Alone on the Lana

[Tess@rest]

I seem to be alone on the Lana.... no other pilgrims since I crossed the Levante in Almansa. I’m in Villarta.
Is there anyone else on the Lana now?
It’s beautiful!

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Hi Tess!
Enjoy the peace and tranquility of your solitude. I always loved walking the quiet caminos, with no rush to keep up with anyone, and almost empty albergues each evening.
Of course you have chosen one of the less "populated" caminos in the Lana.
Enjoy the peace, and feel blessed: one day, like me, you will find your walking days are no more: and the memories of your walks will be a blessing to you.
Buen camino, Tess!

 

[Tess@rest]

Hi Tess!
Enjoy the peace and tranquility of your solitude. I always loved walking the quiet caminos, with no rush to keep up with anyone, and almost empty albergues each evening.
Of course you have chosen one of the less "populated" caminos in the Lana.
Enjoy the peace, and feel blessed: one day, like me, you will find your walking days are no more: and the memories of your walks will be a blessing to you.
Buen camino, Tess!

Thx for your reply... I am loving the peace and tranquility of the Lana. I was just curious to know if there were any pilgrims nearby on this route. Last year when I did the Levante I only met up (off & on) with five other pilgrims... two Spanish, two French & an Italian.

 

[Former member 60103]

Tess,
Sounds great. Now feeling that maybe I should have gone for an earlier flight to Alicante.........like 4 months earlier.
How was the route out of Alicante is it signed ? I always have the major problems in the built up areas as opposed to the countryside.
Last year I was staying at Alpera albergue and met up with three Spanish Cyclists doing part of the La Lana, we went our separate ways and although I was walking the Levante (Sept) I saw very few people on the path after that. I think the same will be true for you on the La Lana especially the further north you get.
I wish you buen camino.
Don.

 

[Tess@rest]

The signage was less than complete but I use a gps program that works offline to help me find the spots where the Camino leaves a town. I used it last year on the Levante and it’s been a major help on the Lana. I’ve found a few Spanish towns where the app doesn’t have the street names but 80 percent of the time it does. Much of the Lana has been well marked thru the countryside but not so much in the towns.

 

[Former member 60103]

Ok that sounds about right. On the Levante I used mapping I downloaded onto my phone from "Bikemap". For the La Lana I have downloaded from OsmAnd (Open source mapping for Android) and have three maps covering the route, the "on foot" option highlights the camino and shows North. This works off line. Unfortunately my phone ran out of space so I am missing the first Alicante section up to Almansa hence my question.
New boots have now arrived so busy wearing them in, really looking forward to late August.
Buen Camino,
Don.

 

[Tess@rest]

Ok that sounds about right. On the Levante I used mapping I downloaded onto my phone from "Bikemap". For the La Lana I have downloaded from OsmAnd (Open source mapping for Android) and have three maps covering the route, the "on foot" option highlights the camino and shows North. This works off line. Unfortunately my phone ran out of space so I am missing the first Alicante section up to Almansa hence my question.
New boots have now arrived so busy wearing them in, really looking forward to late August.
Buen Camino,
Don.

Buen Camino!

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Thx for your reply... I am loving the peace and tranquility of the Lana. I was just curious to know if there were any pilgrims nearby on this route. Last year when I did the Levante I only met up (off & on) with five other pilgrims... two Spanish, two French & an Italian.

Hi Tess- just a few questions about the Lana if you have time and wifi to answer- which gps app are you using for your maps? Overall how necessary are you finding gps rather than relying on waymarking? Do you speak Spanish well enough to socialize with the locals? One of my concerns about doing this route is only having my own company 24/7 for 26 or so days. How does the scenery/presence of historical sights/sites compare to the other routes you've walked? Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[Tess@rest]

Hi Tess- just a few questions about the Lana if you have time and wifi to answer- which gps app are you using for your maps? Overall how necessary are you finding gps rather than relying on waymarking? Do you speak Spanish well enough to socialize with the locals? One of my concerns about doing this route is only having my own company 24/7 for 26 or so days. How does the scenery/presence of historical sights/sites compare to the other routes you've walked? Thanks for taking the time to reply.

First of all Ilaugh at all of the reports of crowds on the Frances....that’s something you’ll never have to worry about on the Lana! Over two and a half weeks and I’ve yet to meet another Lana peregrino. You will have lots of time to talk to yourself 24/7. To offset this I try to stay in a hostel in the bigger towns like Almansa and Cuerna so I get an opportunity to interact with other travelers even if they aren’t pilgrims.
My Spanish is passable but as far as socializing goes I don’t have the vocabulary to discuss religion or politics which is probably for the best. I can talk abut the menu, location of stores and the weather, along with a good introduction of myself, my family,where Ilive in the states and my career as a teacher. So far that level of Spanish has done well for me. My greatest deficit is my struggle to understand when the locals answer quickly.
The gps app I use is Galileo Pro. I think there was a small fee - a few dollars - not much. I’d truly be lost without it. In some places the Lana is very well marked . In others you may only see 4 arrows a day and that’s if you are really looking. Most towns have no arrows at all or they just stop one or two into town. The gps gives me street names and helps me find what I’m looking for. Some places they have even painted over the arrows so as to appear blank or trees are pulled down blocking the path. It’s a daily puzzle and a test of faith. At some intersections there are no markers anywhere..... I use my gps and my compass and sure enough a hundred or so yards down the road is a yellow arrow as if to confirm I made a good choice. Know that many of the albergues listed do not exist. Sometimes you get to sleep on a mat in an unheated local “social hall” and sometimes you will have to go for the only option- a Casa Rural. For the most part the locals are friendly nd a bit surprised to find that I am a pilgrim who is walking alone.
Sorry for any typos but I’ve been having some phone problems.
All in all I hope you love the Lana.
Buen Camino! Tess

 

[Larry OHeron]

I am thinking of the Lana in September. Are you blogging or youtubing so that I can follow your camino?

 

[Tess@rest]

I am thinking of the Lana in September. Are you blogging or youtubing so that I can follow your camino?

Sorry... neither. I write in my journals. There is a lot of good info on the Lana especially thru this forum. Check all of the Lana threads. One has info to a guide which is great. I had to translate it to English but it’s the best info and with my gps is all I need most days. ... that and a bit of faith.

 

[Tess@rest]

Check the thread called : Guide to the Camino de Lana

 

[intrepidtraveler]

First of all Ilaugh at all of the reports of crowds on the Frances....that’s something you’ll never have to worry about on the Lana! Over two and a half weeks and I’ve yet to meet another Lana peregrino. You will have lots of time to talk to yourself 24/7. To offset this I try to stay in a hostel in the bigger towns like Almansa and Cuerna so I get an opportunity to interact with other travelers even if they aren’t pilgrims.
My Spanish is passable but as far as socializing goes I don’t have the vocabulary to discuss religion or politics which is probably for the best. I can talk abut the menu, location of stores and the weather, along with a good introduction of myself, my family,where Ilive in the states and my career as a teacher. So far that level of Spanish has done well for me. My greatest deficit is my struggle to understand when the locals answer quickly.
The gps app I use is Galileo Pro. I think there was a small fee - a few dollars - not much. I’d truly be lost without it. In some places the Lana is very well marked . In others you may only see 4 arrows a day and that’s if you are really looking. Most towns have no arrows at all or they just stop one or two into town. The gps gives me street names and helps me find what I’m looking for. Some places they have even painted over the arrows so as to appear blank or trees are pulled down blocking the path. It’s a daily puzzle and a test of faith. At some intersections there are no markers anywhere..... I use my gps and my compass and sure enough a hundred or so yards down the road is a yellow arrow as if to confirm I made a good choice. Know that many of the albergues listed do not exist. Sometimes you get to sleep on a mat in an unheated local “social hall” and sometimes you will have to go for the only option- a Casa Rural. For the most part the locals are friendly nd a bit surprised to find that I am a pilgrim who is walking alone.
Sorry for any typos but I’ve been having some phone problems.
All in all I hope you love the Lana.
Buen Camino! Tess

Thank you, Tess for a very helpful reply. I hope you continue to enjoy your adventure. Buen Camino.

 

[margareta söderberg]

The signage was less than complete but I use a gps program that works offline to help me find the spots where the Camino leaves a town. I used it last year on the Levante and it’s been a major help on the Lana. I’ve found a few Spanish towns where the app doesn’t have the street names but 80 percent of the time it does. Much of the Lana has been well marked thru the countryside but not so much in the towns.

Hi,
what gps program did you use? I'll be setting off on the Via de Levante beginning June.
Thank you
Margareta

 

[Tess@rest]

Hi,
what gps program did you use? I'll be setting off on the Via de Levante beginning June.
Thank you
Margareta

The gps app I use is Galileo Pro. I think there was a small fee - a few dollars - not much. I’d truly be lost without it. In some places the Lana is very well marked . In others you may only see 4 arrows a day and that’s if you are really looking. Most towns have no arrows at all or they just stop one or two into town. The gps gives me street names in most towns and helps me find what I’m looking for.
Enjoy the Levante!

 

[margareta söderberg]

Thanks for answering so quick!
Do you mean that Gallileo Pro has a guide of the Via de Lana or is it just an off line map like Google maps?
Best,
Margareta

 

[Tess@rest]

How quickly I can answe is a function of WiFi availability which is poor to nonexistent in many of the small towns on the Lana. This is why I love Galileo Pro - it works very well offline. It is a gps program similar to Google Maps but from my experience you need a good internet connection to use Google Maps.
I hope you will love the Lana too ... it’s a very different Camino but an amazing experience.

 

[margareta söderberg]

Thank you, Tess.
I have tanken note of this and I am longing for setting off. It might be very, very hot but I'll see. I had planned to start mid May but can't because of my job.
Never mind, everything tends to work out for the best, I find.
Greetings,
Margareta

 

[Kevin F. O*brien]

First of all Ilaugh at all of the reports of crowds on the Frances....that’s something you’ll never have to worry about on the Lana! Over two and a half weeks and I’ve yet to meet another Lana peregrino. You will have lots of time to talk to yourself 24/7. To offset this I try to stay in a hostel in the bigger towns like Almansa and Cuerna so I get an opportunity to interact with other travelers even if they aren’t pilgrims.
My Spanish is passable but as far as socializing goes I don’t have the vocabulary to discuss religion or politics which is probably for the best. I can talk abut the menu, location of stores and the weather, along with a good introduction of myself, my family,where Ilive in the states and my career as a teacher. So far that level of Spanish has done well for me. My greatest deficit is my struggle to understand when the locals answer quickly.
The gps app I use is Galileo Pro. I think there was a small fee - a few dollars - not much. I’d truly be lost without it. In some places the Lana is very well marked . In others you may only see 4 arrows a day and that’s if you are really looking. Most towns have no arrows at all or they just stop one or two into town. The gps gives me street names and helps me find what I’m looking for. Some places they have even painted over the arrows so as to appear blank or trees are pulled down blocking the path. It’s a daily puzzle and a test of faith. At some intersections there are no markers anywhere..... I use my gps and my compass and sure enough a hundred or so yards down the road is a yellow arrow as if to confirm I made a good choice. Know that many of the albergues listed do not exist. Sometimes you get to sleep on a mat in an unheated local “social hall” and sometimes you will have to go for the only option- a Casa Rural. For the most part the locals are friendly nd a bit surprised to find that I am a pilgrim who is walking alone.
Sorry for any typos but I’ve been having some phone problems.
All in all I hope you love the Lana.
Buen Camino! Tess

Noted. Thanks Tess. I'm installing Galileo Pro now. Hope to start on or about the 4th of September. Cheers!

 

[Tess@rest]

Noted. Thanks Tess. I'm installing Galileo Pro now. Hope to start on or about the 4th of September. Cheers!

Enjoy your journey!

 

[Kevin F. O*brien]

Enjoy your journey!

Thanks Tess. I've just received a lot of notes about accommodation from Alan. I'm really looking forward to this one!! Best. Kevin

 

[Rebekah Scott]

My hat is off to you, Tess. That is one Loooong walk to do on your own!

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Am just downloading Galileo now. The cost in UK is £2.99 - well worth it for a good map system. Am also downloading Portugal and Spain maps - in the hope of a final camino next April/May!
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Tess@rest]

My hat is off to you, Tess. That is one Loooong walk to do on your own!

It was long and at times a bit lonely - almost no one spoke English so my conversations with locals were limited by my Spanish which is good but not exactly fluent....arriving in Burgos to find all of the pilgrims walking the Frances was welcome jolt. All in all it was an incredible journey!

 

[Tess@rest]

Am just downloading Galileo now. The cost in UK is £2.99 - well worth it for a good map system. Am also downloading Portugal and Spain maps - in the hope of a final camino next April/May!
Thanks for the advice!

You'll have an amazing journey...let me know if I can help in any way.