Edinburgh - SJPP - Who Knows

[Markus Antonius]

Hi

I am doing the CF starting 4th July from Edinburgh.

Bit of a last minute decision (2 months ago!) due to wanting to do it for ages and having a window at work coincide with being told to use all my toil up!

Agonised about doing the Norte, but think probably am going for F. I have a plane ticket to Biarritz so reserve the right to change my mind at the last minute!

 

[Markus Antonius]

Pondering what to do about Pamplona as I would like to see the bulls but accommodation sounds like a pain. I have a sleeping mat and am not afraid to use it. Will look into camp sites, but hypothetically if I fall asleep in a park or in a ditch, will I get eaten by wild dogs/arrested/robbed?

 

[Icacos]

Can't answer your question about wild dogs, etc. but how wonderful it is to have an opportunity to go on Camino practically thrust upon one. Buen Camino

 

[Markus Antonius]

http://www.sanfermin.com/index.php/en/datos-practicos/dormir/al-aire-libre-pamplona

Looks like theres a left luggage facility at the town hall and lockers in the bus station. So could stash the bag on arrival, enjoy the festival atmosphere and sleeping in the park is par for the course.

 

[Kaiplentz]

Hi, FYI I live not far from Edinburgh and have walked a few Caminos including the Norte from Irun and the French from Logrono. Both Caminos are completely different in many ways. The Norte is far less frequented than the French at this time of the year although you will not be alone and still meet people. I have never walked the CF during the busy summer time but I have met people who have found it stressful due to the masses of people in the high season. I even met a guy on the Norte who intended to walk the CF but changed his plans due to the amount of people in SJPP. He then travelled to Irun to walk the Norte instead. I guess all depends what you want from your Camino. Further to that, often it doesn't turn out to be what you may expect. This was the case for the majority of the Caminos I have walked and the one I just recently cycled. I really liked to jump into the sea at every opportunity on the Norte and for me personally was the Camino I preferred.

Biarritz is a good airport to fly to and travel to either SJPP or Irun, so there would be no reason to cancel your flight, should you change your mind and decide to walk the Norte.

 

[Markus Antonius]

Ah - now you're tempting me with El Norte! the sea is what I was keen on as I would also be in and out of it at every opportunity. Did you veer onto the Primitivo?

I quite like the idea of meeting people and making friends - Are there a lot of people on the N? Hard to define a lot I know, but assuming the F will be heaving whats the North like in comparison?

If time allows I would like to go on to Finisterre. I arrive Biarritz mid day on 4th July and latest I can leave it to return from S would be Sat 8th August as I'm working on Monday - yuck. Would like to have a bit of decompression before getting back to the daily grind but I would love to go end to end as it were. I've got 34 days on the road. Is that enough to do Norte/Primitivo/Finisterre?

It sounds like enough to do it on the CF.

The good thing is I'll be two weeks ahead of the English school holidays.

The temperature is another possible reason for going North.

Against that is my almost non existent Spanish.

 

[Kaiplentz]

Have you got enough time to walk the Norte, Primitivo and to Fisterre in 34 days? It depends how many kilometres you can/want to walk each day. I am sure you already know the distances involved but it is important that you know what your body is capable to do day in day out.

I consider myself reasonable fit and last year I walked to Santiago via the Norte veering of to the Primitivo in 30 days. That included 4 days not walking at all due to injury. So, 34 days would be plenty of time to get to Fisterre for me, taking into account not to get ill or injured.

At this time of the year, you would most certainly make friends on the Norte/Primitivo and you will not be lonely. It may actually be easier to make friends as you see the same people all the time instead of anonymous masses like on the CF.

For the temperature, I think there won't be much of a difference between the Norte an CF.

In my opinion English holidays have absolutely no influence of the numbers on the Camino. So I think that is something that you don't need to be concerned about.

A few years ago, my Spanish skills were probably like yours. I had no ideas. I still have very little Spanish language skills but I understand more and learn every time when I am in Spain. For me, it's part of the fun.

As long as you know Hola, Buenas Dias, Gracias, Por favor and Buen Camino, that will be a good start.

I hope that helps.

 

[MTtoCamino]

I was hoping someone was walking from Edinburgh to Dover then over. What a lovely walk that would be. ( is there an airport in Dover? I took the ferry over)
But never enough time & $.
Buen Camino!

 

[Introibo]

Ah ha... I also thought Markus was going to walk from Edinburgh to Santiago.

The lack of Spanish wont be a problem. By the time I went I was so fluent at saying
"Lo siento, non habley Espanol" that many people thought I was French. ( Had I been
saying "Lo siento, no hablo Espanol" they may have thought I was Spanish and stubborn. )

If in doubt, smile, wave your arms a lot and shout "Vale, Vale" ( or Bale, Bale ). I think / hope
it means Okay.

 

[Markus Antonius]

Edinburgh to Santiago would be great - maybe one day !

 

[Markus Antonius]

Ok well I'm currently sitting on a plane to Biarritz - just been speaking to a nice couple who are going ro SJPP. Another suspiciously be-rucksacked gentleman further down the plane in spanking new pair of trail shoes too lol.

I am bound for Irun and the Norte, with detour to Lebana and the True Cross (possibly by the GR71 trail) Picos Europa and then the Primitivo and hopefully Finisterre.

Will have to see how it goes though - all plans subject to unannounced random acts of inspiration

 

[mspath]

Markus Antonius,

Now is the moment to wish you a safe and wonder-filled camino. Don't try to do too much too fast ; do enjoy the magic of each moment!

Buen camino and, as always, Ultreia!

Margaret Meredith

 

[Markus Antonius]

Ok well I'm currently sitting on a plane to Biarritz - just been speaking to a nice couple who are going ro SJPP. Another suspiciously be-rucksacked gentleman further down the plane in spanking new pair of trail shoes too lol.

I am bound for Irun and the Norte, with detour to Lebana and the True Cross (possibly by the GR71 trail) Picos Europa and then the Primitivo and hopefully Finisterre.

Will have to see how it goes though - all plans subject to unannounced random acts of inspiration

 

[Markus Antonius]

Well they say no plan survives contact with the enemy!

Within 10 mins of landing at Biarritz I was kidnapped by a crazy Irish lady to make up numbers to take a taxi to St Jean - I'm now in Villa Franca and have been having a tremendous journey!