Hector van der Walt
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2020
During September & October 2017 I had the ‘calling’ to be a Henro on the Shikoku Pilgrimage in West Japan.
This year I was called to be a pilgrim on the Camino del Norte. I started at Irún on 26th August and I reached Muxía on 23rd September and Finsterre on 24th September.
During the journey I had 1 rest day each in San Sebastián and Bilbao. Before continuing to the End of the Earth, I had 2 rest days in Santiago.
I therefore had a total of 26 walking days of pure bliss and magic.
I experienced Camino del Norte as a total emersion into nature. It was a beautiful experience to walk through some of Spain’s most spectacular scenery.
There are many gorgeous beaches along the way and lovely pastural and mountain scenery to feast the senses.
Numerous villages, rural towns and glamorous cities such as San Sebastián - are a delight to explore.
The route was clean, mostly well signposted and I felt safe. I walked the entire route solo but I was never alone.
I only had one experience which unsettled me and it happend at around 07:15 the morning I was leaving Avilés. It was dark. I was accosted by a man who was eager to liberate a ring from my finger.
I was initially startled by his rapid approach and demands. I was however able to recover quickly. I told him off in a language I did not know I could speak. Fortunately there where no children around at that time.
Walking at this time of the year was fantastic as a solo walker. The weather was great and the change in the seasons visible and tangible.
For several days I saw no other pilgrims. At some lodgings I was the only guest.
Due to the lack of accommodation available, as a result of COVID matters, I was unable to ‘go with the flow’. After a week I realized it would be best to pre-book accommodation.
This did however mean I had many long stretches to cover. I unfortunately had to walk faster than I had intended - in order to reach pre-booked accommodation.
Camino del Norte is a powerful pilgrimage on many levels. Following in the footsteps of those that have gone ahead is humbling.
Thank you for reading.
Hector van der Walt
This year I was called to be a pilgrim on the Camino del Norte. I started at Irún on 26th August and I reached Muxía on 23rd September and Finsterre on 24th September.
During the journey I had 1 rest day each in San Sebastián and Bilbao. Before continuing to the End of the Earth, I had 2 rest days in Santiago.
I therefore had a total of 26 walking days of pure bliss and magic.
I experienced Camino del Norte as a total emersion into nature. It was a beautiful experience to walk through some of Spain’s most spectacular scenery.
There are many gorgeous beaches along the way and lovely pastural and mountain scenery to feast the senses.
Numerous villages, rural towns and glamorous cities such as San Sebastián - are a delight to explore.
The route was clean, mostly well signposted and I felt safe. I walked the entire route solo but I was never alone.
I only had one experience which unsettled me and it happend at around 07:15 the morning I was leaving Avilés. It was dark. I was accosted by a man who was eager to liberate a ring from my finger.
I was initially startled by his rapid approach and demands. I was however able to recover quickly. I told him off in a language I did not know I could speak. Fortunately there where no children around at that time.
Walking at this time of the year was fantastic as a solo walker. The weather was great and the change in the seasons visible and tangible.
For several days I saw no other pilgrims. At some lodgings I was the only guest.
Due to the lack of accommodation available, as a result of COVID matters, I was unable to ‘go with the flow’. After a week I realized it would be best to pre-book accommodation.
This did however mean I had many long stretches to cover. I unfortunately had to walk faster than I had intended - in order to reach pre-booked accommodation.
Camino del Norte is a powerful pilgrimage on many levels. Following in the footsteps of those that have gone ahead is humbling.
Thank you for reading.
Hector van der Walt
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. But that matters less than nothing. You described it perfectly. The sights and sounds are so special. Especially the sights of nature at it’s finest and the sounds that exude from those sights that are unencumbered by the sounds of man and civilization. Hope you had an ice cream when you were in San Sebastián at Gelateria Boulevard. The best ice cream anywhere!
