a V instead of a straight line! So I don't think you missed a turn, not that it matters! Hugs. https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=3473942
9/28/17Reply
Traveler Thanks Laurie, that's interesting. The Buen Camino app for that stage shows both the GR and the yellow arrow route. On the final part of that shadeless trail, we were on neither! But it was such a great treat to end up at the little ermita and to lie down in the shade.
9/29/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 29, 2017, 5:54pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- Spain Asturias Llanes 43.419533, -4.75091443°25’10” N 4°45’3” W
Day 18
Adiós, Llanes
September 29, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
And so ends another long walk in Spain. We fly home on Sunday and need some rest and recovery time before jumping back into work and our other commitments. So rather than walking 31kms to Ribadesella, we took the train and checked into a hotel for two nights.

After a little stroll around the town, we indulged our new favourite Camino pastime - a long and leisurely menu del dia! We'll do some more exploring this evening and hopefully meet our Camino buddies for dinner.Read more
Mark Feeney Looks like an awesome walk....looking forward to hearing about it
9/29/17Reply
Laurie Reynolds Well done, Nuala! Hope you have wonderful rest and relaxation in Ribadesella.
9/29/17Reply
Traveler A break back in Belfast before you go on another walk.
9/29/17Reply
Traveler Thanks folks. We're tired but happy. Great to be having a lie-in this morning!
9/30/17Reply
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Traveler Camino del Norte - Sept 2017
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- Sep 30, 2017, 9:20pm
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Spain Asturias Ribadesella Río Sella 43.458759, -5.06136543°27’32” N 5°3’41” W
Day 19
Resting in Ribadesella. Where's the sun?
September 30, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Narrative to follow
Laurie Reynolds Beautiful pictures even though it's not sunny. And you can take solace in the fact that the surfers are happy. Safe travels home, Nuala.
9/30/17Reply
Traveler Thank you for sharing your walk, and your beautiful photos, Nuala. It has certainly helped us imagine what our walk will be next year. Safe travels home!
10/6/17Reply
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