From Bilbao early September

[Loopi71]

Hi,

I'm arriving into Bilbao quite late in the evening so staying in an Airbnb near the airport and then starting walking the next day. I walked the last 120km of the Portugese in April with a friend but am doing this one solo.
My main issue is the decision on which way to get out of Bilbao. I have just bought the most up to date Camino del Norte guidebook and it's helpful but I'm wondering - my first day of walking solo, I'd like to come across the occasional pilgrim as reassurance.
My book has:
1) official Camino, which is longer, and I'd like to stay in Pobeña the first night, as it looks like the pilgrims' hostel in Portugalete closes at the end of August.
2) through Bilbao but avoiding hills - says it's easy to follow and shorter but less well-trodden.
3) Direct to Portugalete on the East bank. Sounds like a nice way out of Bilbao but rather industrial later.
Any ideas which of the three would be best, please? Thank you!

 

[jsalt]

Any ideas which of the three would be best, please? Thank you!

Hi Loopi, welcome to the forum! I walked the third option: direct to Portugalete on the East Bank, and I loved it. It was a Sunday so, although industrial, it was very quiet. Didn’t see any other pilgrims, but I left from Bilbao quite late. The BEST reason for taking this route is the river crossing into Portugalete. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. The albergue was closed (it was October), and both pensions were closed, with no answer when I tried phoning the numbers on the doors. Wondering what Plan B was I spied another pilgrim wandering around, so ran over, and she was looking for the Albergue Bide Ona, which was quite new, and we both stayed there.
Jill

 

[Loopi71]

Hi Loopi, welcome to the forum! I walked the third option: direct to Portugalete on the East Bank, and I loved it. It was a Sunday so, although industrial, it was very quiet. Didn’t see any other pilgrims, but I left from Bilbao quite late. The BEST reason for taking this route is the river crossing into Portugalete. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. The albergue was closed (it was October), and both pensions were closed, with no answer when I tried phoning the numbers on the doors. Wondering what Plan B was I spied another pilgrim wandering around, so ran over, and she was looking for the Albergue Bide Ona, which was quite new, and we both stayed there.
Jill

Thanks so much Jill, that's really helpful. How did you feel as a woman on your own? I heard a couple of stories on the Portuguese Camino that concerned me a bit.

 

[jsalt]

Thanks so much Jill, that's really helpful. How did you feel as a woman on your own? I heard a couple of stories on the Portuguese Camino that concerned me a bit.

Hi Loopi, I live in South Africa, so I know what is going on behind me all the time by pure instinct. I feel so safe in Europe that there is no comparison with where I live, so walking alone on the caminos in Europe doesn’t bother me. Also, I am an older woman, so any perverts on the side of the path let me pass by (I’ve seen them), and they will wait for a younger woman. Sadly, it’s a fact of life for any woman anywhere in the world, not just on the camino. You just have to deal with it as most women do. If you are not sure about walking alone, then team up with another pilgrim, male or female, in the albergues and walk within sight of each other.
Jill

 

[Loopi71]

Hi Loopi, I live in South Africa, so I know what is going on behind me all the time by pure instinct. I feel so safe in Europe that there is no comparison with where I live, so walking alone on the caminos in Europe doesn’t bother me. Also, I am an older woman, so any perverts on the side of the path let me pass by (I’ve seen them), and they will wait for a younger woman. Sadly, it’s a fact of life for any woman anywhere in the world, not just on the camino. You just have to deal with it as most women do. If you are not sure about walking alone, then team up with another pilgrim, male or female, in the albergues and walk within sight of each other.
Jill

Thanks for this, too. I'm usually quite confident on my own but am cautious about long stretches alone. Hence wanting to make sure, as you say, I have sight of other pilgrims. I'm wondering if the original route might be best for this. Once the first day is done, I'm sure I'll settle into it. Thanks again.
Lucy

 

[jsalt]

Once the first day is done, I'm sure I'll settle into it.

Could you not spend the first day in Bilbao itself (there’s the Guggenheim!), and stay in an albergue the second night, thereby meeting a few people you could start walking with the next morning?
Jill

 

[gloria lowe]

Took the 3rd option and it was nice. You will love crossing the river. We liked it so much did it more than once. There are also many hostel/hotels in the town.

 

[Loopi71]

Could you not spend the first day in Bilbao itself (there’s the Guggenheim!), and stay in an albergue the second night, thereby meeting a few people you could start walking with the next morning?
Jill

I have a time limit to get to Santander but am flying back from Bilbao and have factored in Guggenheim time for the day I leave!
I'm wondering about getting public transport to near the pilgrims' hostel early in the morning and starting there...

 

[Loopi71]

Took the 3rd option and it was nice. You will love crossing the river. We liked it so much did it more than once. There are also many hostel/hotels in the town.

Thanks!