It is difficult to be objective when you have just completed such a wonderful experience.
In most ways it fulfilled our expectations - walking with a growing level of fitness, experiencing
Spanish culture, beautiful landscapes and meeting people, but we feel this is not a walk for everyone. To put this statement into perspective, we have had two failed Caminos - the CheminMidi - Pyrenees from Narbonne in 2007 and the Via Del Plata from Salamanca in 2009. Both of
these walks were also in July and had long stretches on main roads in extreme conditions.
So the success for us is even more sweet, now that we are more experienced, and have resolved many issues.
Quite a few people who even began the walk in Irun suffered knee injuries on the first day, some
continued walking and others combined their trip with walking and transport. It is so important to
have well-worn in boots/ shoes and comfortable sandals, as light a pack as possible (6kgs or less)
and essential to have a good level of fitness. From the very beginning there are steep ascents and
crippling descents. In peak season there is also an issue about accommodation in albergues, if
you are travelling on a budget, with the imcreasing popularity of this route. Pensions and hotels were plentiful except in some small towns, from Muros de Nalon to Ribadeo.
If you have enjoyed the Camino Frances and would like another similar experience I would recommend the French routes to St Jean from Le Puys or Vezelay. The path is well-marked, accommodation is plentiful and it is less taxing on the knees!
As s holiday destination, the northern coast is spectacular, the beaches are clean with soft sand
and the port towns are fascinating. We also loved our week in Galicia with the stone buildings, muted-green landscape and the wonderful hosts.
As for my book, Divorce on the Camino. I had planned a murder or suicide in the last chapter but I've had a change of heart. A happy ending. All is forgiven, Julian Mark.
M&M
PS But that's not all, folks. On Sunday we fly to Vienna to start the European Peace Walk to Trieste on Monday 10 th. So stay tuned!
7 comments:
Hearty congratulations from us! What a great way to tour, taking the time to see all the interesting sights and people close up. Be sure to give yourselves a good rest and plenty of the best pastries Vienna has to offer before you set out on Peace Walk! Very best wishes from Nick & Wendy.
Thanks for sharing your experiences everyday. I stumbled across your blog a couple weeks ago and had enjoyed reading about the experiences and seeing the pictures. I am doing the Camino del Norte next month on a bicycle. The blogs of the walkers have so much more details to them, but seeing everything really has helped me to get a better sense of what to expect on the Camino. I'm sad it's over, but super jealous that you get to do all these amazing walks in such beautiful places. I'm 34 and single, but I'd like to one day be able to do these things with my future wife.
Take care,
Justin
Wow impressive you are now doing European peace walk , .Good bye I will miss You . Loved all the happy pics from last two .
Walkmag
Just re read your last comment Will stay tuned because EPW is for my 2016 plan
Hello Meg and Mark,
We also stumbled across your blog--while researching walking the Kerry Way in Ireland. We're starting that on Sept. 21 this year, and thanks to your blog for some useful tips. Also, we walked the Camino Frances in 2012, finishing about a week before you did on November 3, 2012. We have read all the entries in your blog from 2012 onward and have so enjoyed reading your Camino Norte entries every evening. You are both such an inspiration! The European Peace Walk is on our bucket list! We look forward to following your next journey.
Buen Camino,
Charlotte and Peter
West Covehead, P.E.I. Canada
Hi M&M- not sure if you will even see this post since your blog is over a year old. Really enjoyed reading about your adventures. I am debating between the Camino Norte and the Chemin le Puy for 2017. Since I will be traveling solo I would like to be on a route where there is opportunity to meet other walkers. Is one of these routes better in that regard? Have already done the CF so don't want to repeat. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks much for the blog. My wife and I are looking at the Norte / Primitivo combination from Irun to Santiago in April and your blog was the most help on the Norte that I could find. I greatly appreciate it.
Regards (and I am NOT kidding here:)
Michael & Melanie Smith (We always go by M&M!)
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