LIVE from the Camino Walking towards the Aragones

[LesBrass]

We're joining the growing number of pilgrims walking along these glorious paths. We started our 'there and back again' camino at the end of the Arles route and we're heading towards the Aragones in a few days. We've so far had a gloriously sunny day and a gloriously grey day too... but regardless of the weather the views have been perfect!

Here are a few photos... there are lots more on my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/11/chocolate/

 

[mspath]

LesBrass,
Those are wonderful photos that you have posted both here and on your blog; thanks for sharing the glorious views. Looking forward to seeing/reading re your next day out.

 

[Ferdinand the Bull]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing

BTW be prepared that the landscape will change significantly once you cross the Pyrenees and continue on the Camino Aragones. Unless things have changed significantly in the last year there is also rather far between the water posts so getting and especially adninistrating the water (and food) may take some planning and foresight. Just my experience and advice though. Bon Camino!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Such a beautiful route!

 

[LesBrass]

LesBrass,
Those are wonderful photos that you have posted both here and on your blog; thanks for sharing the glorious views. Looking forward to seeing/reading re your next day out.

We had a touristy day today... The rain was bad and we want to enjoy the mountain views... More to come another day

 

[LesBrass]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing

BTW be prepared that the landscape will change significantly once you cross the Pyrenees and continue on the Camino Aragones. Unless things have changed significantly in the last year there is also rather far between the water posts so getting and especially adninistrating the water (and food) may take some planning and foresight. Just my experience and advice though. Bon Camino!

Thanks... We'll make sure we plan well

 

[LesBrass]

Such a beautiful route!

I wish we had more time... But the Arles will be going on our wish list

 

[LesBrass]

We paused today because of the rain... Still glorious though









More photos here https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/13/rejection/

 

[dick bird]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing

BTW be prepared that the landscape will change significantly once you cross the Pyrenees and continue on the Camino Aragones. Unless things have changed significantly in the last year there is also rather far between the water posts so getting and especially adninistrating the water (and food) may take some planning and foresight. Just my experience and advice though. Bon Camino!

Especially after Jaca, where you are into meseta landscape. Try to make time to do side trips if you can to the monasteries of San Juan de la Peña and Leyre and Lumbier gorge. The tourist office will explain how to get to them. Great photos, by the way.

 

[LesBrass]

Especially after Jaca, where you are into meseta landscape. Try to make time to do side trips if you can to the monasteries of San Juan de la Peña and Leyre and Lumbier gorge. The tourist office will explain how to get to them. Great photos, by the way.

I hadn’t heard of Leyre so I’ll add that to the list... thank you

 

[dick bird]

I hadn’t heard of Leyre so I’ll add that to the list... thank you

Don't let Peregrina2000 hear you say that. It is a Romanesque gem.

 

[LesBrass]

We found sunshine in Spain... We jumped ahead until the rain passes... So we'll go back to Somport in a few days... But today was beautiful... And we saw a lot of sheep!

https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/14/let-them-eat-cake/

 

[Pancho]

We're joining the growing number of pilgrims walking along these glorious paths. We started our 'there and back again' camino at the end of the Arles route and we're heading towards the Aragones in a few days. We've so far had a gloriously sunny day and a gloriously grey day too... but regardless of the weather the views have been perfect!

Here are a few photos... there are lots more on my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/11/chocolate/

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[Pancho]

Fantastic views!!!!! Buen Camino

 

[VNwalking]

Really enjoying your posts @LesBrass !
Thank you for taking the time to share them here.
Will you go as far as Jaca and San Juan de la Pena? May you have fair weather and more glorious days!

 

[LesBrass]

Really enjoying your posts @LesBrass !
Thank you for taking the time to share them here.
Will you go as far as Jaca and San Juan de la Pena? May you have fair weather and more glorious days!

yes we hope so... we will go back to Urdos in a couple of days when the weather is better and walk to Somport and also from Somport to Canfranc... but we hope to keep going all the way to puente la Reina. We won’t have time to walk every step but we’ve chosen the best of the stages, following the recommendations from the experts on here. Today I’m planning on moving onwards towards Jaca

 

[LesBrass]

Yesterday Gerry stumbled and turned his ankle. It was too swollen for him to walk today so I walked alone to the outskirts of Jaca... Gosh it was a glorious day again (but I miss my walking Buddy)











More photos here : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/15/goodbye-france/

 

[LesBrass]

Tourist for the day at San Juan de La Peña monasteries... What an amazing visit.






I took so many photos today - you'll find more here : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/16/big-views-and-old-walls/

 

[VNwalking]

an amazing visit.

Woah.
Beautiful.

May Gerry's ankle heal quickly! It looks like a nasty sprain.

 

[LesBrass]

We returned to France to complete the journey from Urdos to Somport. The last stage of the Arles is very different to St Jean to Roncesvalles... I so so so just wanted to keep walking onwards... But not today. Glorious stage

More photos here in my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/19/the-end-of-the-arles/

 

[peregrina2000]

Ah, @LesBrass, WisePilgrim is going to have a field day with adding some of these beauties to the crowd-sourced app!

 

[OzAnnie]

Thankyou @LesBrass
What an absolutely ‘juicy batch’ of photos and descriptions on your posts.
I would love to be there - - just beautifully peaceful and inspiring

buen camino to you and Gerry
Annie

Edit: I forgot to ask - how is the effect on your quads and calves ? Are there more gentle climbs & descents than what I see in the pics ?
looks so much tougher than the Sjpdp-Roncesvalles section of the CF.

 

[nycwalking]

Thanks for sharing.

Buen camino.

 

[Albertagirl]

I walked the Aragones from Oloron Ste Marie to Somport (Camino d'Arles) to Puenta la Reina, then on the Frances to Santiago, for my second camino. The walk up the Valee d'Aspe spreads out the climb over several days, and the final climb up to Somport is, in my opinion, much easier than the Napoleon. It is also much more solitary, which suited me just fine after the crowds on the Napoleon. And very beautiful. I shall go back one day.

 

[LesBrass]

Thankyou @LesBrass
What an absolutely ‘juicy batch’ of photos and descriptions on your posts.
I would love to be there - - just beautifully peaceful and inspiring

buen camino to you and Gerry
Annie

Edit: I forgot to ask - how is the effect on your quads and calves ? Are there more gentle climbs & descents than what I see in the pics ?
looks so much tougher than the Sjpdp-Roncesvalles section of the CF.

Hi there... Just as @Albertagirl says its more gentle. I still think Hunto to Orisson is the steepest up because of Gerrys ankle we are avoiding lots of downs but generally what we've walked has been fine for me

 

[LesBrass]

Today we followed the original camino out of Sangüesa... Tomorrow we'll walk the Foz... We also did a little sightseeing

More photos in my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/20/part-one/

 

[Former member 49149]

Today we followed the original camino out of Sangüesa... Tomorrow we'll walk the Foz... We also did a little sightseeing

More photos in my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/20/part-one/

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Your photos are delightful. Thank you.

 

[LesBrass]

Today we took the alternative route via the Lumbier gorge... I'm not sure which route I prefer but the gorge was fabulous! More photos here : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/21/part-two/

 

[LesBrass]

Your photos are delightful. Thank you.

glad you're enjoying them

 

[Former member 49149]

I had time to read your account, but am not near my password for signing in to give a like so here it is. Take good care, the temp is too high.

 

[Flog]

Your photos are fantastic, I I definitely walked it too fast in 2019, I felt it at the time and I know missed a lot. Next time....

 

[Vacajoe]

I love the Gorge and it’s unique history! Did you see the “Bridge of the Devil and Jesus”?

 

[Vacajoe]

Just read your description for the day and WOW were you off course! . There actually IS a path from the Leyre Monastery to Lumbier Gorge, much of what it sounds like you walked by accident. For future pilgrims, you can follow a path from Sanguesa to Lumbier through the Gorge and the Lumbier to Monreal for the next stage. Very enjoyable

 

[LesBrass]

Today really was too hot for walking... I wonder how all the pilgrims walking coped today... I hope they took it easy Almost there











More photos on my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/22/almost-there/

 

[Anniesantiago]

Your photos really ARE spectacular!
Making my feet itch!

 

[mspath]

Thanks again for sharing your journey and beautiful memories.
Carpe diem.

 

[Former member 49149]

Today really was too hot for walking... I wonder how all the pilgrims walking coped today... I hope they took it easy Almost there

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More photos on my blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/22/almost-there/

Actually, your photos would make a glorious book. When I was young I came across a one liner I have always recalled as by Ezra Pound: you'll not get Him all in a book. Maybe I made it up, that he was the author. I was fond of one liners. That was the height of my exposure to a lot of literature!
Anyway, my real point is: you have material for an exquisite Camino journey to delight actual and armchair pilgrims.

 

[VNwalking]

OMG. So gorgeous, @LesBrass.
Thank you.

 

[LesBrass]

Thank you Pilgrims... I'm so glad that you enjoyed the photos and our COVID camino... we reached the end today at Eunate (@mspath I thought of you)... it seemed the right place to end.

I didn't take so many photos today... but a few more as always in the blog : https://thenwewalked.blog/2021/07/23/the-pandemic-made-us-do-it/



@kirkie - after the Lebaniago last year I made a photo book and I love it. When Gerry's mum died we found so many old photos and it made us think about digital photos... they're great for sharing online but would they stand the test of time.. so I plan to make a photo book of each of my caminos... It might take me a while

 

[peregrina2000]

There actually IS a path from the Leyre Monastery to Lumbier Gorge,

I am starting to re-read lots of Camino Aragonés threads, and this line just jumped out at me. I hope to walk the Aragonés next year and would like to take in some of the places not too far off the route. I had seen some descriptions and some wikiloc tracks that show how easy it would be to take a detour from Undués de Lerda to the Javier Castle and then continue up to the Monastery of Leyre. I thought I'd spend a night in the monastery and then head back to the camino. I've been to the monastery twice but have never walked there, and I really want to do that!

From Leyre, I was assuming I'd have to backtrack and then head to Sangüesa, but your comment sent me to the map and to wikiloc. I see there are options to go from Leyre to Liedena and then through the gorge without going through Sangüesa. Since I've already walked the Aragonés and have spent a night in Sangüesa, this seems like a great option.

@Vacajoe, did you walk from Leyre to the gorge? If so, do you remember enough about it to orient me? I have a bunch of wikiloc tracks but there seem to be a lot of different routes and I'm not quite sure how to choose one.

 

[Vacajoe]

I am starting to re-read lots of Camino Aragonés threads, and this line just jumped out at me. I hope to walk the Aragonés next year and would like to take in some of the places not too far off the route. I had seen some descriptions and some wikiloc tracks that show how easy it would be to take a detour from Undués de Lerda to the Javier Castle and then continue up to the Monastery of Leyre. I thought I'd spend a night in the monastery and then head back to the camino. I've been to the monastery twice but have never walked there, and I really want to do that!

From Leyre, I was assuming I'd have to backtrack and then head to Sangüesa, but your comment sent me to the map and to wikiloc. I see there are options to go from Leyre to Liedena and then through the gorge without going through Sangüesa. Since I've already walked the Aragonés and have spent a night in Sangüesa, this seems like a great option.

@Vacajoe, did you walk from Leyre to the gorge? If so, do you remember enough about it to orient me? I have a bunch of wikiloc tracks but there seem to be a lot of different routes and I'm not quite sure how to choose one.

I’ve walked Lumbier-Leyre twice - once in each direction! There are two routes, one over the mountain ridge and the other through the gorge following the old electric train route (I recommend the latter).

So definitely stay the night at Leyre. There is a parador there which is nice, but but that fancy. If you are a single male, there is sometimes an option to sleep and eat in the monastery itself (arrange it ahead of time). Definitely pay for the self-guided tour, if only to be handed a key to that ancient space!!! Also, attend the evening liturgy of the hours.

From the monastery, you head down to Yesa, then Liedena where the path is marked. If you follow the river upstream, you can’t miss it. The village of Lumbier is nice, but not much there. The one hotel will give you a pilgrim’s discount and the food in the evening has been excellent in the past. If you sleep in a bit, I highly recommend their morning bocadillo and tortilla selections (they don’t get out out until 9am or so). From Lumbier, you follow the path towards Yesa where you’ll rejoin the other path that came from Sanguesa.

What’s interesting is that this used to be the way marked path of the Camino, but then it was diverted after Sanguesa and has fallen out of favor. I think it’s a fabulous detour.

PM me for more

 

[peregrina2000]

There are two routes, one over the mountain ridge and the other through the gorge following the old electric train route (I recommend the latter).

I have actually found wikiloc tracks for a route that starts in Leyre, goes up on the ridge, and then descends to enter the tunnel and goes through the gorge without going through Liedena. That ridge has some difficult parts, though, and the author of the wikiloc tracks posted a picture of a section with a chain that confirms my suspicion that I ought to take the lower track through Yesa and Liedena.

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/monasterio-de-leyre-foz-de-lumbier-lumbier-46513706

Ten years ago I would have given this a shot, but I think that my conversation with the author convinced me that I won’t venture on this alone. BTW, if anyone ever has a question about wikiloc tracks that are posted on their website, you can just send that question to the author via the comment section. Wikiloc will notify the author via email that a comment has been received and they can respond. I have done this many times and have always gotten answers and suggestions.

But it looks like a great idea for those who are several decades younger than I!

 

[Vacajoe]

Yeah, figured it had to rejoin the path BEFORE the gorge and not in the middle of it! There are a number of walking paths in that area, so I am sure other variations exist as well, though as you noted, they may be a bit dangerous and are definitely not maintained like the main paths.