2 hacks for last day on the Vasco Interior

[dick bird]

The stage from Monasterio into Burgos is a longish one, but there are 2 ways to make it easier. Just saying that the N1 has a very wide hard shoulder and it is a 20 min walk up the hill to La Brújula where the only establishment still in business is open at 6 am - your only chance for breakfast. From there, the N1 is probably following the original line of the Roman road so after 1.7 kms, just before the motorway, take the track on the right and after 2-300 mts you’ll find yourself back on the Camino/Via Italia having avoided a pointless 3km wiggle around the forest.

On approaching Burgos through Villimar, there is a café just past the church. At the bottom of the hill you come to the rio Verne. Turn right and you can follow it all the way into town via Calle Reyes Católicos, a much pleasanter walk, mainly park.

 

[Tortilla]

I can offer a slightly different solution (which I have used myself in the past). Instead of walking a short stage from Briviesca to Monasterio de Rodilla and stop after just 19 km at a bit noisy albergue at the Monasterio (right on the highway), I extended my Camino to Olmos de Atapuerca, which is a charming and quiet village in between the Camino de Vasco and Camino Frances. The albergue municipal in Olmos is quiet as very few French Camino pilgrims make a detour to sleep there (unless Atapuerca is full). From Olmos you have an easy climb to the Cruz de Atapuerca (a much easier climb than coming from the Atapuerca village) where you join the long-awaited Camino Frances and walk into Burgos in the company of French Way pilgrims - whom you can impress (or not) with your stories from the solitary Basque Camino.

The Stage from Olmos de Atapuerca to the Cathedral in Burgos is about 20 km long

 

[dick bird]

That’s another possibility, though not everyone would have the navigational skills for that - ours were challenged even on the official route as waymarks were conspicuous by their absence (unlike in the Basque Country, plenty there). The highway was pretty quiet, most of the traffic now goes along the AP1.

 

[VNwalking]

can offer a slightly different solution

Oooo. Nice idea.

Just saying that the N1 has a very wide hard shoulder and it is a 20 min walk up the hill to La Brújula where the only establishment still in business is open at 6 am - your only chance for breakfast. From there, the N1 is probably following the original line of the Roman road so after 1.7 kms, just before the motorway, take the track on the right and after 2-300 mts you’ll find yourself back on the Camino/Via Italia having avoided a pointless 3km wiggle around the forest.

Yeah, but the wiggle was really special and I'd hate to miss it. Beautiful Ermita, beautiful rock formations in the rear view mirror, and really nice wildflowers up there. Our different solution was unintended, since everything in Monasterio de Rodilla was closed - we got a room at La Brujala, most satisfactory. Good food too, of course. Truck stops have that!
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[roving_rufus]

I did your second suggestion to from the La Brujela service station and kept walking along main road to avoid the wiggle to wind turbines/forest. There was so little traffic! There was also some track on lhs part of way too.

I did enjoy the first "wiggle" via ermita nuestra señora de la Valle - but i stayed at La Brujela so it was the close of my day andci was delightedto be away from the main road. But I supposed if you stayed in Monasterio you could wander up here for a evening stroll.

 

[Tortilla]

I did enjoy the first "wiggle" via ermita nuestra señora de la Valle

I did your second suggestion to from the La Brujula service station and kept walking along main road to avoid the wiggle to wind turbines

Thats what I did as well.
Between Monasterio and La Brujula I walked on the Camino, by this beautiful Ermita from @VNwalking photos above, but after La Brujula, just like you guys @dick bird @roving_rufus , I walked on the empty N-1 to avoid the "second wiggle". Except me, heading to Olmos de Atapuerca for the night, did not turn right before the highway viaduct to get back on the Camino Vasco, but continued maybe 5 minutes more on N-1 and on the other side of the highway (here) I switched to gravel roads on the left, first towards Quintanapalla and then Olmos de Atapuerca.

I really enjoyed the village of Olmos, it was so quiet. I was alone at the municipal albergue. The hospitalero (and the owner of the bar nearby) gave mi detailed instructions how to join the Camino Frances at the Cruz de Atapuerca the following day.

 

[lt56ny]

Got to save this thread. It will come in handy for my next Vasco. Thanks to all.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@VNwalking, I always enjoy pictures and yours on this thread are absolutely lovely!

 

[VNwalking]

Thanks, Chris.
The place was lovely! Walking to the ermita and after that up to La Brújula was beautiful and peaceful - as was the wonderful ermita. Then came the gorgeous rock formations - which I only saw when I turned to look behind us as we went up the hill. One of those 'Ohhhh... WOW!' moments.

 

[VNwalking]

I really enjoyed the village of Olmos, it was so quiet. I was alone at the municipal albergue. The hospitalero (and the owner of the bar nearby) gave mi detailed instructions how to join the Camino Frances at the Cruz de Atapuerca the following day.

And it looks shorter to Burgos that way. You miss the Roman road, is all.

OTOH. The flip side - this would be an interesting option coming from the Francès: go to Burgos via the VdB after Atapuerca, thus potentially getting the experience of the prehistoric sites at Atapuerca and the very nice Roman road on the VdB - and missing the airport/industrial exurbs of Burgos. The VdB comes into the city at the La Rosa Station, and you can follow the Rio Vena much of the way into the center of the city. It's very nice!